Lane Crawford Joyce Group's new headquarters in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, luxury retailer Lane Crawford Joyce Group has acquired something of a reputation for creative interiors thanks to a series of new-look contemporary stores fusing fashion, art and architecture.
The 162-year-old company's most recent innovative project is the creation of distinctive new headquarters to house the Group's four subsidiaries - covering high end fashion, lifestyle products and retail brand management - under one roof. Jennifer Woo, chairman and CEO, says the group's vision was 'to redefine the environment in which we work with each other; the opportunity to bring together the larger group of companies; the opportunity to design a space that is a physical manifestation of who we are.'
Land Crawford Joyce Group's decision to house its new space in location in Wong Chuk Hang, a somewhat gritty industrial district on the south side of the island, was a bold move. The area, however, is fast becoming an up-and-coming style hub and offered an unusual opportunity in space-challenged Hong Kong to create a creative work environment for around 900 employees.
Inside, the New York industrial loft design concept was created by an in-house team of creatives and implemented by CL3, a local design firm led by architect William Lim. Seven floors (each measuring approximately 25,000 sq ft) feature open-plan spaces customised with an eclectic mix of modern industrial furnishings, antiques sourced from Parisian flea markets and artworks repurposed from the company's stores.
Design highlights include the 'Press Cage' on the 30th floor: a flexible event and fashion display space with a traditional Chinese shutter-inspired metal enclosure. 'It's one of my favourite spaces because it’s a blank palette that enables us to create whatever we wish to', says Woo. 'We had a press day there for the launch of the new season, and even a string quartet for the opening of an arts festival. I love the space because it’s very open and it’s always changing.' Other stylish notables include a Piet Hein Eek 7.5m recycled boardroom table and book paintings by American artist Mike Stilkey.
Throughout, the design focus is on facilitating communication through communal planning, although this is balanced with plenty of opportunities for privacy: for instance, replica vintage telephone boxes are available for private calls and a Wellness Room offers massage, yoga and meditation led by an in-house professional therapist.
Elsewhere a nod to local heritage adds a nice touch: an antique lacquered black Chinese boardroom table paired with modern leather boardroom chairs from Paris, for example.
The lucky occupants also have some outdoor space: the rooftop with views over the South China Sea has been transformed into an urban garden complete with bee hives.
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