New Co-Working Space in London Utilises Greenery to Full Potential

An old print factory in London has been converted into a new co-working space to give creative individuals somewhere engaging to do their job.

Entitled Palm Space Studio, the office is designed to provide a place for people whose professions require them to branch away from computers, allowing them the freedom to work in whatever way they want.

In the centre of the room are tables supporting collaborative work, while at the far end are desks suited for more of a heads-down approach to the job. These are separated by steel-framed shelves which can double as drying racks if the work required is more craft-related.

On the other side of the office is a small kitchen unit offering tea and coffee, alongside a range of comfortable seating for moments of relaxation during work breaks. There’s even a cubby hole fitted with cushions and plug sockets for a cosy hideaway.

Alfie Lay, designer of the Palm Space studio, said that his team “wanted to create a space that would allow people producing work in a physical or tangible medium to access the shared space”. When it came to envisioning the office, he pictured “a much more robust design, with plenty of storage for materials,” to reflect the varied professions of potential workers.

One of the core focuses of the office design was to connect the inside and outside of the workplace by incorporating nature wherever possible. Dotted around the space are plants that add a hint of colour to the office and promote green thinking, particularly in the kitchen area where wooden walls and leafy wallpaper boast a natural appeal.

Over the other side of the room is a large set of windows that fill the area with sunlight and feature a large glass door leading out into a private garden. It’s not often that offices have access to a garden because they’re normally housed in large blocks with very little greenery around. The London Palm Space studio, however, has access to a great outdoor space that promotes relaxation with its winding stone path and bench area beneath a canopy of green.

“We wanted to bring the outside in as much as we could, whilst maintaining some of the original nature of the space,” Lay said. “So many people don’t have gardens at their homes, we thought it would be great if we could give people a chance to connect with the outside world at work instead.”

James Darvill

James is a passionate scriptwriter and reluctant poet with a talent for the dystopian. When he’s not staying up late watching the Simpsons he’s beating the world at Mario Kart, always with a glass of wine in hand.