All Photography by Vincent Wu
Behind the Design
The inspiration for this showroom was to create a space that goes beyond displaying office furniture—to design a spatial narrative that reflects MATSU’s bold brand identity while resonating with cultural depth and local context. Located on the 30th floor of a tower overlooking Hangzhou’s Gongshu district, the showroom draws on the poetic spirit of the Qiantang River and the expressive elegance of Chinese ink brushwork. These references informed key design elements, such as the fine, black metal structure that weaves through the space like a calligraphic stroke—framing products while subtly dividing zones.
The intention was to build a flexible, open environment that could adapt to different functions: product exhibitions, events, informal meetings. One corner of the showroom features the LAYAK series, a collaboration rooted in the nomadic traditions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Through natural textures, regional materials, and visual storytelling, the design fosters emotional connection, cultural awareness, and spatial coherence. It bridges traditional references and modern use, giving form to MATSU’s values in a way that speaks both to users and their environments. The result is a living, evolving platform—where design serves not only function, but meaning and memory.
This project prioritized both Material Health and Diversity & Inclusion as foundational design ambitions. One of the key highlights is the integration of the LAYAK series—developed by MATSU in collaboration with LHAYAK and Belgian design studio JRS—which brings natural, untreated materials such as yak leather and yak hair fabric into a contemporary office context. These materials are sourced from Tibetan herdsmen at fair-trade prices and processed without harmful chemical additives, contributing to healthier indoor environments and supporting traditional, low-impact supply chains.
The inclusion of the LAYAK series within the showroom also underscores our commitment to amplifying underrepresented cultural narratives within the design landscape. By introducing nomadic craftsmanship from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau into an urban showroom, the project challenges conventional definitions of luxury and office design. It creates space for ecological storytelling and highlights the interconnectedness between people, place, and product. These priorities shaped the spatial strategy and material palette—from translucent polycarbonate and industrial metal to natural textiles—creating a balanced dialogue between innovation and tradition. In this way, the showroom is not just a space of commerce, but a platform for cultural dialogue and ethical design thinking.
Featured Collections
Collective
As humans on this beautiful planet, what we have in common is so much greater than what divides us. We thrive in a global community that gives us perspective and gives voice to others to come together and laugh, share, work, learn, and care for each other. Collective shares a sense of unity that roots us in a positive spirit while letting our individual lights shine stronger than ever.
Serene
Serene enhances exiting designs by modernizing overall aesthetics and introducing authentic wood visuals with subtle, low-gloss finishes. The colorway offers a palette of core colors and visuals that provides visual consistency and design flexibility to meet a variety of specification needs. Combine planks for impactful color blocking or use a single color to ground a space.