Office Around a Tree is a minimalist house located in Shanghai, China, designed by LUKSTUDIO. Valued moments in architecture are manifested through the synthesis of the exterior with the interior. In an urban context, these moments are often public and ephemeral, noticed only through the interplay of dappling sunrays, shifting shadows and passing breeze as one strolls down the street. However, sometimes, our encounter of nature can be more intimate and permanent. In this project of our design studio, that moment of permanence came rooted in a forgotten courtyard. It is an old tree, the chimonanthus tree, known also as ‘wintersweet’. We were immediately charmed and so naturally, our design efforts became focused on restoring the dignity of this abandoned tree.