Dutch Firm Transforms Hong Kong Factory into an Office Made Entirely of Glass

The all-glass structure measures more than 193,000 square feet and is situated at 133 Wai Yip Street in the Kwun Tong waterfront, Hong Kong’s new central business district. The 13-story building, which features glass floors and glass tables, was designed by Netherlands-based architect firm MVRDV.

According to the company’s website, the group’s goal for the project was, “to expose the inner workings of the building including the structure and installations, but not only this, to show the free-flow movement within the building, the inner-workings of the companies inside and the technical components which allow the office to function.”

In 2014, project developer GAW Capital commissioned the transformation of Cheung Fai building, an old concrete factory building, into the resulting modern marvel that symbolizes transparency in the workplace.

The former factory was stripped down of all unnecessary trimmings, leaving just the skeleton of the building. Using only stainless steel, white paint and glass, the builders were able to develop a new structure that has a cleaner, more spacious look.

Aside from transparent walls, glass elevators will also reveal the movements of workers as they go up and down the Glass Office. Even the stairs are encased in fire-resistant glass.

“We are moving into a transparent society, businesses are becoming more open with the public, and people care more about what goes on behind closed doors,” said MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas. “In that way, a clear workspace leaves nothing questionable, nothing hidden; it generates trust.”

The Glass Office is among MVRDV’s several projects that showcase the use of glass in design. Previous glass-themed structures that the firm has built include a townhouse in Amsterdam with a glass brick facade, a library inside a glass pyramid, a glass building that looks like a traditional farmhouse and an all-glass transparent kitchen.