Creative workspace wins plum award (hktdc.com)


	Moira Moser, founder of M Moser Associates (Photo: Vitus Lau, M Moser Associates)

	The award-winning design of Ogilvy & Mather's Guangzhou offices inspires creative thinking (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

Hong Kong-headquartered global designers, planners, engineers and builders M Moser Associates is leading the way in creating workplace environments in China. In its latest achievement, the firm is a winner of the prestigious Fortune Magazine 2008 China's Most Successful Designs award for its design of the new Guangzhou office of advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather.

It is the first time an interior design solution has attained this award. According to Moira Moser, founder and Chairman of M Moser Associates, the world is finally starting to recognise China's expressions of creativity in the form of well thought-through architecture and interiors.

Inspirational

Ogilvy & Mather, a major player in the global advertising industry, wanted its office space to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for staff in their daily generation of ideas against demanding deadlines. Looking to revitalise its brand image in the southern China market, the firm relocated its Guangzhou office from the Central Business District to a new arts and culture hub on the city-fringe, overlooking the Pearl River to the historical Sha Mian district.

M Moser's design capitalised on this ambiance and the generous ceiling height on the ground floor to create a stimulating workspace themed on a carnival of ideas. The pivot point is a tilted red staircase that “sends people on an explorative journey through four-dimensional space-time, enticing them to discover the myriad angles and viewpoints along the way through glass viewing panes, openings and a bridge connecting a balcony to a mezzanine loft."

Michael Lee, Chief Operating Officer, Ogilvy Shanghai & Southern China, said the design inspires Ogilvy's 360-degree thinking.

"The award is a great recognition of this radiant design. It is a creative space, inspiring creative ideas. It is so refreshingly fun, our people simply love it here. They visibly enjoy coming to work more, even though for many people, it means double the commuting time."

According to Wendy Leung, Director at M Moser Associates, the concept of workplace as a strategic tool to support business goals is a new one in China. “But it's definitely becoming a recognised trend here, as this award is quick to identify. A well-designed workplace is an invaluable asset in showing to the outside world who you are and in bringing the best out of your own people."

Teamwork

For the Ogilvy & Mather project, M Moser's Guangzhou office worked in tandem with the Hong Kong headquarters, effectively acting as one team in two locations. “The interaction of staff, through time spent in each other's office and via our company-wide electronic virtual private network and modeling capability, means that we can work as one, without a sense of borders," Ms Moser said.

The American architect founded her firm in Hong Kong in 1981. M Moser Associates has since grown to a global enterprise, employing 500 professionals in 11 offices around the world, with projects in the United States, Europe, India, China and Asia-Pacific.

Ms Moser said the reasons why she chose Hong Kong to set up the business are still valid today, including its sophisticated business infrastructure, the low and simple tax regime, and easy connections both regionally and globally. It will continue to be the best platform going forward, she added.

“Hong Kong is undeniably one of the world's major business cities, and as such, continues to play a pivotal role for many global companies looking to expand in Asia. In the current global economic environment, many international companies will be looking more to Asia and China for growth opportunities, and Hong Kong is at the heart of this."