An illuminated ceiling based on a scene from George Lucas' 1971 sci-fi film THX 1138 has been installed in the showroom at fashion designer Nicolas Andreas Taralis' offices in Shanghai (+ slideshow).
Taralis collaborated with architect Bernard Dubois, co-curator of the Belgian Pavilion at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, to come up with the redesign of the two-storey 1,500-square-metre building.
"We worked collaboratively on the whole design, each of us bringing references and ideas together to make a coherent common project," Dubois told Dezeen.
Set across two levels and divided into four zones, the building includes a showroom, a studio, atelier and an administration office.
The design uses concrete, metal and mirrors to create a greyscale scheme throughout, matching the German-Greek designer's largely colourless collections.
Defined by the duo as the "heart of the design", the showroom space is situated on the ground floor.
Mirrored walls create the illusion of a never-ending room, while long chrome clothing rails hang from the ceiling.
"All vertical lines on the walls and in the composition of the plan meet the lines of the ceiling," said Dubois.
The glow emitted from the lightbox ceiling aims to "transport the visitor into a science-fiction-like world". The feature is based on scenes from Lucas' feature-length directorial debut THX 1138, which was partly filmed in an entirely white giant room.
Pigment-dyed black concrete was used to form a low monolith for displaying accessories, as well as reception counters in the two public entrances.
A staircase located in the centre of the showroom leads up to the first-floor studio. The large opening that punctures the ceiling allows natural light into the windowless room.
Upstairs, large concrete tables designed by Dubois and Taralis are positioned in rows and separated by large black dividers that incorporate storage space. The tables are also used in private glass-fronted offices.
A private staircase leads to further atelier space downstairs, which isn't accessible from the showroom.
Taralis and Dubois also worked together to redesign the fashion brand's Beijing shop, mirroring the aesthetic of the showroom by installing the lightbox ceiling and keeping a monochromatic palette.
Photography is by Maxime Delvaux.
