An Invitation to Green Energy

Design Purpose:
Transform the image of an ordinary countryside factory located at Yancheng China into a world-class high-tech manufacturer that promotes clean energy for environmental protection.
Design Goals:
Raise awareness of the global warming issue and to embrace environmental protection through clean energy.
Showcase various types of glass products; combining function and flexibility with design.
Elevate company image to High-Tech Enterprise with social responsibility.

Design Rationale:
Ideas of light, speed and space are presented to visitors upon entering the solar glass manufacturing company. Rays of light are portrayed as long horizontal beams on the entrance wall directing visitors to the reception area. These "Ray Beams" serve as display shelves for company products and are found in the showroom too.

A comfortable experience shall be felt by visitors in the reception lounge as they gather around for discussion. Inspired by the ancient Chinese spirit of welcoming and engaging them in a dialogue around a campfire. The pattern of cross stripes on the ceiling, coffee table and carpet are abstract images of the firewoods. The pair of red chairs reflect the warmth of the fire and warmth of the host towards the visitors, and the LED lighted shelves at the bar area provide a relaxed backdrop.
Glazing from the reception area across the showroom gives one a spectacular view of islands mimicking the melting ice at North and South poles. These also convey the message of global warming and environment issues. Each island is arranged to reflect an iceberg cluster impression which allows glass sheets to display.
The open visual concept of the showroom allows visitors to see the two laboratories and CASS room through large glass windows. Different test areas are divided by vertical glass signage from afar. Anti-static raised floors in the laboratories are safety features for equipment protection and waste water collection. The featured wall depicting the company high standard, knowledge and technology in fiberglass manufacturing process.
A custom and unique design that greatly helped the customer is the Heat Testing Island for the Low-Emissivity glass. It has a mobile trolley storage for glasses that allows visitors to view the glass samples anywhere away from the main testing location.
Designing a world-class restroom facility not only improves the user experience but convey the message that the company is customer oriented. Meticulous detail like the glass strip along the restroom door will light up to inform an "occupied" signal to someone on the outside.

Resources and Limitations:
TWG supported design team with their professional knowledge of glass products.
Preset factory space could not fulfill all equipment and products need. Countryside workers in the countryside not exposed to high-end design and material. Hence, more efforts required for supervision and inspection despite the four hours drive from Shanghai.
But all effort pays off with clients satisfaction and knowing the contribution will help the critical environment issue we all facing now.