Excerpt: Aurora Design Office in Kunming is an interior design project by the firm itself, that adopts a novel strategy to shatter the sombre and traditional image of offices. With raw wood, metal, stones, and unique shapes in a variety of bold colours, the designers create a physical presence in a dreamlike environment, constructing a new type of office concept that is both free and efficient, inclusive and diverse, as well as youthful and fresh.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] The inherent contrasting colours of the city have given the new office of Aurora Design a natural language system. The new office, located in Kunming, is a mix of novelty, adventure and antiquity. In this city that is always full of interesting adventures, the designers take an innovative approach and cast away the serious image and inherent rules of office spaces. Inspired by the brand philosophy of “creating fantasy and beauty,” they created a unique “Aurora rabbit hole. It is diverse and relaxing, efficient but free, and full of youthful enthusiasm. It is the freshness and strangeness one encounters in the city during their adventure.
Right next to the entrance, the linear space guides the user into a small area surrounded by soft colors, and there is a feeling of wanting to keep moving forward and exploring the next adventure. A tranquil experience unfolds in the foreground, where the green paintings hanging on the wall are combined with gentle colours.
At the end of the long corridor, the sudden burst of natural light reveals the space in front of one’s eyes. The gentle interweaving of wood and metal guides the user towards an open space that is inclusive and diverse. With the diverse configuration of space functions, people are no longer confined to seriousness at work. They can sit quietly, communicate, discuss, and await fresh ideas to come up in this space.
As one moves forward, a brighter and more diverse space unfolds in front of them. The ups and downs of the flooring create a sense of freedom and variation in silence, allowing seamless and efficient transitions between different functions. Only those who are sensitive can discover the emotion hidden within the space, which is also part of the adventure.
Stepping onto the stairs, a balance between openness and privacy is achieved within the space. Large warm-coloured areas and orderly patterns leave a large blank space, while liveliness and restraint interweave with each other in this space where the innovative colour combines with the semi-open spatial forms. The vibrant colour that represents youth and energy can trigger more new and exciting ideas.
Different colours and forms create a surreal, dreamlike space, like the inexplicable adventures in a fantasy dream. Every surprise in each corner triggers different creative ideas, leading to the creation of even more captivating and enchanting scenes.
As the user moves through the changing scenery, chasing the emotional fluctuations of the space, they arrive at a space filled with “moments of inspiration”. The use of blue window frames highlights the attributes of the space, where rationality and calmness coexist with a lively and playful atmosphere, always ready to encounter the next burst of inspiration.
The designer has incorporated a bookshelf into the wall, placing every “moment of inspiration” in this space. Various installations and artworks stimulate the senses and ignite the mind, allowing every burst of inspiration to be touched through reading and communication.
When the user is contemplating what they might see at the next crossroad, they must slowly open the wooden door with the circular window. The white louvred windows, vintage warm wooden tones, and some unusually shaped furniture compose this unique and peculiar meeting space that contrasts with the often depressing and dull atmosphere of meetings and the rigidity of rules. Perhaps this is the sense of humour that the designer wants to express through the space.
Pushing the “blue door”, people are greeted with warm wooden tones that naturally lead them into another enchanting dreamland. The warmth of food soothes their hearts, and the warm yellow light shines on the mosaic tabletop, with every piece of mosaic reflecting the imagination of cuisine. The harmony between the mosaic table and the orderly storage cabinets extends the beauty of the space’s rules and aesthetics.
The strong metallic reflections contrast harmoniously with the scattered reflections of light on the glass, while the combination of point light sources and linear lighting enhances the sense of privacy within the space.
The living room is full of ideas and inspirations, and the user can happily pick them up one by one, arranging and presenting them in their own way. They can tell each visitor about their origins, discoveries, and stories waiting for an ending. Regarding colour and form, they each have their own free way to develop and continue.
The entire office space is immersed in a free and relaxing atmosphere, without the serious and rigid image of a traditional office or the boredom during repetitive workdays. From functional layout to atmosphere, the designers care about the diverse needs of every partner in the workspace. This shared office space represents youthfulness and encourages the free flow of creativity.
Aurora Design’s new office in Kunming shuttles through the city that is full of adventure and fresh experiences with its elegance and dreamlike features, capturing the freshness of every moment with beauty that seems to come from the imagination.
With raw wood, metal, stones, and unique shapes in a variety of bold colours, the designers create a physical presence in a dreamlike environment, constructing a new type of office concept that is both free and efficient, inclusive and diverse, as well as youthful and fresh. They hope to embody Aurora Design’s design philosophy of “creating fantastic beauty” in their new office while preserving these moments of inspiration and looking forward to every innovative adventure in this “City of Spring.”
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