CUBE TUBE, an office and restaurant complex designed by SAKO Architects in Jinhua, Zhejiang, China, was completed in 2010 within the city’s Economic Development Zone. The project features two distinct geometric structures: a nine-story office building called ‘CUBE’ and a larger restaurant building named ‘TUBE.’ These buildings, characterized by their minimalist design and innovative use of natural light and airflow, stand out as significant architectural landmarks in contrast to the surrounding conventional structures.

The ‘CUBE TUBE’ project by SAKO Architects is situated in Jinhua’s Economic Development Zone in Zhejiang Province. This complex, which includes an office building and a restaurant, was designed to serve as a prominent landmark in the area, contrasting sharply with the more traditional architectural styles that dominate the surroundings.

The two primary structures in the project are the ‘CUBE’ and the ‘TUBE.’ The ‘CUBE’ is a nine-story office building with a square footprint of 32 meters on each side. The ‘TUBE,’ a restaurant, is larger, with a footprint of 55 meters per side. Both buildings are positioned within a grid layout surrounded by numerous trees, which helps to integrate the structures harmoniously into the landscape.

The design of the ‘CUBE’ centers around a central core, a response to the client’s requirements for individualized workspaces with an open, naturally lit interior. To address the challenge of bringing light and air into the building’s core, the architects incorporated cross-shaped corridors that intersect the building, connecting to terraces on the east, west, south, and north sides. These terraces allow natural light and ventilation to penetrate deep into the building, enhancing the internal environment.

The exterior of the ‘CUBE’ is clad in matte-finished aluminum, and processed with a grinder to achieve a unique texture. In contrast, the ‘TUBE’ features a façade made of transparent, grey, and black glass panels. The terraces on the ‘TUBE’ are strategically placed in an irregular pattern, reducing the visual impact of the floor slabs and emphasizing the simplicity of the building’s form. These design choices not only serve functional purposes but also establish the ‘CUBE’ and ‘TUBE’ as key architectural landmarks in the area.

A consistent design module, based on a 550 mm square, was applied to various elements throughout the project, including furniture, fittings, surfaces, and outdoor facilities. This dimension, derived from half the height of a handrail, serves as a unifying element, creating a cohesive design language that ties the entire project together, enhancing both its functionality and aesthetic appeal.