Technology has revolutionised the way we work. For an increasing number of digital nomads, the office is anywhere and everywhere. If you have your laptop, you can be curled up on the couch at home, holding a steaming cup of java in a coffee shop, hopping from client to client - or comfortably settled in a co-working space.
The perfect solution for workers who need more than a coffee shop, but less than a traditional office, a co-working space offers a hot desk in a shared office that can be rented by the day, the week, the month or long term.
"It is such a refreshing and inspired concept," says Justin Bass, owner of the newly opened Perch co-working office in Rosebank, Johannesburg. "I have been following the progress of this industry in the US and Europe for some time and I believe that it will provide a workplace solution for many freelancers, entrepreneurs and young start-ups in South Africa."Being a property developer, Bass had access to extra office space, which he's used to test out the concept locally on premises in Bath Avenue. With a keen eye for aesthetics and an understanding that design would be integral to the space's success, Bass contracted GLH architects. The brief was to create an office with a variety of work spaces which would allow both individuals and small teams to work in a way that best suited their needs. These include shared desks, private booths, meeting rooms, quiet spaces for phone calls and a communal reception as well as lounge areas and a canteen.
A huge element of co-working is collaboration and networking, and the designers kept this in mind when planning the mix of open and private spaces, and the inviting communal areas. "The design encourages members to move around and experience the different ways of working and collaborating," says Stefanie Balkind of GLH.
Not only is the space perfectly planned, but it's also visually appealing, making it a pleasant base for your day. "We used vibrant, yet calm colours, to ensure a creative and playful environment," says Balkind, and the carefully selected furniture and finishes, from the likes of Weylandts, Block and Chisel, Joe Paine and many more, fit stylishly into the palette.
"It's all the little details and pieces that come together and create the finished picture," she says. "Elements such as the neon signs that spell out 'Do what you love' and 'Love what you do' add a light-hearted yet symbolic element to the space. We took great pains to make it a productive workspace, with details such as easy access to plug points, excellent acoustics and comfortable seating."
It may be a fairly new concept locally, but it's one that's sure to catch on. Just as the notion of traditional careers is no longer bound to the nine-to-five, there's no need for offices to be bound to the annual lease.
Visit perchoffices.co.za..