A R C H I T E C T U R E
Unit B4
In 2021, HJ²K Design Lab created ‘Unit B4,’ a contemporary office space within an industrial shell, working with the raw and unfinished qualities of the space, as well as addressing its scale and proportion. HJ²K Design Lab responded to the large volume of the space in a sculptural way, developing a series of simple plywood boxes to house the meeting rooms, amenities, and form the entry to the space. Acting as a counterpoint to these monolithic forms is a suspended timber structure, defining the central bank of workstations and framing a series of large scaled pendants. An informal breakout space is housed between two of the boxes, and connects directly to the exterior. HJ²K Design Lab designed the breakout furniture, reusing salvaged timber from Goodman’s other sites, paired with stools custom painted in the HJ²K Design Lab.
Parasite Office
HJ²K Design Lab completed Parasite Office in 2021, this project utilises the free space between buildings in the creation of original and economic office spaces. The first realization of this concept has become an architect’s studio space which is planned to be build in between two houses on a suburban steet. The project creates a three-floor volume with an accessible roof area, divided with modular floor panels. The framework which shapes it, is a single structural unit clamped between the blind facades of the houses. The polygonal main facade creates a highly dynamical volume, it is made from light and durable cellular polycarbonate.
Architect's Office
The office design was materialised by HJ²K Design Lab to be place for people to work in a creative environment, a workplace to enjoy. The zoning of spaces keeps the main cabin with attached conference space at the rear to maintain privacy as well as visually connecting it to front office. Moving down from front entrance, a glass roof allows for ample light to enter into the interior spaces. A raised platform has an informal conference seating designed by fixing steel pipes with an abstract panel ceiling. The flooring and walls at the front office is kept as cement finish to give emphasis on display panels. An abstract partition acts as divide, continuing on the ceiling extending into multiple abstract boxes. The lower part has open workstations connected by cantilevered wooden steps. A green space with grass flooring and elliptical seating space is used as breakout space in the interior and used for reading books. Two workstations for senior architects are designed behind the seating.
Trinity House
The brief was to design a high quality iconic building that would bring a positive contribution to its environment economically and aesthetically. The building is a contemporary and vibrant working space that is efficient in terms of its occupancy density and also flexible in terms of the layout and design. It really benefits from the full height glazing and central atrium that afford high levels of natural light. Working spaces also include breakout areas where staff can move away from their desk and enjoy a short break and great views across the city.
Sustainable design principles, energy efficiency and green technologies have been incorporated to achieve a building with a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and an EPC rating of ‘A’.
Second Home Studio
Located in a former carpet factory in Shoreditch, Second Home is a collaborative workspace for various small companies. At the front of the two-storey space is a canteen restaurant where occupants are encouraged to interact with one another and share ideas, the area doubles up as an informal workspace. To ensure the flexibility in this room, it features a grand U-shaped meeting table that can be winched up towards the ceiling when not in use. Legs can be screwed on and off, to ensure stability when people are leaning on it. The various offices are spread out over two floors, all contained behind the bubble-like plastic partitions. These maintain views all the way through the building, from the front to the rear.
© 2021 by HJ²K Design Lab.
DISCLAIMER: This is a student project based at Nottingham Trent University. All content is part of an undergraduate project to create an imaginary business in 2021, and is entirely fictitious. All use of material from other sources is fully acknowledged, and no part of this site is intended as the basis for a real company or for the offer of any professional services.