© Domani / Photography: Vincent Wu

A stone’s throw away from soaring Canton Tower, the tallest structure in all of Guangzhou, sits T.I.T. Creative Park. The site of a sizeable complex of buildings which formerly accommodated a textile machinery factory, it’s now not only a showcase of the city’s garment and textile industry history, but also home to many a creative business. One of the latest to set up shop here, and quite literally so, is 白 ZS Lab. Pronounced as ‘Bai ZS Lab’, 白 means bai or ‘white’ in plain English, it references the brand’s main focus on white T-shirts and sweaters, while the capital letters stand for zhi shi, or 织识 in Chinese, the company name. The venue is in fact a retail space and workspace, occupying no less than 1,100 sqm. (11,840 sq.ft.) set across three floors of a fully redeveloped and expanded industrial building. Extrapolating from timelessness and purity, Zi Shi‘s core values, the building has been expanded by way of new façades and a raised and extended roof.

At the same time, the roof has literally been opened up through generous cut-outs – read: windows and ceiling openings – which allow floods of daylight to permeate the upper, but also the ground floor thanks to a cut-out created by the building’s new façade. On the north side of the building a newly added staircase leads to the upper floor, while also embedding a seating area which allows outdoor gatherings. The staircase connects to a corridor at the back of 白 ZS Lab which enables access to each of the sections on the second floor. Both levels are defined by a linear design and a play with planes and daylight, creating an ongoing change of perspective and atmosphere almost anywhere on the premises. Furnishings largely comprise of glass display tables in various sizes and pristine white office chairs, while garments are presented on hangers attached to chunky panels protruding from the ceiling. Large circular mirrors with a rock base punctuate the premises, breaking the linear mould in a subtle way.

白 ZS Lab
T.I.T. Creative Park, 397 Xingang Zhong Lu (Kecun)
510220 Guangzhou

© Domani / Photography: Vincent Wu