Dezeen Magazine

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

MDDM Studio uses primary colours to brighten up simple office in Beijing

Bold red and yellow furnishings break up the otherwise pale interiors of this office in China, which MDDM Studio created inside a 1950s fabric factory.

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

The office is located in Beijing and belongs to film production company CWITM.

The building, which was previously used for the manufacture of textiles, was revamped by locally based MDMM Studio to contain a sequence of bright workspaces.

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

The bright white walls are complemented by the grey terrazzo floors, which are speckled with white flecks.

Against this pale backdrop, primary coloured furnishings and fixtures offer splashes of colour throughout.

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

Decor elements picked out in cherry-red include an MDF work desk, a rippled bench seat and a chunky wall that runs alongside a black staircase leading up to the first floor. The colour is also applied to panels in the gridded ceiling of the office's boardroom, which backs onto a small screening area.

The splashes of sunshine-yellow come from poufs that are dotted around the space.

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

The office is loosely divided into two wings. The majority of old partition walls were removed to create a more relaxed floor plan, aimed at encouraging social mobility among the company's growing number of employees.

"The contradictory request to have a scheme that is both as open as possible and offers maximum privacy for each zone was the driving challenge when drafting the layout," the studio told Dezeen.

"The design opens up the space to enjoy the big shed-style windows on the roof – a heritage feature of the location's industrial past – and optimises the penetration of the natural light into the space."

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

New partitions are crafted from semi-transparent polycarbonate panels, able to partially obscure certain rooms without blocking light.

The most privacy is given to detail-orientated departments such as accounting and administration, whereas areas used by communication teams are more open.

A timber volume accommodates a glass-fronted meeting area, as well as a traditional Japanese-style tatami room.

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

To prevent employees from having to inconveniently walk across the office to meet, additional sitting areas are located at the centre of the floor plan and can be screened off with slate-grey curtains.

The staff break area, which overlooks a garden, is located at the junction of the two wings and features five ombré-effect pendant lamps.

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio

MDDM Studio is led by architects Momo Andrea Destro and Margret Domko.

Other recent projects by the office include a pizzeria in Beijing's Maizidan Residential district that keeps to a strictly muted colour palette.

Photography is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud.


Project credits:

Design: MDDM Studio
Team: Margret Domko, Momo Andrea Destro, Amirlin Sunderiya, Martina Muratori
Contractor: Craftlink Limited, Andrew Cher

More images and plans

Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Lower floor plan
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Upper floor plan
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Section
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio
Interiors of CWITM office in Beijing designed by MDDM Studio