Your Guide to Creative China
CH 5: Creative Office Spaces
Published August 19, 2009
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With the mass influx of creative companies, agencies, and "types" into Shanghai over the last few years, the city has seen a boom in the design and construction of creative office spaces. For companies in the creative industries, having a hip and idiosyncratic office space is an essential aspect in creating image and agency brand recognition. From the dead-tech, post-modern renovated warehouse to the warm and eco-friendly office boutique, Shanghai is now home to a host of unique and singular locations in which to take care of business.
Here’s a list of five great office spaces that have desk space and/or rooms available for rent. For the journeyman freelancer or start-up, renting a room or desk space is a great way to cut down on costs and share resources. A number of these boutique offices provide bilingual receptionists, fax and copy machines, round the clock security, daily cleaning services, and then some.
And if you’re looking to impress clients, you get the whole cool-by-association thing happening.
First up is Mind Offices, located in close proximity to Maoming Lu on one of the city’s newer hot spots, Jinxian Lu. Offering a professionally slick minimalist décor, the Mind Offices have 12 to 35 sqm private offices available, as well as open spaces with individual tables. Here's a bonus: the top floor of the building has a spacious rooftop garden, which hosts a bar and can be booked ahead (by tenants) for private company functions. Currently, they’re at 75% occupancy, and offer among the standard amenities, WOFE regitration services.
24-hour inclusive office access, meeting rooms, the lot -- private rooms 7,998rmb a month and individual workspaces for 1,998rmb a month.
Location, location, location. The achingly stylish and modern Oasis is in Xintiandi, which doesn't hurt when looking for business lunch options or venues to take clients for drinks. With a tenant roster of mostly foreign corporations, Oasis's concept of workplace Zen is mirrored through its use of bamboos and textured walls. Office sizes range from 5sqm (1 work station) to 34sqm (3 work stations), for up to 18,000rmb per month. On location is a cozy outdoor deck, as well as a bar good enough for the Rat Pack (or their still-living Chinese equivalent) to hang around in.
Kangding Lu's Anken Warehouse offers environmentally friendly policies that would make Ralph Nader weep with pride. An unpretentious 1000-square-meter space, Anken's open-floor plan means you can easily get to know your fellow tenants without having to knock on a door. High ceilings and large windows which allow for plenty of natural light, Anken Warehouse rents by desk, and they also hosts events, seminars, and orientations for their tenants.
Anken Warehouse is renting by desk, and the price is from 2,000rmb to 2,500rmb per desk per month, depending on the length of the contract.
From the producers of Anken Warehouse comes Anken Green, another converted warehouse space, motivated to environmentally sustainable managerial policies. Anken Green is located in the Jing'an district, adjacent to Suzhou Creek, a short walk away to the Moganshan Lu art street. Stylish, minimal, and green. Standard office amenities with lounge areas and meeting rooms.
Anken Green is renting by square meter, and the price is from 3rmb to 6rmb per square meter, per day.
Located in a quaint lane smack bang in the middle of the French Concession, [the studio] is a younger, more laid-back alternative to the slick veneer offered by the other office spaces on this list. The great thing about [the studio] is their direct involvement in the Shanghai visual arts community. They hosts art shows, classes, discussions, garage sales, and movie nights. Ideal for vagabond creatives looking to get inserted into the Shanghai DIY scene, [the studio] operates on a collectivist vibe and regularly serves as a hub for traveling artists and designers.
The rent is 1,500rmb per month -- includes all bills: ayi, electricity, drinking water, wireless, a land line, and other miscellaneous maintenance.
An upcoming contemporary art gallery located in a renovated old house off Yan'an Lu, the cozy Galerie Artenoo feels more like a home you can raise your kids in. Along with a well-maintained 300-square-meter garden at the back, the first floor of the house is used mainly for events and art exhibitions, while the second floor's bright and airy rooms are available for rent. Click on the link above to be redirected.
Another option is the SmartShanghai office. [Full disclosure: it’s where I’m sitting right now.] You "social-editorial guide to Shanghai" rents out desks at their HQ, and you get to hang with the lovely people who work therein. It’s a converted warehouse space -- standard office amenities and free beer (while supplies last). Click here for more information on that.
And last but not least, check out the SmSh properties section. New office space comes available almost daily.
Here’s a list of five great office spaces that have desk space and/or rooms available for rent. For the journeyman freelancer or start-up, renting a room or desk space is a great way to cut down on costs and share resources. A number of these boutique offices provide bilingual receptionists, fax and copy machines, round the clock security, daily cleaning services, and then some.
And if you’re looking to impress clients, you get the whole cool-by-association thing happening.
Mind Offices
First up is Mind Offices, located in close proximity to Maoming Lu on one of the city’s newer hot spots, Jinxian Lu. Offering a professionally slick minimalist décor, the Mind Offices have 12 to 35 sqm private offices available, as well as open spaces with individual tables. Here's a bonus: the top floor of the building has a spacious rooftop garden, which hosts a bar and can be booked ahead (by tenants) for private company functions. Currently, they’re at 75% occupancy, and offer among the standard amenities, WOFE regitration services.
24-hour inclusive office access, meeting rooms, the lot -- private rooms 7,998rmb a month and individual workspaces for 1,998rmb a month.
Oasis
Location, location, location. The achingly stylish and modern Oasis is in Xintiandi, which doesn't hurt when looking for business lunch options or venues to take clients for drinks. With a tenant roster of mostly foreign corporations, Oasis's concept of workplace Zen is mirrored through its use of bamboos and textured walls. Office sizes range from 5sqm (1 work station) to 34sqm (3 work stations), for up to 18,000rmb per month. On location is a cozy outdoor deck, as well as a bar good enough for the Rat Pack (or their still-living Chinese equivalent) to hang around in.
Anken Warehouse
Kangding Lu's Anken Warehouse offers environmentally friendly policies that would make Ralph Nader weep with pride. An unpretentious 1000-square-meter space, Anken's open-floor plan means you can easily get to know your fellow tenants without having to knock on a door. High ceilings and large windows which allow for plenty of natural light, Anken Warehouse rents by desk, and they also hosts events, seminars, and orientations for their tenants.
Anken Warehouse is renting by desk, and the price is from 2,000rmb to 2,500rmb per desk per month, depending on the length of the contract.
Anken Green
From the producers of Anken Warehouse comes Anken Green, another converted warehouse space, motivated to environmentally sustainable managerial policies. Anken Green is located in the Jing'an district, adjacent to Suzhou Creek, a short walk away to the Moganshan Lu art street. Stylish, minimal, and green. Standard office amenities with lounge areas and meeting rooms.
Anken Green is renting by square meter, and the price is from 3rmb to 6rmb per square meter, per day.
[the studio]
Located in a quaint lane smack bang in the middle of the French Concession, [the studio] is a younger, more laid-back alternative to the slick veneer offered by the other office spaces on this list. The great thing about [the studio] is their direct involvement in the Shanghai visual arts community. They hosts art shows, classes, discussions, garage sales, and movie nights. Ideal for vagabond creatives looking to get inserted into the Shanghai DIY scene, [the studio] operates on a collectivist vibe and regularly serves as a hub for traveling artists and designers.
The rent is 1,500rmb per month -- includes all bills: ayi, electricity, drinking water, wireless, a land line, and other miscellaneous maintenance.
... and a few more.
An upcoming contemporary art gallery located in a renovated old house off Yan'an Lu, the cozy Galerie Artenoo feels more like a home you can raise your kids in. Along with a well-maintained 300-square-meter garden at the back, the first floor of the house is used mainly for events and art exhibitions, while the second floor's bright and airy rooms are available for rent. Click on the link above to be redirected.
Another option is the SmartShanghai office. [Full disclosure: it’s where I’m sitting right now.] You "social-editorial guide to Shanghai" rents out desks at their HQ, and you get to hang with the lovely people who work therein. It’s a converted warehouse space -- standard office amenities and free beer (while supplies last). Click here for more information on that.
And last but not least, check out the SmSh properties section. New office space comes available almost daily.
