Richemont China Headquarter + Richemont Offices

Legacy to elegance of details

A clever reconversion in the center of Shanghai becomes the opportunity to create an elegant contemporary architecture in harmony with a heritage environment.

In 2007 Kokaistudios was invited by the Richemont Group, the Swiss headquartered international Luxury Lifestyle Goods Groups, to design and oversee a renovation of 2 historical villas in the heart of the French Concession in Shanghai. On the north side of the project site there was a partially completed structure begun in the 1990’s but never completed. At first sight nobody could imagine the potential to reuse the existing 2200 sqm of “rotten” structure but after a careful analysis on the status of conservation of the buildings foundations and structure we suggested setting a strategy of development reusing the main part of the existing resources. In this way was born the idea together with the Richemont Group to reconvert this system of messy concrete structures and to turn it into their new headquarters for China. The project presented particular challenges due to its position inside a historical site which is surrounded by highly protected heritage buildings and on the back from the industrial style boundary wall of the site. With great effort of adaptation Kokaistudios used at its advantage all these problems by proposing smart, efficient and elegant solutions that combined together create this impressive architectural project that is receiving today substantial positive reviews from both the public and press.

The presence of the historical heritage with very strong identity served as a point of inspiration for the new architecture where Kokaistudios decided solve the problem of integration by using a silent and minimal architectural composition based on the elegant combination of two materials that characterize the identity of the historical site but used here with a modern and contemporary language. The entire façade has been composed with cement plasters typical of the traditional construction culture of Shanghai and brass joints and details used in an innovative and elegant way. The deep research of harmony between the two buildings is clearly visible in the re-configured appearance of the square where the two facades dialogue directly together with a rare balance. Key problem due to the vicinity of the buildings and to their possible integration has been solved by adding a water garden on which our new building seems to stand light and transparent, creating a solution that increase the perception of the depth of the site and at the same time maximizes the natural light flow and the comfort of visitors and users.

On the north side of the building where originally there was a corrupted and informal structure Kokaistudios decided to clean up the situation and to create a peaceful space, a water garden related to the multi-functional space on the ground floor. In this area the boundary wall originally considered as a unpleasant presence become the opportunity to have a support for a design signature of this project; a wall finished with slabs of a particular marble personally selected and composed by our chief architects using old Italian techniques of cutting slabs vein to vein so to recreate the effect of a bamboo forest together with the black bamboo planted in front of it. This magic space designed as a secret oasis of peace in the middle of the most busy area of Shanghai become the background for the most prestigious cultural events hosted by the Richemont Group and contemporary art galleries. Particular attention has been reserved to the design of the entrance of the building where an intentional minimal and refined modern composition has been adopted in order to underline the modernity of the project; a dramatically overhanging canopy finished in brass invites the guest to walk into the space and drives the eyes to flow through the building up to the back water garden.


Richemont Offices

NATURAL WORKING SPACE

A new sustainable way to develop working space for the leader in the world for of jewelery and watch making.

When the Richemont Group; parent company of the several of the worlds leading luxury goods brands; planned to concentrate all their offices around the newly renovated site of Huai Hai lu 796 so as to create an integrated system representing the entire group, they invited Kokaistudios to complete the job done for the succesfull renovation of the site by designing the interior of thei Head Quarter in China. After Kokaistudios become the architectural firm following the development of the flagship project of this group in Asia, Richemont developed together with our Team and a selected number of international experts a “green book” setting the new sustainable strategy of development of the projects worlwide. This project is the first to execute this new total sustainable strategy and will be the platform of experimentation of a new life standard for working space of the group. The project development was divided in two steps, first of which already completed on the back of the site and the second under completion estimated for end of 2009, located on the front of Huai Hai lu. Here two floors of 1400 sqm of office space will complete the identification of the entire Richemont Group together with the new boutiques on the ground and second floor of Cartier, Montblanc, Piaget and many others brands of their group.

On the north building of the site where phase one has been completed the main headquarter space has been conceived in strong relation with the architecture of the building and the prominent identity of the surrounding site. The space is divided on three floors; on second and third floors are located the main offices conceived as a pleasant open space setting where a collaborative way of working dominates rather than the strict frustrating layout on cubical partitions. Layout, light design and material selection have been the instruments to create a different way of working, a space completely sustainable for the people that will live it. All the materials have been selected in a way to eliminate VOCs and other pollution agents and at the same time increasing efficiency of reuse and lowering environmental impact as much as possible. Smart daylight use and adoption of max energy savings sources and control system reduces energy consumption as much as possible and provide a pleasant working environment to the people. Finally also furniture has been completely custom designed adopting low environmental impact production systems and natural finishes that can stand in the time.

The ground floor of the building has been kept as a completely flexible open space where Richemont together with the prestigious art gallery Shangart can host events and exhibitions. The space maintained completely fluid and transparent is completed on the back by a wonderfull water garden, design instrument that distribute perfect calibrated day light to the exhibition space as well creating a magic environment for the guests.