NIPPON DESIGN CENTER

NDC is a Japanese photography studio located inside an existing factory complex in Beijing, China.  The office space is designed to blur the distinction between the interior office and studio space by using translucent polycarbonate for the walls, floors and ceilings of the space. 

Date: 2005-12-17

Client: Nippon Design Center

Program: Office / Studio / Living

Team: By Kengo Kuma and Associates with Luke Willis as Project Architect

Location: Beijing, China

Area: 2,073 m²

Status: Completed

An old factory on the outskirt of Beijing is renovated as a state of the art photo studio.  A 3story office space is designed between a dome studio and a panel studio.  New automobiles from various brands are primarily photographed here and must be kept confidential, while simultaneously providing access and view for clients and workers.  The conflicting program inspired the usage of translucent polycarbonate as a material to obscure the threshold between rooms and views while providing the maximum amount of natural light inside the office space.  The material strength of the polycarbonate also inspired us to use it as a structural member for the flooring, consequentially obscuring the threshold between vertical spaces.

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