Perhaps one of the most compelling architectural and interior designs we have discovered in recent times. Rationale Design – Masanori Designs has created the Runxuan Textile Office in China with a curvilinear facade and flowing ceiling design that draws on the qualities of fabric materials.

The design team discarded traditional association and design methods and worked back to the raw materials. Cotton, yarn, and cloth set the tone of the space, presenting a pure environment with natural texture and form. The design draws on the pureness of white colour. It interprets the production process of cloth in an architectural design language, extending the facade into the interior. The project demonstrates diverse textiles and the whole process of production.

The office features three-dimensional visual effects and realises the unity of interior and exterior. Its exterior is clad in vertical aluminium battens arranged in a curvilinear formation extending above its windows. The aluminium battens stretch through to the interior of the office across the ceiling, replicating the appearance of the office facade to form artistic scenes from different angles.

Chief Designer Terry Xu, explains:

Meticulous details, a connection between ceiling and walls, columns, and play of light and shadows, bring various changes to the space. The “yarns” are interwoven with the light, so it seems as if you’re standing under a loom.

The interior space is predominantly white with pockets of natural colour and contrasting furniture throughout. The open-plan design of the office, which includes a lobby, workstations, and meeting rooms, fluidly connect the spaces. The use of artificial skylights injects a much-needed element of brightness to combat the lack of natural light.

The artificial skylight reconnects the space with nature and helps produce a comfortable, pleasant working environment. Optimising the indoor functional layout and solving its lighting and ventilation problems created a healthier and more comfortable office, which became another feature of this project.