BWL Hong Kong
Terracotta Canvas
For the BWL Hong Kong Regional Customer Centre, our brief was to create a hybrid space that transcends the traditional showroom. It was to become a multifunctional hub where wellness retail, hospitality-inspired lounges, flexible event spaces, and collaborative work environments co-exist seamlessly. Situated on a high floor of the World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay, the 5,000 sqft space boasts panoramic views of Victoria Harbour — an asset we sought to celebrate throughout the design journey. More than a place of commerce, this centre needed to embody BWL’s core values of wellbeing, environmental responsibility, and social engagement.
The Narrative: Evolution into a workplace for the future
Our design continues the spatial DNA we have crafted for BWL’s centres across Asia, but with a deeper response to Hong Kong’s cultural and natural context. The narrative draws inspiration from the city’s bamboo scaffolding traditions, terracotta street textures, and the fluidity of Victoria Harbour. The spatial choreography invites visitors on a journey that bridges urban energy with nature’s serenity, positioning wellbeing at the heart of every interaction.
The Process: Craftsmanship Rooted in Sustainability
The process was an intimate dialogue between craft, material honesty, and environmental responsibility. We engaged in rigorous material explorations, sourcing local terracotta tiles and halved bamboo to create layered textures that resonate with Hong Kong’s artisanal heritage. The sculptural stainless-steel display table, appearing to float above the floor through concealed skirting lights, was prototyped with local fabricators to achieve a delicate balance between elegance and durability. Every design detail was conceived with longevity and circularity in mind — from modular joinery systems to the selection of flexible, life-cycle-conscious loose furniture.
The Solution: A Spatial Promenade Towards Wellness
The spatial composition is designed as a promenade, guiding visitors from the entrance through a curated sequence of experiences. The journey begins with a subtle window display — an understated gesture that frames the arrival — but the true ‘Instagram moment’ unfolds just beyond, where a sculptural installation of oversized cosmetic bottles stands against a fluted reflective glass wall and a bamboo-clad backdrop. This social hub becomes a vibrant scene for product interaction and content creation, blending brand storytelling with the culture of sharing.
“Designing for wellbeing is not just an aesthetic pursuit. It’s about crafting environments that allow people to feel connected — to nature, to each other, and to themselves.”
— Lorène Faure, co-founder of Bean Buro
Further in, the space opens into a fluid showroom and sales lounge, where a sculptural display table anchors the centre. This journey naturally leads visitors towards the panoramic café seating area at the far end, where the harbour view becomes the ultimate focal point — a serene pause within the city’s verticality.
Flexible training rooms with operable acoustic partitions flank the core, allowing for seamless reconfiguration to host various events. The back office, concealed behind a mirrored wall, is designed as a collaborative enclave, where employees enjoy a hospitality-inspired pantry space with bespoke travertine dining tables and harbour-facing work zones.
The Materials: Earthy Tones with a Conscious Palette
The material palette is a deliberate composition of soft terracotta hues, muted greens, and blush pinks — colours that evoke a sense of calm while energising the atmosphere. Locally sourced tiles and bamboo serve as the primary tactile elements, celebrating both sustainability and cultural relevance.
Stainless steel, fluted glass, and mirrored surfaces introduce moments of visual play and reflectivity, amplifying the sense of space and interaction. All loose furniture pieces are modular and adaptable, ensuring longevity and flexibility beyond this project.
Lighting, Acoustics & Environmental Design — Wellbeing in Every Detail
Lighting design was central to fostering a sense of wellbeing. Recessed curvilinear LED strips in the ceiling mimic the fluidity of water, gently guiding movement while maintaining a soothing ambience. The sculptural display table is accentuated by skirting lights, creating a floating illusion that uplifts the spatial experience.
Acoustic treatments were meticulously integrated into ceilings, walls, and flooring, ensuring that the space can comfortably support multiple simultaneous activities — from quiet product consultations to large-scale training sessions. The use of operable acoustic partitions further enhances spatial adaptability while maintaining auditory comfort.
Biophilic strategies, such as the incorporation of greenery within furniture elements and the maximisation of natural daylight, contribute to the environmental quality of the space.
The Challenge — Designing a Living, Breathing Space
The complexity of the programme presented the challenge of designing a space that is always alive — a place where staff work, customers engage, and events transform the environment daily. The design needed to be clever in its spatial articulation, allowing these activities to overlap without conflict. This was achieved through strategic zoning, acoustic considerations, and a material language that is flexible yet coherent.
Main contractor: Winsmart Contracting Co. Ltd
Client: BWL
