Studio Ga, ze by you knock knock
Studio Ga, ze’s new office by you knock knock explores a calm, controlled take on soft brutalism, built around spatial clarity, material contrast, and precise, restrained detailing.
Designed exclusively for a video production studio, the workplace is arranged across three levels, each with a distinct function while staying visually connected through openness, voids, and carefully placed transparencies.
At the core of the project is a deliberate pairing of exposed structure and crafted warmth. Raw concrete columns, ceiling slabs, and beams are left visible, establishing an industrial weight and a cool, textured grey backdrop. Against this, extensive custom joinery in honey-toned and reddish-brown woods introduces tactility and human scale. Warm millwork appears as wall paneling, cabinetry, stair elements, and partitions, bringing a sense of permanence and craft to the hard shell. Floor-to-ceiling glazing strengthens the connection to the street and turns the interior into a softly lit presence after dark, while internal openings and open railings maintain visual continuity between levels.
The ground floor operates as the communal base, supporting both formal and informal interaction. A large meeting table anchors the space, combining a sleek grey surface with wood edging and pared-back plywood and steel seating. Storage is integrated into custom cabinetry that also accommodates high-end audio equipment, aligning the interior’s built-in elements with the technical demands of media production. Along the window line, a stainless steel countertop forms a compact beverage-preparation zone, its clinical sheen set against warmer timber cabinetry. Track lighting, exposed conduits, and utilitarian finishes reinforce the floor’s durable, working character, while understated branding is incorporated into a custom TV cabinet that also acts as a divider near the stair.
Moving upward, the upper levels introduce more openness and softer atmospheres without losing the project’s disciplined material language. A dramatic double-height void expands the second-floor volume, creating a shared spatial anchor that brings light deeper into the plan. Suspended within this void, a large paper lantern casts diffuse illumination that tempers the concrete and steel. A black metal staircase cuts through the interior as a sharp, graphic element, its slender vertical spindles emphasizing precision and vertical movement. Nearby, a lounge zone with a black leather sectional creates an informal break area, with sheer full-height curtains filtering daylight and softening the perimeter glazing.
Workspaces are organized with custom pegboard partitions that provide a balance of privacy and permeability. Their modular nature supports the day-to-day needs of a production team, allowing tools, cables, and notes to be easily accommodated without visual clutter. A compact pantry is tucked beneath the staircase, using the same joinery language to form an efficient coffee nook with sink and shelving, maximizing vertical volume while keeping the footprint minimal.
On the top level, the tone shifts toward focused work and operational oversight. A private workspace features floor-to-ceiling timber shelving, including space for a vinyl collection, adding a cultural layer to an otherwise pared-back setting. A heavy black desk grounds the room, while carefully chosen furnishings, including tan leather chairs and a leaning stainless steel mirror, bring mid-century cues and a subtle retro-futurist edge without compromising the interior’s clarity.
Throughout, the project is defined less by decorative gesture than by the disciplined use of texture, proportion, and light. Studio Ga,ze’s office balances concrete’s industrial permanence with the warmth of bespoke woodwork, shaping an environment that feels grounded, functional, and quietly sophisticated.
