Hey all, I'm Melissa, 4th person in this summer FOX intern program. Since the last post, we have met with a representative from Brandywine Realty and discussed the goals he sees for the space. Flexibility, so that the space could be adjusted to the needs of the workers, and security, a secure division between the members and nonmembers, were discussed in each of our designs. In addition, he was very interested in the numbers; how many people could fit comfortably at one time and how much money would this bring in were important aspects. Overall, however, building a third space came off as risky and experimental because it is a new idea. I think I can speak for everyone when I say I wasn't the only one who left with dread that I would have to redesign my idea. Yesterday we met at Northside Social (refer to tweet) and came to the conclusion that we would each address these issues but also try to find evidence that people want to work in a space unlike the office and home, and it will make money or provide an amenity which will attract more tenants.
On a side note, yesterday was my first trip to Clarendon area and Northside Social. I noticed the area around the metro was filled with established restaurants and bars. It was friendly, with a small green area outside the metro and buildings that weren't very tall, and many people were gathering for lunch or informal meetings. Northside Social seemed like an ath10tik cafe with seating outdoors, inside and on a small mezzanine level. The only downside was the lack of outlets, typical. I plan to make a trip back to explore the area more.
This summer has really gived me the chance to explore D.C. and the surrounding areas that I used to not think so fondly of. But I'm seeing a side to the nation's capitol that I hadn't expected; a mix of personalities that cover everyone, hidden beneath the tourists and politics. So far, my favorite place has been wandering the neighborhoods of Adams Morgan where it feels like old buildings have been given a new life. It's growing on me.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Mid-Review (4.0)
Hey All,
This is Justin, one of the group members of our "Nomad Team." Yesterday, we had a mid-review in front of a group of Fox staff members. It was encouraging to see the excitement around the firm; which was reflected by the amount of people that showed up to watch us present late afternoon on a Friday.
We all presented our schemes and received positive and constructive feedback to consider for our designs. Right now the firm is in the midst of publishing a workspace magazine, and there is a possibility we could have an article written about our design efforts.
This Wednesday, the owner of Brandywine, who will perhaps pursue our design, is coming into the office to meet with Bob Fox, owner of the firm, at which time we can present him with a few of our ideas that we have began developing.
While I personally have been in quite a rut with my design so far, at this point it is necessary to give some thought to the way we will be budgeting the space, without giving in to the whole "fast food chain and a Starbucks" routine.
The remaining three and a half weeks will present an interesting transgression from studio design to real-life design, as we delve into the business specifics.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Betahaus (3.0)
Hey, I'm team member Jonathan and this is my first post on the nomad blog. Recently, I had the opportunity to work at a coworking space called Betahaus, located in Berlin, Germany. I was a member of Berlin Studio through Virginia Tech. Here, I was exposed to not only the intricacies of German city life, but also the international appeal of coworking. I have researched and seen other coworking spaces here in the United States. What I have found is that once to a city level, the desire to create/the purpose of coworking becomes globally consistent. Globalization and urbanization are trends that are most salient in terms of their effects on the design of work spaces and third spaces meant to sustain progressive lifestyles. By the year 2030, it is predicted that 87 percent of the population of the United States will live in a city. Now it is approximately 82 percent. So, not only will the population increase, but so will the percentage of people living in a city.
Along with city life, especially large city life (as these cities will surely become), is the lack of specificity that will permeate these new, or expanded environments. By this I mean that cities all over the world will be the same. Globalization. I am weary of the lack of authenticity that may come as a side effect of this globalization but celebratory of the more interesting, overarching culture that is being spurred by this overlaying of nations. More or less, globalization is a double-edged sword: the world can more cohesive than ever before, but may become increasingly generic in return. This is why I think it is important when creating new working spaces, ones designed to be part of a global environment yet specific enough to maintain a physical community, that deep considerations are made for this balance.
Interestingly enough, Betahaus did seem as though it were beginning to do this. It was in Kreuzberg in Berlin and was slightly out of place from its surroundings. It still managed to bring in a steady flow of people; and not just the daily professionals from whom Betahaus recieve monthly payment. The public Betahaus Cafe, an essential of the successful coworking philosophy in my opinion, was on ground floor, while the rest of the working space was three floors up in the same, mid-century office building. The cafe was extremely authentic. A blackboard along the back wall displayed a handwritten menu of coffee drinks and the daily lunch special, OSB boards made up the the counter and most of the tables, while regular transitions of art displayed on the walls allowed for local artists to be represented. There was a huge community associated with Betahaus, many of whom worked in the space, many of whom did not. The same will hopefully be created for nomad.
Simply put, we need to think about creating a space that is global and local at the same time. That is the future of coworking.
Along with city life, especially large city life (as these cities will surely become), is the lack of specificity that will permeate these new, or expanded environments. By this I mean that cities all over the world will be the same. Globalization. I am weary of the lack of authenticity that may come as a side effect of this globalization but celebratory of the more interesting, overarching culture that is being spurred by this overlaying of nations. More or less, globalization is a double-edged sword: the world can more cohesive than ever before, but may become increasingly generic in return. This is why I think it is important when creating new working spaces, ones designed to be part of a global environment yet specific enough to maintain a physical community, that deep considerations are made for this balance.
Interestingly enough, Betahaus did seem as though it were beginning to do this. It was in Kreuzberg in Berlin and was slightly out of place from its surroundings. It still managed to bring in a steady flow of people; and not just the daily professionals from whom Betahaus recieve monthly payment. The public Betahaus Cafe, an essential of the successful coworking philosophy in my opinion, was on ground floor, while the rest of the working space was three floors up in the same, mid-century office building. The cafe was extremely authentic. A blackboard along the back wall displayed a handwritten menu of coffee drinks and the daily lunch special, OSB boards made up the the counter and most of the tables, while regular transitions of art displayed on the walls allowed for local artists to be represented. There was a huge community associated with Betahaus, many of whom worked in the space, many of whom did not. The same will hopefully be created for nomad.
Simply put, we need to think about creating a space that is global and local at the same time. That is the future of coworking.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
2.0
One of the first explorations our group made with the "nomad." space was a linear progression from public to private. I illustrated this using a graphic definition of the space. Here, I divide the space into 5 sections that lie along an axis of public to private.
After presenting this to the rest of our group during a design charette, our discussion led to several other visual representations of the progression from public to private. One explored how pathways through the space would create a change from public to private as the visitor moves deeper into the space. The other was based off of the idea of a raindrop--creating "hubs" that denoted this progression while emanating outwards. Below was the initial graphic Jonathan create for the idea of the raindrop:
These areas marked as relax, dabble, work, labor, and toil (in both this diagram and the one above) represent the different sections we aim to have in our space. Relax and dabble will be open the public, with access to a cafe and a range of seating--everything from large tables to private alcove chairs. Work, labor, and toil will have swipe card access and represent where the actual coworking community members will work. Work provides large alcove sofas that allow for private meetings and a quieter working area than relax and dabble. Labor and toil have desks, some for full time members, others for part time members, arranged in a benching system that creates an open, collaborative atmosphere for its coworking inhabitants. Work, labor, and toil all have access to a kitchen, children's area, and three conference rooms equipped with Steelcase's media:scape systems.
For a more detailed description of each space, take a look at the linear diagram (the first image). It lists in greater detail what each space will contain and, in between, the transition from one to another.
After presenting this to the rest of our group during a design charette, our discussion led to several other visual representations of the progression from public to private. One explored how pathways through the space would create a change from public to private as the visitor moves deeper into the space. The other was based off of the idea of a raindrop--creating "hubs" that denoted this progression while emanating outwards. Below was the initial graphic Jonathan create for the idea of the raindrop:
These areas marked as relax, dabble, work, labor, and toil (in both this diagram and the one above) represent the different sections we aim to have in our space. Relax and dabble will be open the public, with access to a cafe and a range of seating--everything from large tables to private alcove chairs. Work, labor, and toil will have swipe card access and represent where the actual coworking community members will work. Work provides large alcove sofas that allow for private meetings and a quieter working area than relax and dabble. Labor and toil have desks, some for full time members, others for part time members, arranged in a benching system that creates an open, collaborative atmosphere for its coworking inhabitants. Work, labor, and toil all have access to a kitchen, children's area, and three conference rooms equipped with Steelcase's media:scape systems.
For a more detailed description of each space, take a look at the linear diagram (the first image). It lists in greater detail what each space will contain and, in between, the transition from one to another.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
1.0
Welcome to the nomad. blog. We are a group of four architecture and design students from Virginia Tech and Catholic University who are working together to design a new coworking and third space at a site in Falls Church, Virginia. We are led by Catholic University professor and paperspace owner Kevin Wyllie and sponsored by Fox Architects.
For the past few weeks we've been exploring and learning about the culture of coworking and using our knowledge to influence our designs for the space. We'll share our designs and thoughts about the project and what we have learned about coworking using our twitter account nomad_incubator and this blog. Please feel free to share comments, concerns, or call us out if we're completely off base.
For the past few weeks we've been exploring and learning about the culture of coworking and using our knowledge to influence our designs for the space. We'll share our designs and thoughts about the project and what we have learned about coworking using our twitter account nomad_incubator and this blog. Please feel free to share comments, concerns, or call us out if we're completely off base.
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