Office: Offhand Practice | ArchDaily

Deja Vu Recycled Store / Offhand Practice

韩爽 - HAN Shuang — Sun, 31 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Inside the Beijing Electromechanical Institute compound, trendy shops and creative studios sit alongside abandoned factories, while stylish young people walk beneath withered ivy. Deja Vu Recycle Store calls this neighborhood home—a place defined by striking contrasts, where old and new intertwine. The first time we saw the site, we were struck by a sense of ruin. Dead vines crawled up the exterior walls, tangled wires hung loose, a long-abandoned garbage shed stood in the corner, and a massive old chimney dominated the center. But as we passed through the foyer and ascended to the second floor, the symmetrical windows on the north and south sides opened up, along with the skylights above, letting sunlight pour in. The entire space brightened, feeling like a bustling old railway station from another era.

Single Person / Offhand Practice

韩爽 - HAN Shuang — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000

185 Yongkang Road formerly was a 60-square-meter street dinner. During our first site visit in November 2018, The venue itself did not leave us a particularly deep impression. The only intuitive feeling is that the venue is long and narrow. In December, client decided to use this venue for a vintage houseware gallery, named 'Single Person'.

BROWNIE/Project / Offhand Practice

韩爽 - HAN Shuang — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Set in Shanghai's M50 Creative Park—a repurposed former woolen mill—BROWNIE/Project gallery merges art and commerce, extending beyond conventional photography exhibition to explore interactions between space, people, and life. Housed in a converted factory, the space retains distinctive industrial features: concrete columns, steel frames, and vintage wooden structures salvaged from an old Suzhou River bridge. The client insisted on preserving these historic elements while introducing new functions, aligning with the design team's vision.

XiaoZhuo Flagship Store / Offhand Practice

韩爽 - HAN Shuang — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Nestled on historic Wukang Road, a 1930s heritage garden house has been transformed into the flagship store of emerging fashion brand XiaoZhuo. Surrounded by lush greenery and marked by distinct seasonal changes, the space now embodies XiaoZhuo's crisp brand identity—celebrating creativity, curiosity, and playfulness—while offering visitors guidance and relaxation beyond mere shopping.

Mei Yuan Cafe / Offhand Practice

Valeria Silva — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

If magic exists, which allows the exquisite bustle of Lujiazui to coexist in harmony with the lively charm of the aged community in the neighborhood, the softly opened coffee house in the northeast corner of Meiyuan Park is the perfect place to observe such an intriguing urban collage. Here you can see office ladies, city joggers, senior musicians, chic trendsetters, construction workers and gardeners all gather under the roof and share a moment of peace.

Aesop Suzhou Cangjie Store / Offhand Practice

Pilar Caballero — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 02:00:00 +0000

As the first soft rays of dawn paint the cobblestone street of Cangjie in soft hues, an autumn breeze carries not only the crimson leaves from Hanshan Temple but also a mysterious guest who had silently slipped into the tranquil city of Gusu.