Cashmere Tech Center by waa — Regenerating an Industrial Icon into a Modern Collaborative Hub

A Desert Industrial Landmark Reimagined

Set in the vast desert landscape of Ordos, Inner Mongolia, the Cashmere Tech Center by waa (we architect anonymous) stands as a bold example of how architecture can transform aging industrial facilities into vibrant, future-ready creative hubs. Originally built at the turn of the millennium as part of a large, self-contained cashmere factory complex, the building once served as a specialized research and production center for luxury textiles.

The 2025 renovation redefines the center as a collaborative research and development (R&D) community, embracing innovation, communication, and sustainability while preserving the site’s industrial heritage.

Design Vision — From Isolation to Interaction

The architects envisioned a new kind of workplace—open, adaptable, and socially connected. In contrast to the original closed “donut” plan, the new design introduces transparency and movement through an open atrium, glass-walled studios, and visual corridors that link spaces across different floors.

A new ramp system and secondary entrance at Level 2 provide independent access, giving the building autonomy and fluid circulation. This approach fosters interaction between researchers, designers, and visitors, symbolizing the brand’s evolution from tradition to modernity.

Spatial Transformation and Community Dynamics

At the heart of the transformation lies a dynamic central atrium, redesigned to serve not as a static display area but as a living workspace. Here, walls and shelves display material samples meant for interactive use—turning the act of research and discussion into a public, collaborative experience.

Flexible spaces allow employees to choose between private focus rooms or open discussion zones. The auditorium, set at a 45-degree angle, links seamlessly to the Material Library and R&D labs via a suspended bridge, promoting dialogue and cross-disciplinary exchange.

A New Façade Identity — The “Industrial Jewel”

waa introduced a striking new component-driven façade, conceived as an “industrial jeweled cloak.” This metallic skin, composed of perforated and arced aluminum panels, wraps the existing structure and creates a rhythmic, reflective surface that changes with light and perspective.

This new façade not only resizes the visual proportions of the building but also enhances ventilation, shading, and transparency—balancing performance with aesthetics. Behind it, a new access ramp doubles as an architectural feature, linking the exterior to the second-level foyer.

Design Highlights: Open Work, Open Thought

1. Open Display – The large reception hall functions as a flexible space for exhibitions, meetings, and temporary material showcases, turning circulation into a creative experience.
2. Open Auditorium – Retractable curtains and stepped seating adapt to both intimate and large-scale events, visible from balconies above.
3. Open Samples – The R&D zone uses bench-style and vertical displays to keep material development in constant visual conversation.
4. Open Offices – A lighting grid creates luminous “membranes” across work zones, encouraging spontaneous collaboration and creative crossovers.

Architectural Meaning — Craft, Material, and Identity

The renovation is a metaphor for cashmere itself — transforming raw natural material into refined luxury. The façade’s shimmering texture and the open, tactile interiors echo this duality of industrial strength and crafted elegance.

Through a careful balance of preservation and innovation, waa redefines the role of industrial architecture for the 21st century: not as isolated production spaces, but as vibrant ecosystems of creativity, research, and collaboration.

All the photographs are works of whyseeimage