News

This is one of our regular Monday breakfasts prepared by colleagues. It’s never the same. We start our week with laughter, delicious food and creative sharing in Robarts Spaces.

We wish you, your families and colleagues,
a happy and prosperous Year of the Dog.
– From all of us at Robarts Spaces

Robarts Spaces held a dynamic communication workshop in December. Our colleagues enthusiastically participated in its role play and discussions. Mankind is one and we are closely linked with each other. Through communication, we are able to understand and find that connection, to reach and trust, to collaborate and create.

On November 7, 2017, we continued our 20-year anniversary celebration in our Shanghai office. Robarts Spaces founder Adam Robarts shared the story behind  company’s Chinese name"一工", it was inspired by a story from ZhuangZi.

A craftsman designed a musical instrument from wood and presented it to the king. The beauty of the instrument illumined the entire court and everyone marvelled at such a masterpiece. The king, therefore, called the craftsman ZiQing and asked him,

“How did you create such an amazing piece of work?”
 
“My Lord,” ZiQing answered, “I am a humble craftsman and do not have any complicated methods. Before I started, I made my ablutions and gave time for meditation. I began with a tranquil and focused mind. By the third day, I detached myself from the thought of the material benefits this assignment would bring me. By the fifth day, I let go of how much fame this assignment would bring me. By the seventh day, I completely let go of my ego. I walked into the woods and this piece appeared right before my eyes. It was not me who made this; the greatness of the universe created this instrument through my hands.”

The spirit of the craftsman is the spirit we have tried to inculcate and nurture in Robarts Spaces right from our establishment. Our company was thus named “一工”. This simplest and most humble "一" represents persistence, focus and continuity of these qualities which unite us all.

On November 1, 2017, we were honored to celebrate our 20-year anniversary with clients, suppliers and collaborators in Beijing. In keeping with the Robarts Spaces vision to build community and uplift the human spirit through meaningful design, the event included participative artistic installations, fusion music and yes, moments to reflect, celebrate and give thanks for the past, present and future!