Tom Dixon Moves Into Co-Working

Co-working is having its moment. With the number of freelancers and start-ups increasing fast, London’s buildings are evolving and being morphed into spaces that respond to the need of communal working environments that cultivate the sharing of ideas and resources.

Designer Tom Dixon has boldly stepped into the space by putting his hand (and name) to two very different co-working spaces in London. His interiors’ practice Design Research Studio first designed Camden’s Atrium space, which opened in May 2016 followed by redesign of a Clerkenwell Church as a co-working space shortly after for London Design Week.

ATRIUM

Opened in May 2016, as a third installment of Interchange’s network of Camden-based co-working spaces. The building itself sits within Camden’s old stables market and is designed by architects Barr Gazetas and houses a series of private offices and hot desking areas, offering a variation of 600 workstations to it’s tenants. The space, moving even further away from the confines of a 9-5 (and closer to a members club with a meeting room) has access to a private courtyard garden, event space, restaurant, cafe and a soon to be added gym.

Joining Interchanges existing co-working initiatives – Triangle and Utopia, the Atrium space utilizes offerings from Tom Dixon’s furniture and lighting collections. Adapted for use within the space, the pieces took inspiration from both the traditional office, hotels and members clubs.

The studio custom designed two desks and a desk light, and incorporated pieces from their existing collections. Alongside these pieces the Atrium space features the Y chair, Wingbacks and the Bell table lights which has been used across the three spaces.

A custom lighting installation which plays with perspective and geometry, hangs in the Atrium’s four-storey foyer. Considerately positioned laser-cut stainless steel tubes drop to form the “I” of the Interchange logo from one angle and a spectacular light show from another.

Dixon stated, “The quickly changing nature of workspace and the opportunities presented by this are interesting to us both from a product design and interior design perspective – wherever change happens designers get a chance to be relevant.”

THE CHURCH

Clerkenwell Design Week 2016, which ran from 24-26 May saw Tom Dixon collaborate with St James Church in Clerkenwell to exhibit his new collection.

Within recent years Clerkenwell has seen much change, particularly within the design community, which has grown fast but organically, resulting in a strong collective of small and established design businesses. The borough’s many buildings have been converted and repurposed into workspaces to accommodate the burgeoning design scene in the area.

The project started with a forward thinking Vicar. Having visited the New York Public Library, Andrew Baughen, the church’s Vicar was left inspired and enlightened by the library’s  combination of beautiful architecture and ‘free for all’ ethos.

Andrew sought to extend the purpose of the the church, in hopes to create a space that would appeal to the growing local creative community and in doing so would create a dialogue between the architecture and physicality of the building, it’s history and the community.

Dixon’s studio sought to create a co-working environment within the 17th century church, including a kitchen, which were both donated to become a permanent fixture to the space.

The space has been thoughtfully divided up to create areas of relaxation, study and reflection.

On the ground floor is an area welcoming visitors to come together talk and relax, chairs and tables sit a stone’s through from the Alter. The second floor is home to the co-working space,  a large glass top communal table takes center stage with the Wingback chairs sitting against a backdrop of the panelled wood of the 18th century vestry.

The Studio’s Geometric Curve lights are hung in clusters within the main congregation area, contrasting brilliantly against the century old stained glass windows.

 

Text by: Serene Khan