Evd by Yang Bing and Hao Liyun Brings Classical Aesthetics to Modern Corporate Offices

How This Award Winning Design Blends Classical Elements with Sustainable Materials to Create Distinctive Corporate Spaces that Express Brand Identity

What if your office could speak? What if the walls, the light filtering through windows, and the very shape of your workspace could articulate your brand philosophy before you even handed over a business card? The possibility of spaces that communicate brand identity sits at the heart of contemporary corporate interior design, where physical environments have evolved from mere containers for desks and computers into sophisticated brand ambassadors that work around the clock.

Consider the challenge facing design-forward enterprises today. Your digital presence can communicate your values through carefully crafted pixels and typography, but your physical space operates on an entirely different sensory level. Clients walking through your doors form impressions in seconds, their subconscious minds reading spatial cues, material choices, and lighting conditions as signals of your company's character. The opportunity here is remarkable: your office can embody your creative philosophy in three dimensions, creating an immersive experience that no website or portfolio can replicate.

Creating expressive environments is precisely what EVD Design, an inter-disciplinary design office based in Shanghai, achieved with their own headquarters. Designed by Yang Bing and Hao Liyun, the 300-square-meter workspace has earned recognition as a Golden A' Design Award winner in Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design. The EVD project demonstrates how classical architectural languages can merge with sustainable contemporary materials to create corporate environments that feel simultaneously timeless and progressive. The resulting workspace does not simply house a design practice but actively demonstrates what the practice believes and can accomplish.

Understanding Classical Spatial Languages in Corporate Context

Classical architectural vocabulary might seem like an unlikely companion for modern corporate design. After all, arches, columns, and carefully proportioned spaces belong to centuries past, to grand civic buildings and Renaissance masterpieces. Yet classical architectural elements persist in our collective visual memory precisely because classical forms work at a fundamental human level. Classical spatial languages create feelings of permanence, contemplation, and considered beauty that transcend temporary trends.

The EVD office draws direct inspiration from Antonello da Messina's fifteenth-century painting "St. Jerome in His Study," a work that depicts a scholar's workspace as an architectural composition of remarkable sophistication. In the St. Jerome painting, Messina creates an environment where openness and privacy coexist, where fluidity and serenity balance each other through the strategic use of arched forms. The arches appear throughout the architectural structure, the interior elements, the landscape views, and even the furniture, creating a unified spatial experience that feels both expansive and intimate.

For brands seeking to communicate depth, expertise, and thoughtful approach, classical spatial languages offer a sophisticated toolkit. Classical forms carry cultural associations with learning, craftsmanship, and enduring quality. When classical elements are deployed in a modern context with contemporary materials and construction methods, the resulting spaces create an intriguing dialogue between historical wisdom and present-day innovation. Visitors encounter something familiar yet unexpected, comfortable yet distinctive.

The key is in adaptation rather than imitation. The EVD project does not recreate a Renaissance study. Rather, the design extracts the principles that made traditional scholarly spaces successful and reinterprets those principles through a modern lens. The approach of adaptation rather than imitation allows brands to tap into deep aesthetic traditions while maintaining relevance and avoiding the trap of superficial historicism. Classical vocabulary becomes a starting point for contemporary expression, not an endpoint to be slavishly copied.

The Strategic Use of Natural Light in Workplace Design

Light transforms space. Every architect and interior designer knows the transformative power of illumination, yet the full strategic potential of natural light in corporate environments often remains underexplored. The EVD office demonstrates how thoughtful engagement with natural light can define spatial character, support employee wellbeing, and communicate brand values around sustainability and human-centered design.

The project site presented a specific condition: five large windows arranged in an orderly sequence along one side of the space. Rather than treating the windows as fixed constraints to work around, Yang Bing and Hao Liyun made the window arrangement the foundation of their spatial strategy. The designers created a U-shaped configuration that combines with the long windowed side, allowing natural light to filter in and diffuse freely throughout the interior. The result is a workspace animated by natural rhythms, where the quality of light shifts throughout the day and across seasons.

The natural light strategy serves multiple purposes simultaneously. From a practical standpoint, abundant natural light reduces dependence on artificial illumination, lowering energy consumption and creating more pleasant working conditions. Research consistently demonstrates that exposure to natural light improves mood, alertness, and cognitive performance. Employees in naturally lit environments report higher satisfaction and exhibit measurable increases in productivity.

From a brand communication perspective, the emphasis on natural light signals values around environmental responsibility, employee welfare, and design sophistication. Clients visiting the EVD office immediately perceive that the practice understands how environments affect human experience. The light itself becomes evidence of the firm's design philosophy in action, demonstrating rather than merely describing their approach to creating spaces that serve human needs.

The spatial configuration also creates a sense of connection to the external environment. Rather than sealing occupants in a hermetically controlled interior, the design acknowledges the relationship between inside and outside, between the constructed environment and the natural world beyond. The connection between interior and exterior has particular resonance for design practices whose work involves shaping how people interact with physical space.

Sustainable Materials as Brand Expression

Material choices communicate. Every surface in a corporate environment sends messages about company values, budget priorities, and attention to detail. The EVD office makes a particularly compelling statement through the selection of sustainable art paints, which cover ninety-five percent of the wall surfaces. The sustainable paints are composed of shell powder and natural gums, materials that are harmless to the environment and convenient for construction.

The sustainable paint selection operates on multiple levels of significance. Most directly, the material choice demonstrates environmental responsibility in action. Rather than defaulting to conventional finishes whose manufacturing processes may involve harmful chemicals and substantial carbon footprints, the project specifies materials derived from natural sources. Shell powder, a byproduct of the shellfish industry, would otherwise represent waste. Repurposing shell powder into beautiful interior finishes exemplifies circular thinking in material selection.

The sustainable paints also contribute to interior air quality, an increasingly important concern for corporate environments. Conventional paints can release volatile organic compounds for extended periods after application, affecting the health and comfort of building occupants. Natural formulations minimize air quality concerns, creating healthier spaces for employees who spend significant portions of their lives within office walls.

From a brand positioning standpoint, sustainable material choices align the EVD office with contemporary values around environmental stewardship and health consciousness. When clients and collaborators visit, they encounter a space that physically embodies the values many organizations aspire to but struggle to implement. The material choices become talking points, opportunities to discuss how design decisions at every scale can support broader sustainability goals.

What makes the sustainable material approach particularly noteworthy is the invisibility of environmentally responsible choices to casual observation. The sustainable paints do not announce themselves through unusual appearance or compromised aesthetic quality. The paints simply perform their function beautifully while carrying additional meaning for those who inquire about them. The subtlety reflects a sophisticated understanding of brand communication, where values are demonstrated through substance rather than proclaimed through signage.

Transforming Spatial Constraints into Design Opportunities

Every project presents limitations. Budget boundaries, site conditions, regulatory requirements, and existing structural elements all constrain what designers can achieve. The mark of exceptional design practice is in the ability to transform constraints from obstacles into generative opportunities. The EVD office exemplifies the alchemical process of turning restrictions into distinctive features.

The project began with significant spatial limitations. Fire protection regulations required the entrance to protrude toward the foyer, dictating a specific position and width for evacuation purposes. The structural framework and the five orderly window openings defined where walls could be placed. Pipes for fire protection and air conditioning systems occupied precious ceiling volume in the original space. Lesser design approaches might have simply accommodated the regulatory and structural conditions, creating a functional but unremarkable interior.

Instead, Yang Bing and Hao Liyun recognized each limitation as a design catalyst. The required entrance position became the starting point for the entire spatial organization. Rather than fighting against the constraint, the designers allowed the entrance requirement to generate form. The entrance condition created opportunities for organizing spatial pattern and sequence that would not have existed in an unconstrained site.

The five-meter ceiling height, potentially problematic due to mechanical systems, became an opportunity for vertical spatial exploration. The designers created height variations within the space, elevating the area outside certain door openings to establish natural sight-line differences. The level changes introduce playfulness and mystery into the spatial experience, rewarding exploration and creating distinct zones within the open plan.

The constraint-embracing approach carries broader lessons for corporate design strategy. Organizations often approach office design with wish lists of ideal conditions, becoming frustrated when practical realities interfere. The EVD project suggests an alternative mindset: embrace the specific conditions of your situation as the raw material for distinctive design solutions. The limitations that seem most frustrating may generate the most memorable and characteristic features of your eventual space.

The Sphere as Spatial Protagonist

Geometry carries meaning. Circles suggest completeness and unity. Squares imply stability and order. Triangles point and direct attention. Among three-dimensional forms, the sphere occupies a special place in human perception, often described as one of the most perfect solid figures for its elegant balance and infinite symmetry. The EVD office introduces spherical elements as a distinctive spatial device, using the primal form of the sphere to enhance the aesthetic and experiential qualities of the workspace.

The sphere appears throughout the project as a counterpoint to the rectilinear elements that typically dominate office environments. Where walls create planes and corners create edges, the sphere introduces curves and continuity. The contrast between spherical and rectilinear forms creates visual interest and prevents the space from feeling monotonous or predictable.

Beyond pure aesthetics, spherical forms carry rich associations. Spheres suggest wholeness and integration, qualities that resonate with EVD Design's interdisciplinary approach to practice. Spherical elements evoke celestial bodies and natural phenomena, connecting built space to larger cosmic orders. Spheres feel simultaneously ancient and futuristic, at home in Renaissance paintings and science fiction imaginings alike.

The use of spheres also demonstrates confidence and distinctiveness in design approach. Spherical elements require more complex fabrication than planar surfaces. Spheres demand precision and craft. Including spherical forms in the design signals willingness to invest in quality and attention to detail. For clients visiting the office, spherical forms communicate that EVD Design approaches projects with ambition and technical capability.

For brands considering their own corporate environments, the EVD project illustrates how geometric choices can support identity expression. The forms within your space need not default to conventional orthogonal arrangements. Curved elements, spherical volumes, and unexpected geometries can distinguish your environment and communicate particular values or aspirations. The key is in deploying geometric forms purposefully, ensuring curved and spherical elements serve the overall spatial concept rather than appearing as arbitrary decorative additions.

To understand how classical languages, sustainable materials, and distinctive geometric elements work together in practice, you can explore the award-winning evd office design, which demonstrates the full integration of these principles within a coherent spatial vision.

Creating Spatial Narrative and Sequential Experience

Great spaces tell stories. Narrative environments guide visitors through sequences of discovery, establishing moods, creating anticipation, and delivering moments of arrival and revelation. The EVD office demonstrates sophisticated narrative thinking, organizing the three hundred square meters as a journey rather than simply a collection of functional zones.

The narrative begins at the entrance, where fire regulation requirements created a specific spatial condition. Rather than treating the entrance as merely a threshold to pass through quickly, the design uses the entrance sequence to establish mood and prepare visitors for what follows. The approach creates anticipation, a sense that something significant awaits beyond the immediate view.

Height variations throughout the space create a rhythm of compression and release. Moving through zones of different ceiling heights produces physical sensations that correspond to psychological states: lower ceilings create intimacy and focus, while higher volumes inspire openness and creative thinking. The height variations are not arbitrary but correspond to the activities and moods appropriate to different areas within the office.

The U-shaped configuration creates a continuous circulation route that allows the entire space to unfold progressively. Visitors do not perceive everything at once. Instead, each turn reveals new views, new conditions, new moments of visual interest. The sequential revelation maintains engagement and creates the impression that the space contains more than the actual square footage might suggest.

Light plays a crucial role in the spatial narrative. As visitors move through the office, their relationship to the five large windows constantly shifts. Sometimes light arrives directly, creating bright zones of activity. Sometimes illumination arrives indirectly, filtered through intermediate spaces to create softer, more contemplative atmospheres. The time of day affects lighting conditions, ensuring the space feels different during morning, afternoon, and evening hours.

For corporate environments, narrative spatial design offers significant advantages over static arrangements. Spaces that unfold sequentially create more memorable impressions than spaces that reveal everything immediately. Sequential spaces reward engagement and exploration, encouraging visitors and employees alike to remain attentive to their surroundings rather than filtering surroundings out as background.

The Office as Living Portfolio

Design practices face a unique branding challenge. Their work exists primarily in other locations, commissioned by other organizations for other purposes. The design studio itself provides a rare opportunity to demonstrate capabilities without the mediating influence of client preferences and project constraints. The EVD office capitalizes on the portfolio opportunity, functioning simultaneously as a workplace, a showcase, and a proof of concept.

Every design decision in the EVD office serves dual purposes. The sustainable paint finishes create beautiful surfaces while demonstrating the firm's commitment to environmental responsibility. The classical spatial languages generate distinctive atmospheres while displaying the designers' cultural sophistication and art historical knowledge. The natural lighting strategy improves working conditions while illustrating expertise in environmental design.

The dual-purpose approach transforms routine client meetings into immersive brand experiences. Potential clients do not merely hear about EVD Design's capabilities. Visitors experience the firm's capabilities directly. Clients sit within spaces shaped by classical proportions. Visitors see light diffusing through carefully arranged openings. Guests breathe air conditioned by sustainable material choices. The office itself makes the case for the firm's expertise more persuasively than any portfolio presentation could achieve.

For enterprises across sectors, the principle of demonstration through environment extends beyond design practices. Every corporate environment represents an opportunity to demonstrate values, capabilities, and attention to quality. Manufacturing companies can showcase production excellence through their facility design. Technology firms can exhibit innovation through their workspace configurations. Financial services organizations can communicate stability and trustworthiness through material choices and spatial organization.

The EVD project, recognized with a Golden A' Design Award, illustrates how thoughtful corporate interior design can function as a strategic business asset. The investment in creating a distinctive, well-considered workspace may generate returns through enhanced brand perception, improved client relationships, and increased employee satisfaction. The office becomes an argument for the organization's excellence, operating continuously without requiring active presentation.

Forward Perspectives for Corporate Interior Design

The principles demonstrated in the EVD office point toward emerging opportunities in corporate interior design. As organizations increasingly recognize their physical spaces as strategic assets rather than mere operational necessities, demand grows for interiors that express brand values, support employee wellbeing, and demonstrate environmental responsibility.

Classical design languages will likely continue gaining relevance as counterbalances to the technological acceleration characterizing contemporary life. Spaces that connect occupants to historical traditions and enduring aesthetic principles offer refuge and grounding. The challenge is in translating classical languages appropriately, avoiding nostalgic pastiche while capturing timeless spatial qualities.

Sustainable materials will move from distinctive choices to expected standards. Organizations that adopt sustainable specifications today position themselves advantageously for futures where environmentally responsible choices become mandatory or strongly preferred. Early adoption builds expertise and establishes reputations for environmental leadership.

The integration of natural light and environmental consciousness will intensify as understanding deepens regarding the relationships between built environments and human health. Corporate spaces that prioritize natural light and air quality will attract and retain talent more effectively than competitors who treat employee experience as an afterthought.

Spatial narrative and sequential experience will become increasingly important as attention becomes scarcer and more valuable. Environments that capture and sustain engagement will outperform environments that blend into forgettable backgrounds. The skills of spatial storytelling, long associated with cultural institutions and retail environments, will become essential competencies for corporate interior design.

The EVD office demonstrates that trends toward classical languages, sustainable materials, and natural light integration can work together coherently, producing spaces that honor tradition while embracing innovation, that express brand identity while serving practical functions, and that delight visitors while supporting daily work. The future belongs to corporate environments that achieve such synthesis, and the present offers opportunities to begin that journey.

What qualities would you want your corporate space to communicate if every surface, every light condition, and every spatial relationship could speak on behalf of your brand?