Architects: Kokaistudios
Area: 1124 m²
Year: 2015
Photography: Charlie Xia
Interior Design Team: Rake Wang, Lianzhong Fu, Ada Sun, Seven Shi, Suju Kim
Local Design Institute: ZhongFang
Lighting: Kokaistudios
Client: BM Holding
Lead Architects: Andrea Destefanis & Filippo Gabbiani
Project Manager: Liwei, Pietro Peyron
Architectural Design Team: Pietro Peyron, Yong Zheng, Chang Liu, Neo Nie
City: Shanghai
Country: China
Dongyi Mansion, an office space designed by Kokaistudios in Shanghai, transformed a dilapidated 1980s movie house into a modern boutique office. Located on Changshu Lu Jing, this 2,000 square meter building, once a 5-story movie house, was reimagined to meet Shanghai’s growing demand for premium office spaces. The renovation focused on urban renewal, balancing cultural respect with innovative design. Kokaistudios reorganized the layout, added a covered plaza, and reinterpreted the façade using glass fiber reinforced concrete panels and aluminum frames. The interior continues the theme with wood and natural light, creating a warm atmosphere. The design aims to protect Shanghai’s urban fabric while adding functionality and value to the neighborhood.
Kokaistudios recently completed the architectural and interior design of Dongyi Mansion for BM Holdings, a major Shanghai developer. Situated on Changshu Lu Jing, the 2,000-square-meter building was originally a five-story movie house from the 1980s. After falling into disrepair, BM Holdings purchased it, and Kokaistudios converted it into a boutique office space to meet the growing demand in central Shanghai.
Urban renewal projects in Shanghai present challenges. Kokaistudios approaches these projects innovatively, balancing stakeholder interests. Respecting the site’s cultural environment, they aim for harmonious integration of space and landscape while injecting new vitality into the urban fabric.
To maximize Dongyi Mansion’s potential, Kokaistudios reorganized the site layout and reinterpreted the façade. They set back the ground floor to create a covered plaza, adding public space within a private development. This column-filled area encourages circulation and adds community transparency. It also relieves pressure on the narrow pavement, enhancing safety for road users. A glass pavilion with a hipped roof hides behind the main façade, respecting neighbors’ views and light rights.
The building’s façade embraces a “stone” theme. Given the load-bearing structure, selecting materials with the right balance of lightness and texture was crucial. Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GRC) panels with stone cladding were chosen for their ideal combination of heaviness and durability, echoing the historical environment while remaining lightweight. In contrast, aluminum frame window panels and glass bring a sense of lightness and freshness to the design. The façade’s 50/50 ratio of concrete to windows ensures effective sunlight control and diverges from the steel-to-glass tower trend. Moreover, the façade maintains exterior coherence by concealing varying floor heights.
As visitors pass through the covered space, they feel transported into the exceptionally high lobby. The visually striking atrium immediately surprises and impresses. Designed to maximize natural light, the atrium extends centrally into the building, illuminating various units. Each floor’s hallway, surrounding the atrium, is animated by the shifting shadows from the vertical wooden lattice and stainless steel railing. This lattice also maintains privacy between floors. Bridges crossing the atrium align with the building’s structure, offering occupants excellent viewpoints to appreciate the space’s full volume.
The contemporary design of the façade carries into the interior, where “wood” serves as the central theme. Alongside abundant natural light, Kokaistudios aims to evoke a relaxed and warm atmosphere, reminiscent of the historic alleys and buildings nearby. The use of a simple color palette and limited materials highlights the architectural qualities of the space. The most striking interior feature is the deep block of Chinese marble in the elevator core, which provides continuity between floors.
The building comprises five office floors. The first and second levels feature large open-plan office spaces, while the third and fourth levels contain four office units of various sizes. Large windows in the offices frame the surroundings in a captivating manner. Grouping the lift lobby, toilets, and services on the north and south sides ensures maximum efficiency. BM Holdings will occupy the top floor, which includes a terrace with lovely neighborhood views.
Kokaistudios’ design prioritizes preserving the building’s original form to protect the existing urban fabric, both environmentally and socially. The firm believes that mid-sized buildings like Dongyi Mansion, which are common in Shanghai, benefit greatly from smart renovations that enhance functionality and value. These buildings are essential in fast-growing cities where culture and heritage are at risk due to market-driven developments. Renovations can bridge the old and the new, enhancing neighborhoods while preserving the city’s integrity. Dongyi Mansion exemplifies quality renovation, setting a standard for future projects.
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Project Location
Address: Shanghai, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
