What was once a paint factory in the Jing’an District of central Shanghai will soon become a mixed-use “urban hotspot”, designed by none other than BMW.

Yes, yes, BMW is venturing into real estate and will be working with Chinese project developer Nova Property Investment.

They plan to develop what they describe as a “multi-layered co-living initiative made up of apartments, working spaces and cultural offerings,” reports Global Construction Review:

The project aims to promote social interaction with communal spaces such as lobbies, exhibition areas and a food market, which will be open to the public. It will also contain rentable workspaces.

Check it:

They’re punting the designs to a variety of peeps, from singles and sharers to families wanting “short, medium-term and extended tenancies”. Nice.

And the inspiration? BMW will be applying the lessons they have learnt from MINI to build the mini apartments.

Check out the plans:

Pretty cool, hey?

This isn’t even the first project MINI Living has worked on. They previously partnered with architect Asif Khan on a series of temporary “living forests” in east London:

Last year MINI Living backed the conversion of a Brooklyn warehouse into a creative workspace, restaurant and design store, and at this year’s Milan design week it presented a compact prototype house that could help to filter city air.

Okay, back to Shanghai.

The six-building development, which will be installed in the paint factory’s retained façade, will be the BMW’s first permanent project.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, a member of BMW’s management board, said:

“At Mini we are also well versed in the intelligent use of space; back in 1959 the classic Mini was already maximising the experience available within a very small footprint.

“Mini Living brings this know-how from the vehicles we drive into the places where we live. We are rethinking the idea of living space in the city and developing attractive, need-oriented living concepts.”

A look at the full scope of the building:

See that little MINI bottom right? Adorable, isn’t it?

While there was no word on whether occupants will each get a MINI upon sign-up, thankfully you won’t need to go to Shanghai to have your own MINI experience.

Rather, go over here, find one that suits you, pop Seth an email about it and he will hook you up with a decent discount.

Yay for MINI Living.

[source:globalconstructionreview]