We look at workplaces and community hubs offering holistic environments
Heading back into an altered landscape of working, family responsibilities and – well – life, we look at the places offering a holistic approach
it is undeniable that the pandemic has upended our previous lives, which for most were compartmentalised into work, life and family divisions, into a complete tornado of elements. Suddenly it became essential for all the parts to work seamlessly together – and workplaces, hospitality and retail sat up to take notice, putting ideas into practice that we can all take inspiration from.
A new family-focused community hub, b_together , is housed within a grand Victorian mansion block in St John’s Wood, London, and incorporates facilities for everyone from toddlers to teens, parents and grandparents. ‘When designing the space,’ explains founder Maggie Bolger , ‘I wanted people to feel at home but with a sense of calm, have enough for kids to be happy but still refined and not feel like you are in a children’s space. Natural light is also such a key factor for creating pleasing interactions – and b_together is f looded with light and feels incredibly airy and open.’
Elsewhere, it seems Google – the pioneers of workplaces equipped with so many amenities employees never needed to leave – were on the right track. The brand new Amazon headquarters in Virginia is infused with biophilic features, setting the template for home offices across the land. The interiors provide workers with a variety of green environments, and its designers have created a spiral-shaped glass tower and walkable paths of landscaped terrain, leading the charge for how plants aid concentration and reminding us to fold them into our own spaces. Amazon has built plants into its infrastructure, in the same way that furniture brand USM now creates desks for use in residential places with in-built areas for plants.
Similarly co-working spaces are seeing holistic environments as integral to their offer with co-working spaces like Uncommon providing meditation pods and wellness suites for members. Prominent designers of home products are also following suit, creating elegant workout equipment for the home. Tom Dixon’s green-veined marble Rock Weight dumbbells double as sculptures and Yves Behar’s new Forme Life is a sleek wall-hung mirrored multi-activity gym portal, meaning you can live, work and exercise in the same space without compromising at all.
It seems we may no longer have to make compromises about the things that count and this altered landscape might be the silver lining.
“Co-working spaces are seeing holistic environments as integral to their offer”