Silver Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2025
Mangrove Garden Commercial Workplace
by Lorene Faure and Kenny Kinugasa Tsui
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Bean Buro
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 23,434
- Verification code A7EB2256B1 · Verify this award
About Mangrove Garden Commercial Workplace
Mangrove Garden is an office interior for a global financial institution in Hong Kong. The project covers 54,000 square feet across three storeys. Each level has a central hub inspired by a mangrove garden, with tropical plants and structures that recall mangrove trees. Flexible seating around each hub supports teamwork and social interaction. Site-specific artworks by local artists encourage engagement. Repurposed furnishings and bio-based finishes were selected for responsible material use. The colour scheme reinterprets the signature brand red with a wider palette.
The Mangrove Garden Commercial Workplace by Bean Buro exemplifies the contemporary evolution of professional environments toward spaces that prioritize human wellbeing and sensory engagement while maintaining functional excellence. Positioned within the broader movement of biophilic workplace design that has gained significant momentum in architectural practice, this interior demonstrates how organic formal vocabularies can be successfully integrated into commercial contexts without sacrificing spatial efficiency or professional gravitas. The design team appears to have drawn inspiration from natural ecosystems—perhaps the mangrove forests referenced in the project's nomenclature—translating their characteristic interweaving root structures and canopy formations into architectural gesture through the sinuous ceiling element and the layered arrangement of vegetation. The technical achievement of the ceiling installation merits particular attention: its continuous LED strip traces a form suggesting cloud formations, water currents, or perhaps the aerial view of tidal channels, suspended against timber paneling whose linear grain provides subtle directional counterpoint. The chromatic strategy demonstrates considerable sophistication, establishing a predominantly warm neutral foundation that promotes visual calm while strategic terracotta accents create focal hierarchy without aggressive contrast. The integration of acoustic management through the sculptural pendant element—with its elegantly detailed radial fins—reveals an approach wherein functional requirements become opportunities for aesthetic expression rather than pragmatic compromise. The abundant introduction of living plants throughout the space suggests an understanding of biophilia not merely as decorative gesture but as essential component of occupant experience, their varied leaf forms and green tonalities providing visual complexity and implied connection to natural systems. One might observe how the design successfully negotiates the tension between openness appropriate for collaborative work culture and the provision of spatial definition through the thoughtful deployment of screens, planters, and furniture groupings. What qualities of this environment might support both focused individual work and spontaneous social interaction?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Each level of the financial institution's workplace features a central hub inspired by a "mangrove garden," highlighted by tropical flora and structures reminiscent of mangrove trees. These elements create vibrancy and identity, anchoring unique seating arrangements to promote social interaction and teamwork. Interactive local art enhances creativity and engagement. The space reinterprets the client's signature red with diverse colours, challenging corporate norms and fostering a unique, cohesive workspace.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The project occupies 2 whole floors in a class A building in Hong Kong, totalling 54,000sqft.
- Tags
- Office, Workplace, Interiors, Interior Design, Workplace Interiors, Office Interiors, Corporate Office
- Production Technology
- Using sustainable practices, we incorporated repurposed furnishings and bio-based finishes, focusing on responsible material selection. We engaged artists for site-specific pieces and employed immersive lighting and spatial flow strategies. This approach allowed us to connect the brand's heritage with contemporary design, ensuring environmental awareness and improved user experience.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was to blend established brand identity with a forward-looking environment. Navigating brand history while incorporating modern design and sustainable practices required a careful balance of tradition and innovation. By engaging stakeholders and using advanced technologies, these challenges were managed, resulting in a design that challenges conventional expectations while offering new experiences.
This design aligns the client’s brand with contemporary elements, enhancing their presence in a key Hong Kong location and contributing to new benchmarks for workplace design. - Project Duration
- This project started in November 2022 in Hong Kong and finished in April 2024 in Hong Kong.
- Operation Flow
- The workspace supports collaboration through organic, nature-inspired hubs that encourage social interaction. Interactive features like art installations and flexible seating help stimulate engagement among users. The thoughtful use of light and colour enhances the setting, creating a responsive office that aims to boost productivity and satisfaction.
- Research
- Type of Research involved was applied design research aimed at enhancing workplace culture. The research objectives were to integrate natural elements and human-centric strategies into office design, promoting well-being and interaction. Our methodology used collaborative stakeholder engagement and site analysis. We employed interviews, workshops, and visual analytics for data collection. Participants included employees, artists, and designers. The outcomes showed improved social interaction, cultural resonance, and increased engagement. The research influenced workplace design trends by promoting sustainability and well-being while challenging corporate norms.
- Inspiration
- We were entrusted to design a contemporary workspace for a leading global financial institution in Hong Kong, spanning 54,000 sqft and distributed over three storeys. The design is a forward-thinking interpretation of workplace culture, seeking to harmonise natural elements with human-centric approaches, and placing a strong emphasis on well-being and hospitality. Materials and colours were carefully selected to establish a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.
- Image Credits
- Image #1-5: HDP Photography, 2023