Porsche Headquarters - Inspired By Speed And Passion

Speed and passion is the key design directive for the new Porsche Headquarters in Shanghai, China to reflect the brand’s heritage.

The German sports car manufacturer tasked Anyscale Architecture Design with designing their office at the prestigious Lu Jia Zui Financial Plaza.

“Porsche is committed to empowering employees and providing a more digital and intelligent working environment to promote the development of corporate culture and to actively face the new era of change alongside our employees,” said Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board of Porsche AG.

Fast forward

China-based Anyscale is not new in designing offices for fast cars having been instrumental in developing corporate identities for companies such as BMW and Daimler.

The new office is located on the 12th to 17th floors and covering an area of approximately 12,000 square meters. Designed with a philosophy known as S.P.A.C.E, which stands for Smart, Passionate, Attractive, Collaborative and Engaging, it combines new technology and digital upgrades with tailored services for a holistic long-term outlook aimed at realizing the full potential and creativity of Porsche China’s workforce.

“The New Porsche Headquarters is designed as a progressive open plan office with a minimum number of private offices. In addition, there are multiple dedicated spaces to perform special tasks such as focus rooms, quiet rooms, etc,” said Simon Berg, director of Anyscale in Shanghai.

He adds that the transition of Porsche’s work environment from a traditional office concept to such an activity-based work environment required the whole project team to do a lot of educational work and persuading.

Contemporary theme with hints of Oriental

Long, horizontal lines with strong black and white contrasts guide people through the space and support the allocation of the reception, waiting lounge and displays areas. The staircase, as a major vertical connector, links the large public areas and fosters communication among the employees.

The space embraces the broad brand heritage of Porsche. A 1:1 scale model of the 919 hybrid racing car is displayed alongside a trophy wall, including an engine block and a model car timeline. Large bonsai trees visualize the aspiration of luxury and give a hint of the importance of China to the brand today.

Porsche China’s new office is the first-ever Porsche property worldwide to achieve the WELL Building Standard^™ gold certification standard. Launched in 2014, the WELL Building Standard^™ is the premier standard for buildings, interior spaces and communities seeking to implement, validate and measure features that support and advance human health and wellness. Ensuring health and satisfaction for employees is an essential component of the new office design, confirming that Porsche considers people to be the most important resource for the future success of the brand. This idea is also presented in the Porsche Strategy 2025, which declares that Porsche constantly strives to become “the most innovative and attractive employer.”

Photography by Xia Zhi