Recently, Merit Interactive Headquarters, designed by LYCS Architecture architecture, interior, and exhibition integration design, officially opened. Merit Interactive Headquarters is located in the eastern part of the West City Science and Technology Innovation Corridor in Hangzhou. It has a construction area of approximately 87,000 square meters and includes functional configurations such as research and development, office, conference, exhibition hall, leisure, and entertainment. It can accommodate up to 5,000 people working and living simultaneously. The architectural structure rises high, resembling a giant whale jumping out of the ocean. The design ingeniously employs a three-dimensional landscape at its base, guiding the observer's gaze upward, while its flowing curves infuse the space with a sense of joy and vitality. This thoughtful design elevates the structure's aesthetic appeal enriches the spatial experience, engendering an uplifting and inspiring environment.
Merit Interactive is a professional data intelligence service provider that is the first to list on the A-share market in China. Based on the business type of the client and the corporate logo "Whale," the design team proposed the design concept of "The Giant Whale Leaped Out of Ocean": three towers stand on the east, northwest, and southwest sides of the site, forming a wraparound overall layout. The oversized podium lifts and connects three relatively independent architectural volumes, crafting an indoor continuum accommodating a versatile array of office settings. This innovative design enables a fluid and adaptable working environment conducive to collaboration among teams of varying sizes and compositions. The podium's roof provides a continuous and rich activity space for social, entertainment, sports, and other lifestyles. The main building is like a tangible corporate totem, continuously positively impacting the company culture and showcasing an open, innovative, and vibrant corporate identity while enhancing employees' sense of belonging.
The building's volumes strive for simplicity, with slight changes in the tower's plan to visually reduce the oppressive feeling of the building's volume. Each tower responds with a trend of high on the left and low on the right, fostering a visual synergy between the structures and introducing a refreshing diversity to the city's skyline. The design of the building's facade breaks away from the traditional horizontal composition and features dynamic diagonal elements throughout. The curtain wall comprises a light gray metal aluminum plate, a Chinese character "个" (Ge) pattern ventilator, and ladder angle double-layer Low-E insulating glass. The trapezoidal transparent floor-to-ceiling window and rectangular metal plate are staggered in sequence. The subtle angle between floor-to-ceiling window units enriches the reflection effect of the building facade on the light, forming a unique oblique texture. Based on satisfying the use, lighting, and ventilation, with the change of sunshine angle, the changeable projection and reflection show a fish scale-like vitality.
The high-spirited tower adds multiple depths of field to the building while enriching the activity scenes and landscape levels. Unlike conventional office parks with fixed routines, the three-dimensional traffic mode provides a variety of choices. Multiple viewpoints shuttle up and down the trail, and a dynamic visual beauty instantly captures the heart. The terrace linking the indoor and outdoor spaces creates an ideal spot for the tech company's staff to socialize, recharge, and brainstorm while maintaining a flexible and free office ambiance. The green landscape is closely embedded in the building's atrium and seamlessly integrated into the interior through the high-permeability floor-to-ceiling window. The murmuring water scenery and lush greenery make the courtyard landscape attractive when entering and looking down from above. Large zigzag steps provide a great imaginative space for public activities. Beyond facilitating movement, these steps offer spaces for relaxation, events, and interpersonal interactions.
"Ocean Culture" has also been integrated into interior design. LYCS Architecture believes a warm and inclusive office space can give every employee a sense of belonging and honor. The design team will extract ocean-related colors and elements into public space design, creating a vibrant and energetic corporate atmosphere. Thanks to integrated design, building components, including pipelines, have become important design elements: the design team's innovative theme color sky insertion system liberates the indoor layout and makes the overall space appear spacious. Discussing anytime and anywhere is a unique working way for Merit Interactive, so the design team proposed leaving space around the wall and transforming the inner facade of the aluminum panel into a whiteboard wall, allowing discussions to unfold anytime and anywhere in the sunlight.
