Shanghai-based design studio Neri&Hu have transformed a former missile factory in Beijing into a contemporary office, named The Garage. In addition to an office, the space houses a car repair workshop and a cafe. Through their renovations, Neri&Hu looked to capture the incandescent allure once associated with automobiles. With the project as a whole conceived as a workshop space, the design employs a mixture of raw and refined details, reflecting the energy and soul of the industrial era.
The bones of the former missile factory have been left largely untouched, however, added a third level through the addition of a steel frame structure. Natural light fills the space, coming in through a series of windows framed in black metal, as well as through the raw steel-edged glass garage doors.
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Inspired by the industrial era, the space’s concrete and steel construction, primarily neutral colour palette, and unadorned metal composition are contrasted with the use of an additional layer of rich, textured materials – brushed bronze and walnut timber – which serve to lighten the space and provide a sense of hospitality.
Words by Theo Rosen
Images courtesy of Neri&Hu