The Hong Kong Fung Development headquarters, designed by the Hong Kong-based cross-media design studio Design Systems, aims to bring nature into an artificial environment. By focusing on subtle details and incorporating a variety of materials, the space exudes refined simplicity and embodies a new, people-centered office concept.
Covering 1,500 square meters, the office is divided into two main areas: 40% open space and 60% dedicated office areas. This layout supports daily work for a team of 50 employees and management. Such a low-density, open arrangement is a rare luxury in Hong Kong, a city known for its scarce land resources.
People are the company’s most valuable asset. During the design process, great care was taken to imagine how individuals would interact with each element, prioritizing employee comfort and experience. This approach reflects the core philosophy of Design Systems.
Open Space: A Canvas of Light and Shadow
The open area, featuring sky gardens, conference rooms, and rest zones, serves as the central axis of the office design. It encourages communication, relaxation, and interaction among colleagues through innovative spatial techniques.
Light and texture are the defining design elements here.
The design team carefully considered how light changes throughout the day, creating a unique atmosphere with abundant natural light during daylight hours, warm tones at dusk, and thoughtfully placed artificial lighting.
Materials such as marble GRC, wood, and aluminum alloy—with their distinctive textures—interact with varying light temperatures, forming a dynamic backdrop for the interplay of light and shadow.
Sunlight filters through the ceiling structure and casts leaf-like shadows on the marble floor during the day, shifting to rest against the striped walls at dusk. These natural patterns enrich the visual language of the space.
The design team views materials as textures, focusing on how to create three-dimensional patterns through arrangements and combinations rather than merely emphasizing their shapes. Natural materials like marble and wood are showcased in multiple forms—flat, curved, and sculptural. Stripe walls made from U-shaped extruded aluminum and oak panels, alongside a wavy GRC ceiling, highlight the interaction between man-made materials and sunlight. Layered materials cast shadows that enhance the space’s visual tension.
Office Space: A Blend of Sky, Blue, and Detail
Rather than adopting a typical open office layout, the design respects the client’s need for privacy to enhance focus and productivity. Independent workspaces provide quiet environments tailored to their work nature.
At the same time, design solutions address the common issue of cramped offices. Deep blue sound-absorbing screens made from recycled denim fabric complement the towering light blue stone walls with cloud patterns, creating a calming office environment that evokes the sky outside.
The design also caters to employees’ emotional well-being. When fatigued, they can stretch in open spaces, but even at their desks, they can look up to the sky through the windows, offering moments of calm and reflection.
We designed a custom mesh ceiling made from extruded aluminum, optimizing lighting and fixture installation. The alternating use of upward, downward, and reflected light produces a natural, soft, and stable illumination that supports employee productivity.
The attention to detail is the soul of this project—from elevator display lights, door handles, and lighting switches to ceiling fixtures, wall finishes, furniture, glass tiles, and washbasins—all were specially designed and customized by the team. From concept through implementation and maintenance, both designers and clients are committed to meticulous care.
One standout detail is the custom marble clothes hook discreetly hidden behind a bathroom stall—an example of the team’s dedication to design details, even those out of the public eye. This commitment defines Design Systems’ people-oriented approach, which subtly conveys the client’s brand spirit through persistent innovation and creates a unique spatial experience.
△ Plan view
△ Ceiling diagram
△ Section diagram
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Project Information
Project Name: Painting of Light and Shadow – Hong Kong and Fung Development Headquarters
Design Company: Design Systems Ltd
Company Website: __AI_ST_URL_0__
Contact Email: __AI_S_SC0__
Company Location: 5th Floor, Langtao Building, 654-656 Castle Peak Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Project Completion Year: 2019
Building Area: 1,524 m²
Project Address: 18 Chang Yue Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong
Lead Architect: Lin Weiming
Chief Architect Email: __AI_S_SC0__
Facebook: http://facebook.com/designsystemsltd
Instagram: http://instagram.com/designsystems_hk
Design Team: Lin Weiming, Ye Junwen, Wang Yongjian, Zhong Jianlong, Cui Zhong, Xiao Yan, Gao Jiajia, Zhang Xing, Zheng Jinglu, Wang Jilu, Chuman
Principal: HKPI Development Co., Ltd
Architectural Design: AGC Design Ltd, Chuangzhi Architects Co., Ltd
Structural Design: ATKINS Consulting Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Designed by Design Systems Ltd
Logo Design: Codesign Ltd
Construction Contractor: City Decoration Works Co. Ltd
Metal Construction: Wing Dik Co. Ltd
GRC Construction: New Prefabrication Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited APG (HK) Ltd
Photography: Design Systems Ltd
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