An all-glass office for Hong Kong

Dutch architecture firm, MVRDV recently completed an unusual project in Hong Kong that involved the gutting of an existing factory interior and its replacement with all-glass office spaces. Featuring glass walls, glass floors and glass tables, 133 Wai Yip Street is conceived as a new working space for business with nothing to hide.

While glass architecture is not too unusual in itself, the Wai Yip Street building goes to remarkable lengths in the pursuit of transparency. All unnecessary trimmings were removed in favour of white paint, glass and stainless steel, lending the illusion of more interior space than there actually is.

In MVRDV’s model office (Arch-Innovativ was also involved in the project), music booms out of glass-
encased speakers, and computers rest on glass stands. Glass elevators also move through glass elevator shafts, and even the emergency fire-stairs are encased in fire-retardant glass.

MVRDV also installed larger windows on the building’s rear facade, filling the interior with light. The first three floors are now given over to retail and restaurants, and a rooftop space is available to those working inside.

The architecture firm says that the building uses around 17% less energy annually than the average Hong Kong office. It also has a 15% lower peak electricity demand. The measures taken to increase efficiency included the use of low-efficient windows and an efficient mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning system.