Danling SOHO 3Q was anySCALE’s third 3Q project. It was also SOHO China’s first branded coworking spaces to be located below ground in a basement. Basement spaces have many shortcomings, such as low ceiling heights, lack of natural lighting and irregular shapes. This presented several challenges to the anySCALE design team - how to turn these shortcomings into advantages?
“The design becomes a narrative. Because you need to tell a story. And how do you tell a story in a basement where there is just a lot of empty space without windows?” - Andreas Thomczyk (anySCALE Partner)
In Danling SOHO 3Q the high ceilings offered an opportunity to create some level changes. Pitched-roof enclosures like toy houses were outfitted with benches and tables to create private areas for conversation, the different floor levels contribute to a ‘crazy house’ feel and imaginative and bright lighting added another dimension to the design.
“They actually make the challenge into the opportunity. So instead of having this association that a basement is bad, you actually make it so that being in the basement is joyful. You want to go to the basement!” - Jerry Yin (Head Architect of SOHO China)
