DPWT

DPWT is a Hong Kong architectural practice established in 1993, committed to design excellence and efficient management. DPWT believes in three key factors leading to a successful project: Design possibilities and professional knowledge, care and understanding for client and user and hands-on supervision on site during implementation. They offer a full range of professional consultancy services from feasibility studies, schematic designs, and detailed design through to project management for architectural and interior assignments, with emphasis on design quality and practicability, cost effectiveness and work efficiency.

Major projects include office buildings, shopping centres, serviced apartments, clubhouses, luxury residential development, resort complexes and interior renovations. DPWT also extends services to an international level, with an expanding presence in mainland China and other
South East Asian countries. Offices at Beijing and Shanghai were established in 1997 and 2000 respectively to ensure quality services to clients for their PRC projects.

Kerry Yantian Port Logistics Centre, Shenzhen
The Kerry Yantian Port Logistics Centre project aims at improvement and interior alterations for a partly constructed logistics centre located in Yantian, Shenzhen, China. The focus of the commission is the office building with objective of using architectural expression to reflect the nature of the logistics industry i.e. modern, hi-tech and advanced. It is hoped that the logistics centre upgrade will also enhance the emerging international image of the corporation.

Design input started when the building’s superstructure was completed. The task therefore focused on the expression and refinement of the developed forms. A dark reflective curtain wall with contrasting silver colour and continuous horizontal fins was designed to dress-up the office block as the hi-tech centre for the logistics section. Secondary frameless glass panels which curve like a sail were added onto the office’s external wall as a vertical feature addressing the main entrance and are intended to lighten up the low lying horizontal office exterior and add dynamic qualities. The glazed fascade provides staff with a view to the on-site cargo works outside. Another secondary element is the red box on the side of the entrance, which marks the location of the reception office and also reinforces the image of the corporation with its intense red corporate colour.

The whole composition is a projection of the energetic, organised and modern image of the corporation. The interior of the office building was reshaped by the modification of the atrium and reorganization of the elements around this void. The edge of the void was reconfigures from circular to egg-shaped from the second to third levels, creating a transforming spatial experience when walking through the atrium. Two feature steel staircases were introduced to connect the three levels from the reception area to the administration office. The obliquely set staircase in the void was intentionally designed to produce a dynamic visual experience and resemble the balustrade of a ship. A glass box, which looks like the cockpit of a ship, was added to plunge out into the atrium as contrast to the airy space. The frameless detailed glass panels of the box make it light as it hovers over the reception area. The composition is simple but rich and dynamic – perfect for a modern office environment.

Circulation of goods is the basic concept of logistics. To demonstrate this in architectural language, the building is organized around the atrium. The circular shape of the atrium reminds users of the globalization of the corporation. The atrium is a key element to circulation as it serves as a hub to all other stairways and corridors, resembling the corporation’s mission to connect different cities worldwide. The circulation also directs people to different parts of the building, enabling views of the interior and exterior from different perspectives. The choice of materials focused on industrial finished products, from aluminum textural panels, patterned glass panels and seamless corian surfaces to stainless steel railings. The thematic ambient colours chosen were silver and grey for an industrial and hi-tech appearance. A vibrant orange colour was selected from the Corporations corporate colours to accent for the office interior and furniture, giving the work space a lively and pleasant atmosphere. Maintaining this theme, the interior spatial experience was directed towards reinforcing the exterior image projected of an emerging Corporation.

Coca Cola
This is Coca Cola’s extended office in Beijing which houses various departmental offices and other facilities, like meeting rooms, boardroom, reception, store and IT rooms. The client requested a total new look for the office and one reflecting both their corporate identity and the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games. The design is a physical and spatial realization of this particular requirement. The office area is about 1100 square metres, which resulted in a totally new reception and a breakout area.

The whole office aims to project a bright and welcoming ambience. The colours and materials used are generally light, modern and warm. The reception layout is mainly curvilinear in shape to embrace visitors once they enter the lobby. Spray paint glass backdrop colours provide fresh impact and contrast with Coca Cola Classic Red. reception. This also accentuates the curvilinear effect. Patterned glass with a bubbles graphic separates the reception lobby and the welcoming lounge at the back, which it are easily visible from the lift lobby. There are numerous Classic Coca Cola displays in this room offering different soft drinks to arriving guests. On the ceiling, there is an Olympic game logo resembling the linkage with Coke. On the other side of the reception area are the two big conference rooms which can combine into one. Pendent lighting is along the window workbenches so the room can easily be turned into a discussion and working area
if required. Clear glass is widely used to give a feeling of openness and transparency.

For the workstations, a primarily open plan was adopted with managers sitting next to the general staff. A 1, 200 millimetre high screen is used to ensure openness and visibility without intruding on privacy too much. There are lot of breakout areas as well, all with Olympic game logos displayed to cheer up workers spirits. Coca Cola Classic Red is also widely adopted as the colour of cabinets. A relaxing and energetic mood is expected to encourage staff to have informal discussions and idea sharing at this breakout point.

IBM CSDL
This is the IBM CSDL (China Software Development Laboratory) with complex and diverse functions. It occupies the whole floor of about 40,000 square feet. It houses 250 workstations, 250 workbenches, 4 laboratories, 3 lift lobbies, 6 lavatories , 5 pantries and numerous meeting rooms.

This functional space is first divided into served and service spaces. Served spaces are the workstations which are grouped in small team clusters of 6-8 persons. These are basically aligned to the window. The service spaces are a breakout areas, like the pantry, meeting room, informal discussion area, training room and library, which are scattered along the main artery circulation to diffuse into the working area. This can break the monotonous pattern of the workstation and can provide a nearby relaxation spot for the staff. The laboratory is basically at the back of house area facing west and which acts as a buffer zone for the strong afternoon sunlight in the afternoon.

Different color palettes have been applied in individual locations of the office/laboratory to resemble the five branch of software colours produced by IBM – yellow, green, red, blue and purple. This is also realized in the exact number of 5 pantries, which provide a very distinguished and cooperative image. Inside the server room, IBM’s blue color is applied columns and wall. The 6 washrooms also have individual colours-red, blue and green. This is demonstrated with mosaic tiles in front of the basins with hanging mirrors and concealed lighting behind. For the general office, beige coloured fabric workstations are adopted to blend the whole office, with charcoal coloured cabinets to give a high-tech and warm feeling. Inside the laboratories, different coloured plastic laminate lockers accentuate a playful and funny backdrop to contrast with linear benches.

Hewlett Packard Showroom
HP wanted to project a state-of-the-art corporate image to the China market The demonstration rooms in Chengdu and Guangzhou deliver a space-age environment where HP’s newest products are displayed. The 400 square foot showroom tries to convey the forward thinking philosophy of the company and to set trends rather than to follow.

The designers launched a futuristic concept, similar to the Star Trek theme, which fuses man, machine and nature i.e. the Borg. The room is enveloped with lighting boxes with a 150 millimetre glass raised floor illuminated by fluorescent lights. The elongated geometry of the room works well to create a tunnel effect enhanced by mirrors at the end. Bold graphics are used and backlit to represent the divisions of HP. The ceiling is painted black and highlighted by fibre optic lighting in order to maximize the verticality of the inherently low ceiling (2250 millimetres).

The designers’ intention was to install more interactive consoles so that customers can play with plasma TV’s, while projection screens accentuate the space with videos and graphics. The interactive platform is mounted on a sleek panel with a black glass surface and a silver metallic underlayer. A small photo studio enables visitors to take pictures that remind their journey to the HP show room. A digital camera is mounted on a 1500 millimetre high clear cylinder connected to a laser printer that delivers pictures instantly. The seating area features an amoeba-looking Verner Panton Phantom chair that adds a sense of playfulness to the hi-tech space. This demonstration room is an opportunity for HP to leap forward to the next generation.