Physical boundaries were redefined to create an approachable, convergent and responsive office for Macquarie’s Asia hub.
Conceived before and constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macquarie Hong Kong office offers many valuable lessons for workplace design in the post-COVID climate. What began as a light refresh turned into an opportunity for design interventions that helped Macquarie demonstrate its commitment as an organisation.
Connection and collaboration being the core values of the Macquarie’s culture, physical boundaries were redefined to create an approachable, convergent and responsive office for Macquarie’s Asia hub. Flexibility and agility had always been key goals to the project, but with “Working-From-Home” practice, sharing ratios were revisited and challenged to allow for more aggressive agile workspace.
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The result was an increase of square-footage for more diversity. Meeting spaces and focus areas, with integrated technology, come in large and small, enclosed and open, formal and casual. There is a suitable arrangement for every situation, mood and need. Due to compliance requirements, “information barriers” are required between businesses, so by use of glazing, film and planting, we achieved various levels of privacy without sacrificing transparency.
The Hong Kong embedded “Cha-Chan-Ting” (café) culture and the defining natural landscape became the inspiration of the design narrative. From its refined Guest Relations area to the relaxed pantries to the flexible open offices, the use of ashy timber, jade green and soft curves echo the sentiment of the local coffee shop, and exude its lovely balance of richness and delicacy.
2022 IIDA Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards, Corporate Space Large, Winner
Singapore
Shanghai, China
Tokyo, Japan
Beijing, China