From Office: Deep Landing into China
Netafim is the world market leader for drip irrigation technologies for agriculture. With water shortage being a big issue for large areas in China, Netafim selected VIRTUARCH to design an office concept which could easily be rolled out all over China, reflecting Netafim’s Corporate Identity while showing their commitment to China.
VIRTUARCH designed a contemporary working environment conceptually blending two cultural references: Chinese rural culture and the DNA of Netafim being deeplyrouted in agriculture. VIRTUARCH implemented a green wall using Netafim’s drip irrigation technology at reception, contrasted it with natural plaster ‘clay walls’ and carefully selected a carpet for the entire office space changing color tone according to Chinese geomantic system.
Colors from the 5 Lands of China
The concept elements VIRTUARCH developed were inspired by the colors of soil in the 5 lands of China: the bluish-grey water-logged soils of the East, the reddish iron-rich soils of the South, the whitish saline soils of the Western deserts, the brown organic rich soils of the North and the yellow soils from the central loess plateau. These five colors are used in the main areas of the office.
4 Unique Key Elements
The key elements VIRTUARCH designed make the office concept adaptable to several layout shapes and conditions, easily reproducible and recognizable. These four key elements are the GREEN WALL, the CLAY WALL, the DOT COUNTER and the 5 LANDS CARPET.
The GREEN WALL represents the green livings using Netafim drip irrigation technology. It is provided with a screen for marketing displays where corporation videos are shown. The green wall’s wild shape is a symbol of growth and prosperity.
The CLAY WALL represents the earth as a basic element for agriculture and landscape – the main areas of Netafim technology. It’s a reference to traditional rural buildings in China realized with clay walls.
The DOT COUNTER is customized place for gathering, located in the relax area of the office. Its shape is based on the Netafim logo design and integrates crops or plants which grow on Netafim’s drip irrigation technology.
The 5 LANDS CARPET：The floor area of the whole office is divided in five main areas with five interlaced carpets with same patterns, but different colors according to the ideal 5 Lands of China configuration.
A Dot as the Center of Communication
The DOT COUNTER is a key element of VIRTUARCH’S concept. The shape of this custom-made piece of furniture is based on the Netafim logo. It is located to the dry pantry and it is used mainly for drinking, chatting and short work meetings. In the center there is a plant, a high element like grown rice plant with a special pending light representing a cloud and grow lights for photosynthesis on the top. The DOT COUNTER is designed to be used also for exhibitions and stands in trade fairs.
A Dot as the Center of Communication
The 500 square meter office in Shanghai serves as a model for further branches of Netafim all around China. VIRTUARCH realized the project within 6 weeks construction period.
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PROJECT NAME: NETAFIM CHINA
LOCATION: SHANGHAI (PUDONG), P.R. CHINA
INDUSTRY SECTOR: AGRICULTURE
TYPOLOGY: OFFICE FIT-OUT
PROJECT SIZE: 500 m2
PROJECT DATE: 2016
SERVICES: INTERIOR DESIGN, PROJECT MANAGEMENT INCL. PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, COST CONTROL, SCHEDULE CONTROL, QUALITY CONTROL, RISK CONTROL
