UBER
Blue Vessel
Bean Buro’s design for UBER’s new Hong Kong office takes inspiration from Gottfried Semper’s writings on vessels, where he described the notion of form and function acting as a structured whole, with individual parts fulfilling their own function while cooperating with others to achieve an overall aim and effect.
Awards2017 - Perpsective A&D Trophy Award | 2017 - Golden A’ Design Award Winner | 2017 - Archdaily China Architecture Awards ‘17 NominationBean Buro team: Lorène Faure, Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, Elspeth Lee, Isabel Entrambasaguas, Michelle Ho, Tommy Hui, Gigi Kwong, Abby Liu
Main contractor: Winsmart Contracting Co. Ltd
Project manager: Colliers International
MEP consultant: WEC Engineering Consultants (International) Limited
Mural artist: Bao Ho
Client: UBER Hong Kong
“Each individual part of the vessel was a variety of work spaces equipped with their own privacy control such as misty gradient glass partitions or curtains. Work clusters occupy the open neighborhoods, each with access to shared supports and collaborative work zones. The work clusters can be re-arranged to match the constantly changing needs of the company.”
— Lorène Faure & Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, co-founders of Bean Buro
UBER’s new workplace, located on the top floor of an existing office building, was inspired by such notion of volumes and functions. Interpretations of the city’s waterfront topography and curvy mountains generated an undulating, voluptuous dark blue inhabitable vessel that contained meeting rooms, service areas and private work booths.
Human centered design
The space was designed humanly to connect people, reflecting the company’s ethos. Thus the heart of the workplace is a café pantry, designed to support large social events, independent working and informal meetings. It includes a collaborative bar island, stage seating, and a 20m long signature ‘Bean’ table with integrated cushioned seats facing the city’s racecourse and sports grounds.
“Bean Buro has delivered our new Hong Kong office outstandingly within a very short time and limited budget, while still maintaining a very high integrity of design and quality finishes. I am really happy with the awesome results and would definitely recommend Bean Buro for my other projects as well as my other peers in the industry.”
— Martin Rollyman, Workplace Manager, Uber
Drawing inspirations from local Hong Kong
Referencing the local urban life, the reception introduces vibrantly coloured tiled walls and floors, contrasted with handcrafted neon signage, while a padded felt wrapped reception desk is reminiscent of luxurious car seating.
A blue voluptuous backdrop connects all spaces together
Each individual part of the vessel was a variety of work spaces equipped with their own privacy control such as misty gradient glass partitions or curtains. Work clusters occupy the open neighborhoods, each with access to shared supports and collaborative work zones. The work clusters can be re-arranged to match the constantly changing needs of the company.
