The Shanghai office of Chinese architecture studio Taranta Creations features a staircase within a labia-like orifice and a floor that doubles as a desk.
Above photograph is by Shen Qiang of Shen Photo.
Upstairs, the entire floor plane is used as a work surface, with seating contained inside four large voids.
Taranta Creations designed the space, called Red Town Office, for its own staff.
The staircase joining the two levels is painted red on the inside and silver on the outside.
Above photograph is by Shen Qiang of Shen Photo.
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Photography is by Fay Wu, apart from where otherwise stated.
The information that follows is from Taranta Creations:
Red Town Office
The design of Taranta Creations his own office space is a reflection of the ongoing creative process within the studio.
The upper floor is constructed as one continuous desk in which four sitting areas are cut out.
This large ‘work floor’ invites the designers to use the space for walking, sketching, meeting, modelling, thinking, drafting, sitting and relaxing.
This kind of informal interpretation of office space encourages cross-pollination between the different projects and disciplines.
The upper floor is connected to the lower floor by a ‘water drop’ in which the staircase is placed.
Design team: Enrico Taranta, Giorgio Radojkovic, Juriaan Calis.
Location: Red Town Sculpture Park, Shanghai, China.
Project year: 2010
Click above for larger image
Hmmm with a name like Taranta I wonder if they have been paying homage to Anish Kapoor http://www.museomadre.it/opere.cfm?id=389
This was an installation for The Baltic Contemporary Art Gallery pre launch in 2000
Like the upper floor and the connection to the upper floor. Nice experimentation with the voids in the floor. But, somehow the lower floor seems neglected. The design maneuvers do not extend from the upper floor to the lower floor.
but how does one enter in the voids to work… does one have to jump in???? a little uncomfortable…..
pretty DIY …
A little too over-designed, no?
I feel sorry for the short skirted secretary who has to walk around upstairs amoungst the employees sitting at the desks in the red voids… a test of one's shyness….
Labia: seriously?
Well, this is really bad joke. So much of material which will be wasted when they are moving out soon. No flexibility, no way to keep the space clean. What were you thinking?
haha. the description is certainly interesting
"water drop"?
"upper floor is constructed as one continuous desk"?
"This large ‘work floor’ invites the designers to use the space for walking, sketching, meeting, modelling, thinking, drafting, sitting and relaxing."
I don't see any of this.
stop alucinating.
I would hate to work in the small "big red voids".
My Godness! what were you guys thinking?
THOSE SENIORS ON TOP CAN ROLL ON THE FLOOR WHILE THE JUNIOR DRAFTSMEN ARE LEFT PACKED IN LIKE SARDINES IN THE UNDERWORLD
I love the messy wires in image 1!
Gimmick. And completely agreed about overdesigned..
Upstairs folk have space and get to goof-off…
Downstairs folk are elbow-to-elbow practically sitting on stools…
from the movie Ben Hur: "Ramming Speed"
Would hate to have anyone walk behind me at a higher level while working….i would feel like a mole…
I live in shanghai at the moment, have actually been to this space, i think it's much better than how it looks in these photos. and i cant see any photo taking from outside on the first level.
i can understand why ppl think the first level seatings are just like stools in a row, but u have to understand all of those seats actually face the window overlooking the sculpture park, i think not much office actually got all the direct view to the window!
anyway would love to work in a space like that, especially upstairs!
What's with the messy lighting i the staircase? i mean the cables are so obvious…why didnt they bother with the finishing touches?
Excellent concept for new offices environment! Let's make the employees happy to work!! I like the contrast between the 2 floors! Love it!
It's pretty interesting .
but this office feels very stuffy ,messy and over designed.
whenever you move , you have to use stairs again and again, even it looks uncomfortable to work in the red voids.
but i think this design is quietly experimental.
been there
its awesome!
Not sure I like the idea of someone walking ON my desk. And how would I get into my work space …jump down?
Doesn't look anything like my labia.
Awesome idea… really love it!!! but … as it says “the entire floor plane is used as a work surface” / “This large ‘work floor’ invites the designers to use the space for walking, sketching, meeting, modelling, thinking, drafting, sitting and relaxing”… – well what about everyone walking all over it with their shoes on etc??… how is one to work, sit, relax on that same surface???
people entering the stairs are like sperms entering (censored)… no offence :P
Labialike? lmao. Dezeen, how could you?