An Energising Workspace that Embraces its Local Context

Neon signs and layered frames abound in this Wan Chai office designed by local firm Bean Buro

In the heart of bustling Wan Chai, multidisciplinary design studio Bean Buro has created a this new office space for business support and marketing production company Williams Lea Tag. Inspired by the neighbourhood’s neon signs, bamboo scaffolding and urban typology, the design team employed a series of framing and layering devices to blend the boundary between interior office and exterior streetlife. ‘The design language is fresh and energetic, with a play between the primary curvy architectural elements and secondary lattice elements,’ Lorène Faure, founder of Bean Buro, explains. 

Neon signage, scaffolding, references to local landmarks, and a display area that resembles the city’s corner newsstands are examples of local insignia that embrace the office’s context. At just under 700 square metres and hosting a team of 80 people, the space has a multilayered open-plan layout with fixed and flexible desks, and collaborative workspaces. An island in the centre of the office and booth seats encourage a sociable cafe-like atmosphere, while meeting rooms feature large glass partitions that fill the space with light, and fun touches include writable glass and painted signage on the walls. The vibrant and bright boardroom has both informal seating and a formal meeting space, and views into and out of the space. A playful edge is added with the insertion of a black portal door framed in blue and platform seats built into the walls.

Another injection of energy comes via colourful accents, joinery and scaffolding. Though neutral plywood frames various areas, bright tones of taupe, mauve and blue highlight the lattice and edgings on the joinery, and blue grouting features between the bell-shaped tiles on the pantry back splash wall. Nearby, an arched door with a playful porthole design leads to a raw pantry with storage. 

Bean Buro clearly understand that an office should energise and inspire those who work in it, and their combination of light-hearted yet thoughtful elements does just that. 

Text / Babette Radclyffe-Thomas 
Images / Courtesy of Bean Buro