ZAO / Zhang Ke Architecture Office

The Camerich furniture company has commissioned ZAO to convert a former industrial district in the southeast of Beijing into a new campus, with a park situated in the centre of the site. Grouped around it are offices, laboratories, production, a canteen, and housing for employees. In the western area, there is a long-stretched former factory hall that has been transformed into meeting rooms, office spaces and a prototyping workshop.

The building is divided into a sequence of four separate areas and a library pavilion attached to it. In contrast to the existing, strictly right-angled architecture, the entrance area forms a spatial surprise. One enters from south into a two-story-high, sculptural space illuminated by a thin slit in the bent roof.

The actual main office area is a big hall divided in two though a stripe-shaped courtyard subtracted from the original building volume. The introvert yet open spatial configuration as well as the atmospheric light brings to mind traditional courtyard typologies in the historic center of Beijing.

Further north, a sculptural triple-run stairs leads to the executive lounge on the second floor. A regular, monumental series of skylights cast in concrete bright up the space. Towards the east, one can access the roof of the library pavilion, from where one overviews the entire campus.

The northernmost section of the building is Camerich’s prototyping workshop. Linear northwards-oriented skylights create a very evenly and calmly illuminated space.

The entire campus is open to the employees, the space is designed to be fluid and open and represents Camerich’s company culture.