@ Beijing
序
Intro
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手机版的Chat-GPT
最近成了我们公司
讨论度最高的话题。
Chat-GPT has been the talk of the town in our office.
It understands mandarin, you can ask in mandarin，
and it can respond in mandarin
even though it was realized in the States.
It is amazing should we say.
尤其大家发现：
原来Chat-GPT可以读懂中文。
你用中文问它问题，
它用中文回你；
虽然它是发明于美国。
It understands mandarin, you can ask in mandarin，
and it can respond in mandarin
even though it was realized in the States.
It is amazing should we say.
大家也开始讨论
“翻译公司”是不是都可以智能化、
或者“自动化”了？
而今天给大家介绍的
办公空间设计作品
属于一家国内顶
尖的翻译公司。
“翻译”这工作，
到底会不会（或何时会）
彻底被机器替代呢？
反正以我最近的经验，
Chat-GPT帮我翻译的文章，
感觉还是
要人肉检查一遍才行
。
Needless to say,
people start to ponder the thought
if translating can be automated done?
Today we want to share with you
about a best in class translation company
based in China.
From my recent experience of having
Chat-GPT
help me translate an article,
the result is not satisfied....yet.
Albert @ EICOSPACE
BESTEASY Headquarters
甲骨易 总部办公室
甲骨易 BESTEASY，
中国语言服务提供商的领头羊。
Best Easy
, the leading Chinese language service provider.
简单一点说，
甲骨易的主业就两个字：
翻译。
在介绍这项目的设计前，
先跟大家分享一个小典故：
《圣经》中的
巴别塔故事
（创世记11:1-9）
当时人类居住在同一地区，
共同使用相同的语言。
然而人们决定建造一座高塔
来到达天堂
并挑战上帝的权威。
作为回应，
上帝使人类的语言混乱，
导致他们无法相互理解，
从而导致了语言的多样性
和不同的语言群体的形成。
我们试图从这小典故
为这家语言服务供应商的新办公空间
延伸出一个抽象的设计概念。
最初想到的是极端的思维：
“有违天意”
或者
“逆天而行”
也许是口味过重，
在平面布局阶段上屡次碰壁：
Simply put：
Translation services.
Before we talk about the design for the office,
we want to share a st
ory from the book of Genesis
11:1-9 The Tower of Babel
that
inspired us on our initial approach.
We used the excerpt as a trigger to conceptualize our approach.
The initial thought was Against God’s will?
Expect the unexpected?
It deemed to be too extreme and created various difficulties with the programming and planning.
然而与业主初步沟通过后，
设计师们还是收敛了各自愤青的一面。
尤其读到以下名言
大家突然变得清醒了：
“真正的翻译是透明的。”
—瓦尔特·本雅明 Walter Benjamin
“翻译”这工作，其实也可以很单纯。
它只不过是一个
连接人与人之间的双向通道。
这也成就了本次项目的设计灵感。
After several meetings we all agreed to tune down our approach and focus on a more practical sense.
“True translation is transparent,”
A famous quote by Walter Benjamin has struck us.
The idea of translation can be that pure and simple：
It is a two-way passage that bridges the gap between individuals.
一条两侧对称的走道，
将人们引领至一个圆形的活动空间。
设计象征着翻译工作所扮演的角色，
让语言之间的障碍消失，
人与人之间的交流从而便捷自如。
As a result, a main corridor connects the old space to the new and symmetrically partitions the left and right spaces, leading to a circular communal space.
By blurring the barriers between functional space, it allows for a fluid circulation and symbolically minimizes different language barriers enhancing communication.
为了创造出一种开放自由的交流氛围，
我们尽可能地减少墙体的存在
让空间更加通透。
这不仅让办公室显得更加宽敞明亮，
也隐喻了翻译工作特有的开放、包容态度。
In order to convey an open interactive atmosphere,
we minimized walls and maximized wall openings to allow for a more transparent and bright space to enhance the idea of a free environment.
在空间的材料选择上：
各种采用的材料需“诚实地”表现出各自原有的质感。
不加修饰的黑色的裸天花、灰色水泥
拉丝不锈钢、灰色水磨石砖、原木。
以最直接的方式呈现人前。
We focused on materiality and the essence of each element used in the space.
A blackened exposed ceiling, bare concrete, brushed stainless steel, terrazzo tiles and wood veneers are presented in their primitive state, not overly processed or machined, to convey a so-called “honest” spatial impression.
值得一体的是，
这空间其实是甲骨易原办公室的扩建部分。
业主在这扩建计划的初衷，
是在常规的办公室基础上，
增加一个类似星巴克提出的“第三空间”概念。
In this office expansion project, our client has wished for a transitional space within the confines of a standard office space, like the concept of “the third space” as defined by Starbucks.
在这新空间投入使用后，
我们也经常在业主姜总的朋友圈里
看到发生在这“第三空间场所里
的各种活动照片。
最多的当然是各种分享会了：
Upon Day1, we often see client share various posts of their new space utilized for various events.
Briefings and meeting sessions, seminars etc…
然我们意想不到的是，
这个空间还能举办划船比赛：
And to our surprise, the space can even host rowing competitions.
后记
一个偶然机会，
我从New Yorker里面读到
科幻作家Ted Chiang
对于当下AI发展提出的一篇文章：
I read an article in the New Yorker by chance:
Science fiction novelist Ted Chiang
on the topic of Artificial Intelligence.
里面其中谈及AI与语言的关系，
翻译后大概意思：
语言是促进与其他生物互动的一种方式。
这与现在训练 AI 所使用的
“标记预测”
完全不同。
他认为：
没有人类赋予 AI
意图
、
情感和目的，
则其语言就变得毫无意义。
（Ted在文中还有不少值得深思的观点
我在文末放了文章链接，
有兴趣的朋友可以自行阅读。）
In short, language is a way
to promote communication
between organisms and the current model of training,
and predictive forecasting is meaningless
without the input of human emotion and intent.
( Ted imposes many thought provoking views on this topic,
the link to the article provided at the end.)
“翻译”这工作，
还有多久才不需人类的参与，
这问题大家都不敢回答。
但无可否认，
由于世界上存在不同的语言
而导致的不便利，
及人与人之间的大小冲突，
比比皆是。
I cannot say how far we are from AI doing translating nor am I qualified to predict the future.
However, because of the complexity of various languages, there will always be minor inconveniences, misunderstandings and lost in translations that may lead to conflicts.
我总觉得，
“翻译”工作从业员，
有时候更像是个调停者。
如上述观点成立，
能为一家翻译公司
进行其办公空间的设计，
便更显得带有使命感了。
I rather think “translators” are more like “mediators
.”
With that said, space planning and designing for a language services company is a sense of destiny,transforming a virtual world into a real-life
environment.
再说几句关于这项目：
甲骨易，很愉快的一次合作。
感谢姜总的设计过程中
分享的各种新鲜想法；
也多谢杨威哥一路费心。
最重要的还是马克在疫情之间
为了保证项目最终效果
冒死上海北京两地跑。
也许以当下的科技发展，
翻译已经快不需要人类去执行。
但在工作过程中，
人与人之间
不言而喻的微妙默契
所带来的乐趣，
这一点就真的没有机器
或者人工智能什么事儿了。
It was a very pleasant collaboration. Many thanks to Mr. Jiang for sharing new thoughts during the design process. And, Yang Wei, for his patience and attention to detail.
Also, to ensure proper communication and execution during CA, Marc has risked catching COVID by commuting between Shanghai and Beijing.
Granted AI can probably perfectly execute translation services, but in the meantime, we don’t foresee AI replacing the nuances of human interaction.
左到右：甲骨易董事总经理 姜总、马克、杨威哥
Left to Right: Mr. Jiang (CEO), Marc, Yang Wei
遗憾未能参加各位验收后的饭局，
希望以后有机会补上！
It’s a pity I couldn’t attend final handover and party. Hope to meet up soon enough.！
Albert @ EICOSPACE
PS.
Will A.I. Become the New McKinsey?
by Ted Chiang
Link:
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