Searching for office space that inspires creativity and alternative ways of thinking is a real challenge in this age of homogenised architecture and budget led design, but a project underway in Zhengzhou, China is set to challenge that assumption. Swiss architect Christian Kerez whose notable works include the Vaduz Art Museum and the ill-fated Warsaw MoMA project, is currently working on Zhengzhou 1 & 2, an office development that strips back the conventions and preconceived wisdom of modern tower block development in favour of something drastically different both inside and out.
When asked about the thought processes underlying this project Kerez says "what interests me is not design in the sense of creating a shape or defining materials, details or colors, I am much more interested in changing the most basic elements there are in architecture. What is a column? What is a slab? How are they connected? It’s attention to the genetic code of the building rather than say, the cosmetics of a building, or plastic surgery. Not the skin, but the bones, is the target of the design."
These are all concepts that are rarely given much thought by commercial developers despite the fact that it is the guts and skeleton of a building that are the zones of direct contact with those who spend half their lives working within. The internal design of workspaces should be of equal importance to any fancy facade, as it is innovative and thoughtful inner spaces that can either spur or depress the innovation of those that use them and eventually the economic growth of the city's that commission them. It may be the case that buildings that break the mould cost more, are prone to construction delays and aren't necessarily 'the tallest so far' but any short term gains in profitability or prestige are inevitably going to be overshadowed by a project that produces divergent thinking, self confident individuals and organisations.
Christian Kerez is currently exhibiting at Tokyo's Toto gallery where renderings, models, animations and drawings of his work, including those for Zhengzhou 1 & 2, will be on display until the end of September 2013.
NewOfficeAsia.com doesn't currently represent any serviced office facilities in Zhengzhou but we will be keeping a close eye on Zhengzhou 1 & 2 as it comes online for business in the next year or so.