Trees grow through holes in the concrete floors and ceilings of the Shen Shen Garden office in Shanghai, which was designed to preserve the site's natural features.

Local studio Yushe Design developed the project as a workspace away from the bustle of downtown Shanghai.
Located in a suburb of the Chinese city, the building combines offices and associated amenities with lounge spaces and accommodation for the owner.

The corner site contained plenty of trees that provide shade on hot days and a natural outlook within the city.
When creating the office, the architects endeavoured to retain as many of the trees as possible, although some of them had to be relocated.

"The relationship between building and trees is emphasised in the design," said the studio. "The building is supposed to grow up among the trees." Trees lining the edge of the road help to form a natural boundary. They also determine the position of the concrete volumes, which contain the three main offices on the ground floor, which are joined by a meeting room, lobby and equipment room.

The simple concrete planes used to create the structure were cast in-situ using moulds that have left evidence of seams and fastenings, adding texture to the surfaces.
The building varies in height between one and two storeys, with the taller sections carefully positioned among the canopies of the trees.

Paths lead from the road through concrete-lined passages towards a courtyard at the rear of the build...