Introduction

Two Rhythms of Time Meet Within One Space

Lujiazui embodies two distinct rhythms of time.

One moves relentlessly forward, driven by the pulse of the city. The other unfolds through patience, craftsmanship, and quiet dedication.

One measures value through efficiency; the other through accumulation and refinement.

Though seemingly different, these two rhythms ultimately converge within the same space.

01 Outward

The Rhythm of a City Moving Forward

In Lujiazui, finding a window overlooking the skyline is never difficult.

The real question is this:

How should a workplace respond when the speed, density, and energy of one of China's most important financial districts become part of everyday life?

Efficiency alone is not enough.

A workplace in Lujiazui must support highly structured business interactions while creating a memorable spatial identity. It needs to facilitate collaboration, decision-making, presentations, and negotiations—while also leaving a lasting impression from the moment a visitor arrives.

Located within a LEED Platinum-certified office tower, the project does not attempt to isolate itself from the city's momentum. Instead, it establishes a new spatial order that balances business efficiency with human experience.

Stepping from the public office tower into the workplace marks a gradual transition—from the scale of the city to the scale of the individual.

The entrance, corridors, transitional spaces, and reception areas are not simply circulation routes; they serve as the first expression of the brand itself.

In professional environments, first impressions are often formed within minutes.

Dark timber finishes, natural stone textures, and carefully layered lighting create an atmosphere of composure and professionalism.

Even the corridor was never treated as a mere passageway.

Artwork anchors the visual journey, while light unfolds gradually along the circulation path, introducing moments of pause and discovery.

A memorable first impression is never created by materials alone.

It emerges from the interplay of scale, light, movement, art, and human experience.

Material Palette

· Non-Heritage Weaving Artwork

· Textured Wall Covering

· Black Marble Console

· Dark Walnut Wood Finishes

Lujiazui has never lacked time.

What it lacks is uninterrupted time.

Here, every moment is carefully divided among meetings, presentations, negotiations, and decisions.

Capital and information move continuously, and people are always moving forward.

Therefore, the space must first respond to efficiency.

For financial institutions, consulting firms, and professional service companies, spatial efficiency is not simply a matter of workstation density.

It is about enabling meaningful connections, accelerating collaboration, and supporting better decision-making.

Meeting rooms continue the project's restrained material language while integrating lighting, acoustics, and technology systems to support formal meetings, remote collaboration, project presentations, and daily discussions.

Suzhou embroidery artworks soften the tension often associated with corporate environments, introducing a subtle layer of cultural warmth and human connection.

02 Inward

The Rhythm of Time Shaped by Craftsmanship

One of the first artistic focal points visitors encounter is a Suzhou embroidery artwork measuring 2500 × 1800 mm.

The piece was co-created by Allen Liang, Founder of Sijing Design, and Zhang Lijuan, a master Suzhou embroidery artist who has dedicated more than thirty years to preserving and advancing this traditional craft.

Rather than serving merely as decoration, the artwork becomes an expression of time itself.

Titled Radiance of Myriad Forms, the piece required nearly one million hand-stitched silk threads and over three months of meticulous craftsmanship.

Each color field is composed of more than six gradients of silk thread.

Warm amber and golden-brown tones radiate outward from the center, creating a sense of growth, movement, and expanding energy.

Viewed from a distance, the work conveys strength, order, and composure—qualities well suited to a professional environment.

Viewed up close, however, the intricate layers of stitching reveal the patience, dedication, and warmth of the human hand.

As light shifts and perspectives change throughout the day, the silk surface continuously transforms.

The artwork is never static.

It becomes a living vessel of time.

For those who work within the space, it also serves as a gentle pause amid the intensity of daily business life.

After stepping in from the city's relentless pace, the soft texture of silk naturally slows the mind.

Between meetings, a brief glance toward the artwork offers a moment of quiet reflection.

Efficiency may define the workplace, but these subtle human experiences become the true source of memory.

Artwork Information

Title

Radiance of Myriad Forms

Dimensions

2500 mm × 1800 mm

Collaborative Creation

Allen Liang × Zhang Lijuan

About the Artwork

With more than three decades devoted to Suzhou embroidery, Zhang Lijuan has continuously explored the preservation and innovation of this traditional art form.

Through the luminosity and layered texture of silk threads, the artwork captures the visual sensation of light expanding outward and energy continuously radiating into space.

03 Self-Driven

The Rhythm of Nature

The city's clock is always moving forward.

Meetings have schedules.

Projects have milestones.

Every minute is assigned a purpose.

Nature follows a different rhythm entirely.

Throughout the workplace, four Suzhou embroidery artworks inspired by the changing seasons are positioned across different areas.

Rather than depicting specific moments in time, they represent the cyclical flow of time itself:

The emergence of spring.

The abundance of summer.

The reflection of autumn.

The stillness of winter.

Together, they introduce a slower and more enduring order into the space.

Beyond the fast-moving tempo of Lujiazui, nature continues to unfold according to its own rhythm.

This contrast allows daily work to coexist with a greater sense of calm.

Artwork placed along corridors becomes a visual destination, reducing the perceived length of circulation routes.

Within meeting rooms, art softens the formality of professional discussions.

Inside private offices, it becomes a quiet companion to work, focus, and reflection.

The seasons ultimately become more than representations of nature.

They mirror the workplace itself.

Ideas emerge.

Teams grow.

Decisions mature.

Energy is renewed.

The rhythm of nature becomes inseparable from the rhythm of work.

One Space, Multiple Expressions

For consulting firms, financial institutions, and professional service companies, the workplace serves not only as an operational environment but also as a vehicle for brand expression.

As a result, there is no single answer when it comes to floral design.

Different organizations, events, and visitor experiences require different spatial atmospheres.

In business environments, first impressions are often formed within moments of arrival.

Positioned at the end of the corridor, the floral installation functions as more than decoration.

It becomes a carefully orchestrated visual memory point.

As visitors move through the space and round the curved wall, their gaze naturally comes to rest on the arrangement.

The space gains a moment of pause—and a moment that is more likely to be remembered.

Conclusion

Outside the window, the rhythm of Lujiazui continues to surge forward.

Inside, another rhythm unfolds—built through light, materiality, art, flowers, and countless handcrafted details.

These two notions of time are never in opposition.

One supports business performance.

The other supports human experience.

At Sijing Design, our goal has never been simply to create beautiful offices.

Instead, we seek to find the balance between urban efficiency and the slower pace of craftsmanship—creating workplaces where performance is supported, and everyday experiences are enriched with warmth and meaning.

Because the best workplaces are not only efficient.

They are memorable.

Project Information

Project Name

UOB Shanghai

Location

8F, 116 Yincheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Interior Design

Sijing Design

Lead Designer

Allen Liang

Photography

GOGE Workspace

About Sijing Design

Founded in 2018, Sijing Design specializes in workplace environments and has completed nearly 500,000 square meters of office design and planning projects.

Guided by the concept of the "Fourth Workspace"—a seamless integration of work, life, and social interaction—the team develops strategic, operationally viable spatial solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern organizations.

By combining workplace strategy, human-centered design, and data-driven insights, Sijing Design creates environments that support both business performance and organizational growth.