Five years after its inception, international design firm Lead8 undertook a reimagining of its brand and moved its rapidly expanding studio headquarters in Hong Kong from an industrial warehouse building to a grade A office tower in the same district.
The brief was to its own team – to bring Lead8’s DNA to life in a new home.
The first project Lead8 ever undertook was the design of its founding Hong Kong studio on Shipyard Lane in Hong Kong. The physicality of the materials, concrete flooring, brickwork, natural timbers and rusted metals evoked a sense of honesty and reflected the flat-hierarchy and eclectic personality of the team. The layout facilitated collaboration and communication and the famous oak tables formed the social heart of the studio.
These elements have underpinned the approach of the new and expanded studio at 1063 King’s Road. Raw timbers have remained, forming an essential part of the studio welcoming experience. Other materials have been refined, brickwork to tiling, metals polished and coated, exposed concrete ceilings met with elegant hanging light fixtures.
The room naming has sought connection with the original Shipyard Lane studio, with ‘The Deck’, ‘The Galley’, ‘Cabins’ and ‘Port’ and ‘Starboard’ references. Each have been planned to make the most of the new harbour and mountain views of the higher floors. Fostering collaboration, connectivity and flexibility, the design centres on two social hubs that lie at the heart of their floors.
Last year more than 40 countries took part in the WIN Awards with strong showings from Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. And we saw some truly outstanding interior designs, take a look at the winners from last year here.