The Czech brand’s new Asian headquarters is an inspiring space crafted to encourage collaboration and new ideas

Globally renowned Czech brand Lasvit has opened the Lasvit Lounge Hong Kong in the heart of Wan Chai — a stylish office-cum-showroom that embodies the company’s collaborative, innovation-driven approach to lighting, glassware and spatial design.

Realised in partnership with Prague Design Hub, the 160-square-metre space is a physical representation of Lasvit’s creative philosophy. ‘We’re introducing a contemporary way of looking at decorative features,’ says Vojtech Havrda, associate general manager at Lasvit. ‘We build on the Czech tradition of glassmaking but we combine it with modern technology and interactive features.’

Featuring a modern open-plan kitchen and lounge space, a conference room and offices, as well as a 100-square-metre terrace, the Lasvit Lounge combines colourful, contemporary furniture with striking lighting installations, glass sculptures and glassware, many of which are examples of collaborations with designers from around the world, including Zaha Hadid and Yabu Pushelberg. ‘The colour palette in the lounge was inspired by Hong Kong’s rich flora and unique culture,’ explains Prague Design Hub principal Radovan Macak. ‘We wanted to create a welcoming yet energetic and surprising space.’ Highlights include the custom bar and arched credenza, as well as a set of timber-framed sliding doors with Lasvit-made glass plate insets.

Imagined with flexibility in mind, the lounge can be adapted from a casual office into a vibrant event space, accommodating for client and collaborator gatherings and events (in fact, Lasvit hosted the Design Anthology Hong Kong Issue Talks in late 2021). And unlike traditional showrooms, the lounge was designed with a focus on creating a relaxing and inspiring experience for both visitors and employees — a motive that echoes the brand’s approach to design and craft. ‘We’re not just making lighting features, we work with the space as a whole,’ says Havrda. ‘When you walk into the lobby of a hotel, the lighting is really what makes the first impression, so we focus on creating experiences and emotions.’

Thanks to a global team of 20 product designers working across residential, commercial and hospitality projects, Lasvit’s lighting installations stand out for their technical ingenuity and timeless elegance. A single piece involves the work of dozens of experts and can include a variety of materials ranging from handblown Bohemian crystal to glass, metal and timber. ‘The most interesting and challenging part of all of our work is turning concepts into reality,’ Havrda says. ‘It’s about coming up with creative concepts that keep pushing the boundaries of technology, craft and design, while remaining timeless.’

Images / Mahardhika Ari