Project: Thermotopological Workspace
Architecture: UY DESIGN
Lead Designer: Sun Mu
Location: Zhuhai, China
Area: 185 m2
Year: 2025
Photo Credits: Liang Jiajian
For UY DESIGN, space isn’t just a backdrop—it shapes how we think, feel, and collaborate. Inspired by Peter Sloterdijk’s notion of “thermotopology,” founder Sun Mu set out to design a studio that feels as alive and welcoming as a home. Consequently, every material, partition, and pathway invites creativity rather than commands routine.
Unbound by Definition
Instead of rigid offices and sealed meeting rooms, UY DESIGN embraces “non-naming.” Thus, the living area flows into the tea corner, which in turn merges softly with the meeting zone. As a result, people choose how to use each spot—whether for reading, brainstorming, exhibiting, or simply gazing out the window. By removing strict labels, the studio returns spatial agency to its users’ moods and intentions.
Returning to the Body Through Material and Light
Moreover, the team layered walls with rough, textured surfaces punctuated by intentional marks. These “sedimented” planes capture natural light and reflect shifting daylight temperatures. Meanwhile, a curated mix of wood beads, linen, coarse ceramics, and wicker beckons touch. In this way, the studio awakens the body’s senses and aligns work rhythms with the passing day.
A Curated Gallery of Objects and Emotion
In addition, UY DESIGN treats furniture and art as visual prose. Rather than chasing luxury, they collect objects that tell stories—old books, hand-crafted ceramics, and simple woven pieces. Consequently, every object slows down the pace, inviting occupants to pause, reflect, and connect with the studio’s cultural sensibility.
A New Sensibility for the Workplace
Finally, by combining Sloterdijk’s thermotopology with Merleau-Ponty’s embodied space, UY DESIGN crafts a workplace that feels soft, intimate, and alive. Ultimately, this studio proves that true innovation emerges when we design not only for efficiency but also for emotions, senses, and shared human moments.
