SIM-PLEX AFFLATUS
靈感展坊
330 sq.ft I Tsuen Wan, HK I 2021
To Enlighten Design Inspiration With A Sense Of Tranquility and Habitation
以休恬安謐生活感啟發設計靈感
For a studio, space is the source of motivation and inspiration. However, in today's society, the office environment is generally dull and unpleasant, and lacks flexibility in spatial considerations. Under the pandemic, a new hybrid working model is derived. In some cases, employees will work at home through video conference, resulting in idle space costs; while some employees cannot concentrate and work at home due to the noisy environment, moreover, covid-19 also reduces the need for business trips and meetings, and so some employees even stay in the studio for longer time, making the studio to be an extension of 'home'. Different propositions were therefore derived when designing the studio for Sim-Plex : How to make effective use of the part of the studio when it is idle? How to improve the inspiration environment and atmosphere for the long duration time of staying by employees due to the pandemic? How to showcase the variety of design details and functionality when clients come to visit?
對於工作室來說，空間是動力及靈感的泉源。奈何現今社會，辦公環境一般沉悶泛味，而且缺乏彈性空間考慮。在疫情新常態下衍生混合工作模式，一些時間員工會透過視訊在家工作，做成空間閒置成本；而有些員工因家居環境嘈雜而沒法集中，難以在家工作，疫情同時減少了出差及外出會議的時間，所以他們留在工作室的時間更長，甚至使工作室成為了 ‘家’ 以外的第二延伸。在設計本案時因而衍生不同命題：在工作室部分閒置時該如何有效利用？如何改善因疫情新常態而多留工作室員工們的設計靈感環境氛圍？當客人探訪時如何展示設計節點的多元性及其功能性？
Sim-Plex design studio has been established for four years. The projects are mainly residential space. In the past, renting a work place couldn’t have its own sense of identity. A year ago, a factory unit with 50 years history was found and it located at the boundary of residential and industrial context. Sim-Plex eager to create a studio space with great flexibility and could inspire both the employees and clients. As being Sim-Plex's latest studio and gallery space, “Sim-Plex Afflatus" is designed with a sense of habitation as the basis, integrating leisure, home, entertainment, reading, coffee tasting, gallery, and office in one room. For employees, the shared space configuration can be used for office work, meetings or meals, where can be turned into a living space for reading books and tasting coffee when it is idle due to the pandemic or when employees are taking rest; for clients, it is an gallery that showcases the design details of mixed materials and is also a place for consultation and discussion.
Sim-Plex 設計工作室成立四年時間，設計項目以住宅空間為主，以往租用工作地方未能找到自身的歸屬感，於是一年前在荃灣工廈與住宅區的交界處物色了一個五十多年歷史的工廈單位。渴望為員工為客人打造富空間彈性並牽引靈感的工作展坊。本案「靈感展坊」作為Sim-Plex 最新的工作室及展坊，以生活感為設計基底，集休閑、家居、娛樂、閱讀、咖啡品嘗、展廊、辦公於一室。對員工而言，共享式的空間配置，既可辦公，又可作會議或用餐，因疫情閒置或員工休息時間時，可化作看書及品嚐沖調咖啡的生活空間；對客人而言，是展示混搭物料設計細節的藝廊，也是諮詢討論的場所。
Patrick Lam, the founder of Sim-Plex Design Studio, who are the first Hong-Konger to win the Dezeen Award and then also become a judge of the award, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic is actually a catalyst for redefining the studio space. We believe its impact is profound and continuous. When designing this studio and gallery space, the increased demand for the spatial flexibility should be take into consideration: when employees work at home, the space can be used as a gallery showcasing of the design details or for leisure habitation; when employees are in the studio, the integration of a sense of home can help balance employees’ stress of not going outdoor and traveling due to pandemic and stimulate their creative thinking .”
作為香港首次贏取Dezeen Award 獲獎者及後成為評審的Sim-Plex 設計工作室創辦人 Patrick Lam說道：「新冠疫情其實是重新反思空間的催化劑，我們相信其影響是深遠而持續的，所以在設計這工作及展示室時，要考慮辦公的空間彈性需求增加：當員工在家工作時，場所可作為設計展示藝廊或作休閒生活之用；當員工在工作室時，融入居家生活感有助平衡員工少了外出及旅行的苦悶感，亦可刺激他們的創作思維。」
New Hybrid Working Space Under Pandemic
Under pandemic, both spaces and working patterns have been affected. A new hybrid working pattern has been derived, which means employees some days work at home through video conference, some days stay in the office, and the rest is off. Therefore, there is a consideration of the cost of idle work space; and the lack of going out and traveling under pandemic has also led to the need to consider the mental and physical health at the office.
疫情下新常態彈性混合工作空間
疫情下，以往不論空間甚至工作模式都受到衝擊，新常態衍生出混合工作模式，意即有些日子在家工作，通過視訊會議，有些日子留在辦公室，其餘時間則休息。所以，工作空間有閑置成本的考慮；而疫情下少了外出及旅行亦導致需要考慮辦公心理和身理的健康度。
Sim-Plex incorporated the following considerations when designing its own studio: A slide-foldable begonia glass screen cabinet is set up at the entrance. When the glass screen is closed, not only ensuring the privacy of the studio, but also dividing an independent disinfection zone. where employees or clients can apply alcohol handrub, change Shoes, put umbrellas in the bin, etc.; when the screen is opened, it can be used as a bar counter for chatting. The cabinet also has a built-in refrigerator for frozen food or drinks; the recess of the screen cabinet can be temporarily placed with the cart but later for large printer; there are also gold-plated stainless steel hangers in the high position, which can hang natural potted plants or long umbrellas.
Sim-Plex在設計自家工作室時融入以下的考慮：在玄關位設置可趟摺的海棠玻璃屏風櫃，關上玻璃時，除可保障工作室的私隱度外，亦劃分出獨立的消毒區，員工或客人可在此區抹酒精搓手液、換鞋、放傘於傘筒等；打開屏風時，可作為吧枱，供站立聊飲之用，櫃亦有內置式雪櫃，可冷藏食物或飲料；屏風櫃的凹位，暫放手推車架，日後則存放大型印表機；在高位亦有鍍金不銹鋼掛通，可掛天然盆栽或長傘。
A total of 2200 x 1100mm extra-long terrazzo table, for four employees to use each with enough individual space, the table is basically supported by gold-plated stainless steel stand, and there is a wooden cabinet in the middle for supporting and a built-in electric system to supply power to the laptop; the table can also be used for multi-people meetings. The TV and projector screen in the studio can be used for PPT presentation; if the table is not used by employees, it can be used to greet friends and guests for a meal, the hidden electric system can power the induction cooker and for use of hot pot.
共2200 x 1100mm 的特長水磨石枱，4 名員工使用的話各自也有足夠的距離，枱面以鍍金不銹鋼幼通架作基本支撐，中間有木櫃作承抬及內置電制可供電給手提電腦；枱面亦可作多人會議之用，利用工作室內的電視及伸縮螢幕可作PPT的表述之用；若枱面沒員工使用時，則可作為招呼朋友客人用餐，枱中的暗藏電制可供電給電磁爐火鍋之用。
The Gallery Showcasing Mixed Materials And Design Details
Sim-Plex hopes that when clients come to visit for design consultation, the studio can be used as a gallery for showcasing mixed materials and various design details. Industrial buildings generally follow the beam and column structure, and the headroom is quite high, but at the same time the size of the beams and columns is very large. The giant beams and columns affect the functionality and atmosphere of the unit. Sim-Plex try to divide the ceiling into two zones. One side of the ceiling and the huge beam in the middle are wrapped with a wooden pitched roof ceiling. Light troughs and spotlights are added to create a peaceful and moody atmosphere. The other side is purely painted to keep the high headroom floor space.
混搭物料設計細節的展示藝廊
Sim-Plex 希望當客人到訪諮詢時，工作室可作為混搭物料及各種設計細節的展示藝廊。工廈一般沿用樑柱結構，而且樓底頗高但同時樑柱的尺寸很深，巨型樑柱影響單位的實用性及觀感。Sim-Plex 於是在天花佈局上一分為二，用木制斜簷頂包裹一邊天花及正中間巨樑，配以天花滲燈及射燈，形造休恬平靜氛圍，另一邊則純油漆以保留高樓底空間。
The unit has a huge column on one side, which is also covered by a full-height cabinet, with a craft-in space to reduce the sense of bulkiness, and matched with mixed materials for the finish, including the use of grey veneer, light wooden ecological melamine faced board, grey terrazzo, and some matched with bronze handle; a large number of material samples are stored in the cabinet for clients to choose from, and also daily necessities including clothes; the storage cabinet also has two wooden sliding doors with cloths finish and corkscrew inside. In addition to the storage space after opening the doors, the cloth panels can also be nailed up with paper, which is convenient for the staff to discuss the design or explain to the clients.
單位有巨柱的一邊，亦用全高收納櫃遮擋，配以中空位淡化壓迫感，並配以混搭物料作飾面，包括使用灰色木皮、淺木防花生態板、灰色水磨石、部分再配以青銅鏽花手抽；櫃內存放大量物料樣板供客人挑選，亦可放生活用品甚至衣服；收納櫃亦有兩隻面布內藏水松板木趟門，除了打開後有儲物位外，面布亦可供釘紙上去，方便員工討論設計或對客講解。
At the back of the second terrazzo table has a grey wooden full height cabinet, the finish is mainly dark walnut and light grey veneer, which can display the awards of Sim-Plex. The shelves are decorated with gold-plated stainless steel and light troughs; For the floor, the use of light grey wooden floor tiles is not only durable and can be matched with the wooden cabinets, at the front of the full-height cabinet, spanish vintage floor tiles are used with bronze dividing strips, highlighting the 50-year history of the industrial building.
另一長水磨石枱背亦有一開放式高櫃，飾面以深胡桃木及淺灰木皮為主，可展示工作室歷來的獎項，層架上有鍍金不銹鋼幼條裝飾，亦有滲光燈點綴；地板方面，使用淺灰木紋地磚不僅耐用並可配襯木色收納櫃，在全高櫃的前面則轉用西班牙復古花磚，配以青銅色分界條，突顯工廈五十年歷史的情懷。
The Scent Of Coffee Reacting With The Reading Atmosphere
The sense of habitation is not only about the daily functionality, but also the sense of smell. Therefore, the full-height cabinet of the studio has various coffee equipment including semi-automatic espresso machines, grinders, etc., and the room is filled with fragrance of coffee when making coffee; behind the foyer is a feature wall with grey-blue flower wallpaper, divided by walnut strips and underneath is a magazine rack, which can hold books or magazines written by Sim-Plex.
咖啡香氣洋溢閱讀氛圍
生活感的衍生除了是機能的配置外，亦要融入氣味嗅覺，於是本案工作室的全高櫃中空位有各種咖啡器材包括半自動濃縮咖啡機、磨豆機等等，調沖時室內充滿陣陣咖啡香氣；經玄關位後是一幅牆紙景牆，灰藍色的全花牆紙，配以深色胡桃木條，下方是雜誌架，可放Sim-Plex著作的書或雜誌。
The grey wooden wall at the side has the gold-plated stainless steel slogan ‘Live Beyond The Limit’ ; next to it is a marble round table can be used for clients consultation, and they can also enjoy coffee while reading a book at the rack; behind the extra-long terrazzo table is a large cork board concealed in a cloth for nailing paper up, and underneath is around two-meter-long bookcase, just like a mini library; beside it, there is a long sofa for seat or sleep, with two marble round tables, a wall-mounted TV, and a projector screen at the top. There is also a small magazine rack on the side of the grey woodwn full-height cabinet; when in Friday happy hour, disco light could be put on the long terrazzo table to change to holiday mood for the studio.
側身在灰木牆身上以鍍金不銹鋼標示“活超於限” 工作室設計方向的字句；旁邊是爵士白雲石圓枱，可供客人做諮詢時使用，亦可一邊享用咖啡，一邊看書；特長水磨石枱後是一塊大面布內藏水松板，可供釘紙上去，下是兩米幾長的書櫃，仿似小型圖書館一般；在旁則有長梳化卡座，可供閒坐或睡亦可，配以兩張爵士白雲石圓枱，有掛牆電視，頂亦有伸縮螢幕，灰木全高收納櫃側有小型雜誌架;有時可能星期五放工等歡樂時光，的士高燈可放水磨石枱做出放鬆情調。
The Revitalisation Of Industrial Space
The functionality of industrial building has gradually faded out with time. In recent years, the government has proposed a number of measures to revitalise industrial buildings and encourage the units to be used as art and design studios. Sim-Plex also hopes to give a new potential to industrial units. The site context of this industrial building is located at the junction of the residential and the industrial area, which is advantageous in location and closer to the supporting facilities of the livelihood.
滄海桑田．工廈生命的重塑
工廈建築隨時代的變遷，其原有機能漸漸淡化，近年政府提出多項措施活化工廈，鼓勵單位用作藝術、設計工作室，Sim-Plex 亦藉此希望重新賦予工廈單位的新生命。而這工廈的位置是座落在住宅區與工廈區的交界處，位置上有利並較貼近民生的配套。
In the lobby of the 50 years old industrial building, the lift is old-style and need manual control configuration; In the corridor, a bronze-plated stainless steel door frame is used to echo the historical sense of the industrial building, and the gradually white fritted glass door has the effect of contrasting and increasing privacy of the studio. When the glass door is opened, the front is the gold-plated stainless steel font sign of Sim-Plex with light trough; at the top of the long sofa is a giant beam with raw concrete texture to echoing the history of the industrial building; ventilation in industrial buildings is generally the most difficult subject. Sim-Plex added two vents to the original small windows to greatly increase the convection air.
由五十多年歴史的工廈大堂，電梯也是舊式的手動開門配置，充滿著古色古香的味道； 去到走廊位，用古銅鍍色不銹鋼門框呼應工廈的歷史感，而漸白效果玻璃大門，則具反襯及增加私隱度的作用，打開門正對是Sim-Plex 的鍍金不銹鋼字型招牌，有滲燈效果；長梳化上是條巨型橫樑，以剷底做法令橫樑用最原本的混凝土質感示人，呼應工廈五十多年歴史的痕跡；工廈單位的通風一般是最難的課題，Sim-Plex 於是在原有的小窗加上兩個抽風器大大增加對流風。
The importance of the studio environment under the pandemic has greatly increased.“Sim-Plex Afflatus” which is the latest studio and showroom for Sim-Plex, hopes to make effective use of space when it is idle, and improve the working atmosphere for employees while injecting a sense of habitation to balance the distress under pandemic. Sim-Plex also hopes to create an excellent place for clients to admire the design details and consult design.
工作室環境在疫情新常態下對員工或客人的重要性也大大提升，本案「靈感展坊」作為Sim-Plex 最新的工作室及展坊，冀望能善用因疫情衍生的閒置空間成本，及改善員工的工作氛圍，注入居家生活感，平衡疫情下的苦悶。同時亦希望成為客人感受設計細節及諮詢設計的絕佳場所。
