In Chinese, yuánmǎn (圆满) is used to describe a sense of fulfilment. The word is composed of yuán which represents a circle, and mǎn meaning satisfaction. It is an apt analogy for Grosvenor Asia Pacific’s office in Central, Hong Kong, given how Bean Buro’s design and Grosvenor’s commitment to staff welfare were complementary in creating a well-rounded office environment.

Grosvenor Group is one of the world’s largest privately owned property business. Its Asia Pacific arm has an active presence in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Operating in fast-paced, economically driven environments, the company differentiates itself by doing what it can to make a positive contribution to its communities and the environment.

Grosvenor’s offices become natural choices to showcase the company’s ethos.

Its offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong were awarded the International WELL Building Institute’s Gold-level Certification for the WELL Building Standard in January and March 2018 respectively.

The certification is based on a point system that measures the impact of building design and wellness initiatives to user well-being. The accolade is even more special for the Hong Kong office, as it is the first workplace refurbishment project in Asia to be awarded.

Grosvenor’s Hong Kong headquarters are located in Jardine House, one of the landmark skyscrapers defining Hong Kong’s skyline since 1972. The tower is known for its distinctive porthole-like facade, which was designed to provide structural support. The porthole’s circular shape inspired Bean Buro’s design narrative, which reflects the client’s belief in quality, integrity and social responsibility. Lorène Faure, Bean Buro’s co-founding Director, relates the circular motif to the moon gate, a traditional building element found in oriental tea gardens symbolising tranquillity and comfort.

Circles are plentiful in the 4,243-square-foot office. Anish Kapoor’s Mirror (Black/Green to Cobalt Blue) greets visitors as they enter the reception area.

Damien Hirst’s mandala-like Psalm Prints are hung on office walls. Circular acoustic panels are installed at the end of each workstation cluster. Even the doors feature a round timber handle from Muuto.

Meticulous down to the minute details, Kinugasa-Tsui also points out the Arte Le Corbusier Polka-dot wallpaper and the Kvadrat acoustic fabric with a recessed dot pattern, which were used in meeting rooms and focus rooms respectively.

Read the full article in Cubes 93: Designing Wellness – Out Now!