IbA collaborated with Simon Chee Architects to create a 8,000sq.ft co-working space inspired by the experience walking inside a park for the west campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University that bridge teachers and students during off-lecture hours.
Visitors by elevators are greeted by a spacious 2-storey lobby with L-shaped bleacher seating, which is designed to accommodate from talks and sharing, to daily function as a waiting area.
Inside the facility includes consultation rooms and meeting rooms, private study booths, casual reading spaces along perimeter and a common pantry situated at the centre of floor plate overviewing a roof deck. While all meeting spaces has a low ceiling level to create a sense of intimacy, architect Eddie Wong intends to open up the ceiling for the rest of communal spaces to make an distinction for their distinctive purposes.
All the functional spaces are connected by a 2m wide vinyl paving in curves that connects visitors from one area to another. The materiality architect has chosen including wood panel, over hanging green ceiling plate along the walking path, and green carpet encourages users to "take a walk into the wood, enjoy a conversation no only as professor and student, but also as a good friend."
Team
Dr. Simon Chee, Ar. Eddie Wong (SCAL)
Ar. Ivan Wong, Abby Au Yeung, Sarah Liu (IbA)
