Office Principles has delivered a new coworking concept facility in London that claims to be the UK’s first subscription space to focus equally on work and play.
The interior design consultancy has completed the CAT B design and fit out of the ground floor of 111 Seven Sisters Road near Finsbury Park, on behalf of start-up firm, Work + Play.
The concept was developed during the coronavirus lockdown by management consultant, Freddie Scobey and entrepreneur, Tobias Batkin and is already looking to increase desking capacity based on rapid growth in demand.
Freddie said the pair set out to blend the idea of making office spaces more flexible, healthy and fun, with a quest to provide a social alternative to working from home for a generation of people that have been starved of forming local communities.
He said: “Work + Play is the first coworking concept geared towards the ‘work from home’ crowd, that focuses equally on work and play. At its core, it’s about refusing to return to the unnatural work habits of the past.
“Our first location in Finsbury Park offers a unique take on coworking and has been meticulously designed by award-winning architects to be a combination of work and home comfort. The space aims to support people in achieving balance by incorporating wellbeing and fun into their workdays.”
Work + Play promises to offer everything required to work productively out of the office. Situated on the ground floor of a residential block, the 5,000 sq ft project combines three former retail units into a single, modern working space and members club that seeks to encourage users to go beyond the “office” and “play more”.
Formal desking coexists with informal lounge space, café style seating and privacy booths, whilst a coffee/bar area boasts a high-performance Scanomat coffee machine.
Members can take advantage of studio ‘play space’, which can be customised to host a range of events and classes from exercise classes, yoga, Pilates, to speed networking, life drawing and even puppy yoga.
The industrial-style design concept is characterised by exposed services and complemented by full height glazing, which brings additional natural light into the building.
Rory Smyth, managing director of Office Principles’ London-based team, said: “Work + Play is a brand-new concept for collaborators, freelancers and people working from home, who miss the interaction of an office. It’s an ideal space for those who want to get out, get active and get social, with opportunities to find physical and mental wellbeing.
“It’s been hugely enjoyable to work with such an enthusiastic and inspirational group of people, who had a clear vision for what they wanted this space to be from the beginning of the project. We have been able to deliver infrastructure alterations and key services upgrades that have adapted the space into a light, airy and welcoming environment. It will hopefully be the first of many Work + Play spaces.”
The refurbishment of 111 Seven Sisters Road was delivered by Office Principles and a project team including Eden Project Management and Austin Knox, architects.
