The MAGIC PLACE Office-Life Experience Hall is situated in Building 10 of Xinyefang, located in the Jing’an District of Shanghai, a site with a rich history spanning 70 years. This innovative corporate headquarters and brand showroom has been developed by MAGIC PLACE in partnership with designer Cui Shu.
Project Name: MAGIC PLACE
Studio Name: CUN DESIGN
Project Location: Shanghai, China
Building Area: 2100㎡
Chief Designers: Cui Shu & Li Hui
Design Period: August 2023
Completion Date: May 2024
Photography: Ten Yu Studio
It serves as a vital platform for MAGIC PLACE, offering a versatile environment that blends cultural experiences, aesthetic enjoyment, artistic appreciation, and collaborative product creation. Drawing from extensive experience and insights in office design, Cui Shu has crafted a multifunctional social space that integrates work with an artistic lifestyle, providing a refreshing experience for visitors.
Grand Bamboo Waves
During the renovation of the building housing MAGIC PLACE, Cui Shu retained the original structural elements while focusing the design on the interior. By reinterpreting essential materials such as metal, bamboo, wood, and cement, a unique ambiance was created. The reception desk, intricately crafted from bamboo and wood, resembles a massive wave encircling the spiral staircase, spiraling upward in a captivating manner.
High partition walls, coated in golden art paint, are adorned with curved bamboo weaving. The original beams of the building are wrapped in mirrored stainless steel, cleverly concealing their structural form and allowing for a harmonious blend of silver and gold tones. This interplay of colors and textures evokes a restrained yet dynamic emotional landscape, akin to the shimmering surface of the sea at dawn, filled with endless possibilities. The bamboo curves create striking visual focal points within the space.
The bamboo design extends to the second floor, serving as a decorative layer for partition walls. Unlike traditional solid panels, the bamboo walls allow for breathability and resonate beautifully with the century-old camphor tree visible through the windows, symbolizing an eco-friendly office environment.
Inviting Facade
The building’s exterior maintains the essence of its original architecture while being enhanced by a contemporary steel frame featuring a cantilever design. Expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer a panoramic view of the interior, minimizing the building’s visual footprint while highlighting the beauty of the surrounding natural landscape.
In preserving the open space, glass partitions have been widely used in meeting rooms to foster transparency and interaction. The building features an inner courtyard, where the expansive glass structure permits natural light to flood the interior, promoting continuous flow around the courtyard. At both ends of the conference area, transparent glass partitions provide an open visual experience, significantly enhancing the flexibility and comfort of the meeting spaces. A central concrete column in the large conference room commemorates New China’s growth, serving as both a testament to the past and a lens for reflecting on history.
Social, Interactive, Integrated
MAGIC PLACE, a well-respected domestic office furniture brand, embraces the philosophy of “Social, Interactive, Integrated.” Cui Shu has skillfully woven this brand ethos into the exhibition hall’s design, considering both the flexibility and functionality of the environment. The design features various scenarios and integrates diverse furniture arrangements from MAGIC PLACE. This space functions not only as a furniture showroom but also as a practical office environment.
The stepped event area at the first floor’s entrance is designed for small-scale activities, such as salon discussions and brand launches. As visitors navigate through the space, different social settings emerge around the inner courtyard, eliminating the need for physical partitions. Instead, various furniture arrangements create distinct areas for communication and negotiation within the open layout. The expansive windows enhance the sense of transparency and adaptability throughout the area.
The second floor is dedicated to more private office spaces and meeting rooms. At the entrance of the staircase, a sculptural brass-colored reception bar creates a social area for relaxation and conversation, providing a space for those engaged in intense work to unwind and connect.
The office space at the end of the suspended layout serves both as an office and a medium-sized conference area. A gray mirrored ceiling elevates the vertical sense of space, while modern materials lend a touch of authority and sophistication. The glass windows frame views of the surrounding trees, alleviating eye strain in a tense office environment, and making MAGIC PLACE feel like a treehouse harmoniously integrated with nature.
The concept of future office life extends beyond mere furniture design; it encompasses a profound understanding of customer needs and personalized preferences. The MAGIC PLACE Office and Life Experience Hall is not simply a display area; it represents an exploration of future office and lifestyle concepts. By incorporating aesthetics and art into the design, it transforms the “exhibition hall” into a genuine living environment, aiming to create an ideal office space that is both enjoyable and efficient for users.
