An Urban Infill

Built on a hilly site, next to a residential area, with an old concrete portico covered with liana, this office was redeveloped from a large greenhouse that used to belong to the provincial agricultural science institute. Given the building’s special history to the institute and neighbourhood, the architects wanted to minimise environmental interference to the existing site, as well as cultural and social disruption to the community. Due to the project’s limited budget and timeline, local materials, craftsmanship and labour, as well as on-site construction methods, were utilised.

In preserving both the internal and external spatial relationship of the original structure, they maintained the earliest greenhouse while creating new work studios—a series of intimate and village-like workspaces under the greenhouse’s skin. The building is constructed out of lightweight galvanised steel and a pitched roof canopy, timber windows and doors, along with a pervasive use of glass that allows for constant illumination of natural light throughout the day—all keeping in line with the glasshouse aesthetics. Additionally, three large trees growing on the ground floor are left intact—reaching up to the upper level, they help to define the entry foyer.

PROJECT DATA

Project Name	Work-studio in a Plant-house
Location	Guangzhou, China
Completion Date	January 2017
Site Area	555 square meters
Gross Floor Area	1.214 square metres
Number of Rooms	21
Building Height	7.28 meters
Client/Owner	AO GROUP
Architectural Firm	O-office Architects
Principal Architect	Jianxiang he; Ying Jiang
Civil &Structural Engineer	Shuqi Wan
Images/Photos	O-office Architects; Liky Photos