HCCH Studio 合尘建筑

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian

OFFICE VILLA RENOVATION IN FFC SHANGHAI

HCCH Studio

ARCHITECTS
Hcch Studio

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Chenchen Hu, Hao Chen

ENGINEERING
Hongzhen Yang, Wei Gu

MANUFACTURERS
Hafele, China South Glass, Shanghai Shanfang Door Industry, Zhonghuan Stone Factory

DESIGN TEAM
Chenchen Hu, Hao Chen, Xuyin Zou, Ziyan Ge, Yi Gao, Yazhou Ding, Zehong Liu, Cheng Liu, Tingshu Yao, Xiufeng Li

PHOTOGRAPHS
Fangfang Tian, Qingyan Zhu

AREA
600 m²

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
Shanghai, China

CATEGORY
Renovation, Offices Interiors

A series of interventions breathes new life into the 3-story brick-concrete pseudo garden villa built in 1990s in Shanghai French Concession. The building experienced several times of refurbishment, lacking legible structure system and stylistic characteristic.

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian

It is a mundane patch among the neighborhood, juxtaposed with garden villas, 6-story public ho using and office towers to the further north.

The building can be neither a nostalgia of concession, nor a mimic of modernism. It can only be itself under specific condition, trying to fit in while confronting its surroundings.

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian

The building has only one exposed facade while the volume was missing on the southwest corner. By making up the walls on the corner, the outline is completed, which offers a special moment of the building.

The intact and abstract massing stands out from its surroundings, while the opening on the corner variates the repetition of the existing windows. It also provides a frame looking at the neighborhood, which works as a supplement to the limited outdoor space.

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian

The color and rough texture of limestone facade responds to the mortar of surrounding villas. The golden tinted glass helps to block the view and brings warm atmosphere to interior.

The facade features big glass window with no division, L-shape drip,stainless steel window frame. These sleek slender elements slightly distinct the building from other villas.

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian

The building is an office villa for financial company. First and second floors are used as office space. The third floor is for meeting and private use. The existing stair on the north is demolished. Some floor is removed on the south to open a three-story high atrium.

The new stair and bridge create promenade circulation looking down to the atrium. We designed two types of parapets to adapt different position. One is solid with wood finishing, the other is lower with metal railing on top. The parapet and railing extends and becomes part of fixed furniture.

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu

The window detail is a featured element in this project. To adopt curtain rod or curtain box are not ideal solutions, because the existing window openings are small. We decide to add depth of the walls, which forms smaller openings offset from exiting openings.

This detail helps solve several issues. The curtain track could be better concealed; the thick window frame and construction defect could be partly covered; the skirting board could be flush to the wall.

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian

Concrete walls around the atrium are reinforced by steel frames. Beams are added to large span openings. All the reinforced components are intentionally concealed. The materials include wallpaper, paint, oak floor, maple siding.

The project attempts to take mild intervention, in another word, tries to be more site specific in terms of context and budget, avoiding unnecessary formal expression and styled elements.

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian

We are convinced that the quality of space and delightful daily experience could be fulfilled through honest strategy, plain material and considered.


Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian


Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Fangfang Tian
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
© Qingyan Zhu


Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Model. Image Courtesy of HCCH Studio
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Model. Image Courtesy of HCCH Studio
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Model. Image Courtesy of HCCH Studio
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Courtesy of HCCH Studio


Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Section A-A
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Section B-B


Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
1F plan

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
F1 plan

Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
2F plan
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Original 2F plan
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
3F plan
Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Original 3F plan


Office Villa Renovation In FFC Shanghai
Roof plan

HCCH Studio 合尘建筑
HCCH Studio 合尘建筑
88 xianxia road, w302b, Shanghai, China 200336 上海市长宁区仙霞路88号西楼302B