Brewin Design Office blends Brutalist influences and shipping heritage at this Hong Kong office space

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

February 23, 2024 8:30 AM SGT

The waiting lounge of the office features dark floors and walls contrasted against a dramatic sculptural ceiling (Picture: Brewin Design Office)

Led by founder and principal Robert Cheng, Singapore-based Brewin Design Office is renowned for its work across the city. Recent projects include the interiors and sales gallery of ultra-luxury condo Park Nova, the lobby and common areas redesign for CBD office tower 61 Robinson and the enhancement of Capital Square’s exterior plaza and lobby.

The studio has also expanded its presence to Hong Kong, where its work includes the design concept for seaside condo Oma by the Sea by Wing Tai Properties and the redesign of an office space located at the top of Shui On Centre in Wan Chai, among others.

Brewin Design Office has achieved a new milestone in Hong Kong projects: It recently finalised the design and fit-out of an 8,000 sq ft office at the Hong Kong Club Building on Chater Road in the Central district. Spanning the entire 11th floor, the office serves as the headquarters for a family office.

Originally from the shipping industry, the family has diversified into investments and private equity. Following the handover of the reins of the company to the younger generation last year, the family office premises were relocated from Chater House — a 23-storey building just down the road — to a larger space at the Hong Kong Club Building.

Brewin Design Office was engaged to design the new office, with the firm tasked with creating a space that reflected the values and culture of the family’s founding generation while ensuring flexibility for the space to evolve with the company’s current and future needs. Consequently, the design integrates standard office features like workstations and meeting rooms alongside a range of private and communal areas. These spaces serve multiple purposes, from fostering innovation and collaboration to accommodating future growth.

The main boardroom features a custom-designed boardroom table (Picture: Brewin Design Office)

Modern elegance

The Hong Kong Club Building is owned by The Hong Kong Club, a private members’ club with a rich colonial-era history. The 21-storey tower, completed in 1984, is the third iteration of the club’s premises. It replaced its Victorian-era predecessor, which was demolished in 1981 to make way for the new building. The Hong Kong Club occupies eight building floors, with the remainder leased to office tenants.

Austrian-Australian architect Harry Seidler, known for his Modernist and Bauhaus-inspired designs, was commissioned as the architect for the building. The result was a Modernist addition to Hong Kong’s skyline, boasting a 34m-long facade of flamed granite with curved features. The innovative structural design, utilising waffle slabs, enabled column-free floor plates offering unobstructed views overlooking Victoria Harbour, Chater Garden and Statue Square.

Inspired by the building’s Modernist-Brutalist architecture, Brewin Design Office crafted an interior concept using darker tones, including dark timber flooring and furnishings. Curve lines are heavily featured throughout the office, giving a sense of seamlessness that echoes the curved details of the building’s exterior.

The design for the office was influenced by the Hong Kong Club Building's Modernist-Brutalist architecture (Picture: Brewin Design Office)

The design for the office also pays homage to the family’s connection to the shipping industry. For example, the 18-person boardroom’s centrepiece is a custom-designed table in the shape of an anchor, while the colour navy is a recurring theme, from lacquered walls that adorn either side of the entry foyer to the choice of carpeting and upholstery.

A focal point of the office is the waiting lounge, housed in the entry foyer, just behind the reception area. The lounge’s dark timber flooring and navy lacquered walls are contrasted against a dramatic sculptural ceiling with elongated coves, providing a striking effect. Subtle light fixtures, including strips embedded into the entry wall, add another dimension to the room while furnishings are kept to a minimum, further amplifying a sense of space.

The lounge is the office’s central axis, with the main office areas on either side. The areas are accessible through a vestibule that runs perpendicular to the entry foyer and flanks a mullion-free window spanning 25m.

A vestibule off the entry foyer flanking a 25m mullion-free window acts as the main passage connecting the various office spaces (Picture: Brewin Design Office)

Artful touches

According to Brewin Design Office, a private family office’s operations and activities prompted the firm to explore residential details and furnishings within a professional setting. Decorative pieces feel intimate and personalised, with art from the client’s private collection adorning the office. Several furniture pieces were also custom-designed by Brewin Design Office, such as the American walnut reception desk in the reception area and the anchor-shaped boardroom table. Other designer pieces were carefully selected to complement the space, such as a Marquesa bench by Oscar Niemeyer made of lacquered wood, a Croisillon Lamp 1928 by Jean-Michel Frank and a Lumina Dot pendant light by Foster + Partners.

Brewin Design Office’s attention to detail also comes across in the subtler aspects. For example, all meeting rooms were installed with custom-designed curved glass partitions that are sound-insulated, offering function and beauty. In the boardroom, pocket sliding doors ensure efficient use of space, while a discreet separate door provides easy access to the pantry. In another office section, a curved pod does double duty as a semi-enclosed discussion space while obscuring the printing and storage area housed in a second pod behind it.

Like the elegant yet functional lines crafted by Harry Siedler, Brewin Design Office aims for the space to serve its client’s practical needs while elevating the office experience through timelessly elegant interiors.

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