ArchUnits | A Design Studio recently completed a renovation of an aging, crowded office building from the 1990s near Jing’an Temple in Shanghai. The Jing’an Commercial Building has been transformed into More Huashan—an open, collaborative, and shared office and leisure community.
Located on the edge of the former French Concession area, the building itself is not historically protected but is nestled among lush camphor trees, sprawling flower gardens, and residential buildings, creating a serene environment. Due to strict renovation regulations near this historic zone, the design strategy preserved the original building’s height, silhouette, and main structure. The prominent concrete wall facing Huashan Road, the building’s highest point and iconic feature, was retained as the design’s focal point.
Starting from this wall and inspired by geometric topology techniques, ArchUnits reimagined the exterior façade by reshaping key surfaces. This approach softened the building’s originally rigid boundaries through localized adjustments, creating a gentler visual connection with the surrounding historic district.
The façade layers blend virtual and real elements: the existing tall walls remain solid; a semi-transparent vertical grille provides westward shading, creating a balanced lighting environment inside the offices; and a transparent gap between them aligns with the indoor atrium, allowing natural sunlight and tree shadows to filter through. This layering enhances the building’s breathability and reduces its visual mass, easing the impact on neighboring older homes.
Inside, ArchUnits embraced minimalism through subtraction. The restrained use of materials and clear boundaries highlight the vertical atrium that spans all four floors. This atrium mirrors the external façade and establishes a strong connection between interior and exterior spaces. It becomes the building’s intimate spatial core, where sunlight, fresh air, and social interaction converge.
The atrium demands a central feature, and the staircase was chosen to fulfill this role. Redesigned to spiral and flow gracefully across layers, the staircase forms a captivating courtyard centerpiece. It invites people to gather and interact, fostering a vibrant and communicative environment within the building.
Design Drawings:
▲ Original Floor Plan
▲ Original Elevation View
▲ Original Elevation View
▲ New Floor Plan
▲ New Elevation View
▲ Exterior Elevation View
Project Information:
Owner: Zhihao Investment
Architect: ArchUnits | A Design Studio
Website: __AI_S_TURL_0__
Design Team: Zhang Shuojiong, Ni Chenhao, Liu Lin, Zheng Siyu
Structure and Electromechanical Engineering: Shanghai Aijian Architectural Design Institute
Lighting Design: Zhang Chenlu
Photography: Su Shengliang
Location: Huashan Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai
Area: 2,800 square meters
Completion Date: January 2019
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