Wrapped close to a tree trunk in east London’s Hoxton Square, this translucent pod provides temporary workplace area meant to motivate staff into the borough’s parks .
TREExOFFICE was produced by London architecture studio Tate Harmer, in collaboration with architecture company Gensler and artists Natalie Jeremijenko and Shuster + Moseley.
It is the first venture completed under the Park Hack initiative, which was set up by the nearby council in collaboration with arts and environmental charities Arts Admin and Groundwork to prototype methods of enhancing public parks and spaces across the London Borough of Hackney.
The raised pavilion is anchored to the ground by stilts and encircles the trunk of a tree in Hoxton Square – one of 60,000 trees that populate the borough’s parklands.
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The structure is made from compressed paper and timber and is enclosed by rows of translucent plastic and polycarbonate slats that supply views into the surrounding greenery.
“Building the Hoxton TREExOFFICE has been an wonderful chance to produce a new workplace notion, modifying the way we perform in the city,” said Tate Harmer co-founder Rory Harmer.
“The design and style highlights the require to increase and utilise our urban green spaces in new and fun techniques for everybody to take pleasure in.”
The translucent pod is equipped with wooden workbenches, electrical energy and Wi-Fi. One particular of eight desk spaces can be booked by contacting the landlord – known as the tree – who is also the author of Twitter account @HOXTONxTREE.
Cash raised from renting the space to businesses during the week will be pumped back into sustaining Hackney’s parks. Local community groups can book the pod free of charge for weekends.
“The revolutionary style of the TREExOFFICE will supply a room not only the place people can perform and meet, but also to interact with the normal atmosphere,” explained health, social care and culture councillor Jonathan McShane, describing it as “a vastly different knowledge from doing work in a contemporary office”.
The task was completed at the beginning of June to coincide with the London Architecture Festival – a month-prolonged series of installations, temporary exhibitions and events – and will be in situ right up until December. If the pilot is successful, the scheme will be rolled out to other sites in Hackney.
Photography is by Jack Hobhouse.
Venture credits:
Architects: Tate Harmer, Gensler
Artists: Natalie Jeremijenko, Shuster + Moseley
Engineer: Price & Myers