Tranformation People’s Education Press Beijing

NEXT architects transformed the former factory of the People’s Education Press (PEP) in the centre of Beijing into offices spaces for creative entrepreneurs. PEP is responsible for publishing around 99% of all children’s education books in China. In 2015 PEP moved their activities outside the city, leaving several abandoned factories just north of Beijing’s city centre. Rather than demolishing, NEXT co-operated in the earliest initiatives to redevelop this area, transforming the outdated factories into a ‘creative district’. By now, online educational start-ups, website design companies and software companies have settled down here. Also NEXT architects Beijing moved their offices to the former PEP factory in 2017.

The interior of our office reflects our believe in essential conditions for creativity: openness, transparency and maximizing opportunities for exchange. Among others, a central stair doubles as theatre and exhibition space. 

The height of the existing industrial space is utilized as an integral part of the office. Two maple trees grow inside and two glass meeting rooms seem to float in this space. Original materials and details are kept as much as possible.