Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies to rethink traditional office workflows by necessitating that employees transition to working from home, the office disruption model was already taking shape well before 2020 in the form of co-working and shared office spaces.
Australian co-working space provider 'The Commons' manage a network of shared workspaces born out of considered, human-centred design with a particular focus on community and sustainability. They recently unveiled their latest location in South Yarra, Melbourne, designed by Foolscap Studio.
Foolscap Studio is an independent, cross-disciplinary design practice centred around built environment and interior architecture at all scales, with an emphasis on experiential and connective elements that go beyond form and materials. The pandemic offered them the unique challenge of designing a coworking space during a time when many individuals, as well as small and large businesses were working from home. Good design responds to its conditions, so Foolscap began with examining what elements of the work-from-home model could be integrated into a shared, more engaged, collaborative iteration. They anchored the project in the idea of the third space. Foolscap's Founding Director Adèle Winteridge explains:
“In the past year we’ve seen the typology of working-from-home emerge in parallel to the office place. For The Commons South Yarra we envisaged a “third space” for working, a place that is less about the hot desk and more about social engagement, separating work from home, and gaining access to specialist facilities.”
To enact this vision, Foolscap began with the concept of 'serious fun' - an environment that was lively, engaged, and offered a diversity of form and function within its various spaces. The Commons offers tiered memberships ranging from open to dedicated desks, from private rooms to enterprise-level options, but the core of the model is access to shared amenities and an environment of collaboration and community that fosters business growth. The 'serious fun' frame allowed Foolscap to play with layout, furniture, services, and materials to cater to the broad range of user needs.
Linear and modular workspaces are interspersed with more fluid, sculptural elements allowing break-out zones, social hubs, creative and relaxation zones. A custom staircase offers vertical connectivity, linking the community across the building and drawing people up into the common break-out spaces on the upper three levels.
The facility features a series of serviceable zones catering to a range of disparate needs. The market research phase of the design process pointed to a niche need for creatives, so Foolscap created the 'Makers Space', a fitted-out workshop for tasks such as arts and crafts, 3D printing, and laser cutting.
A sunken 70s style 'Conversation Pit' is filled with plush modular cushions and blocks that can be moved and reconfigured according to group needs as a casual meeting space, play space, or just chill and hang space.
Nearby, 'The Think Tank' is also a reconfigurable space designed for team building and workshops. It features options for screening and presentations, along with an adjacent kitchen and event space for gathering, networking, or socializing. In contrast, a 'Sensory Room' offers a quiet and subdued area for yoga, meditation, or simply taking a breather.
Synergy is created across the various spaces and levels of the site by a diverse yet thematic materials palette. Custom upholstery features prints designed by Indigenous artist Jimmy Pike, and custom timber flooring, carpet tiles, and lighting facilitate shifts in tones, textures, and colours. The Sensory Room features curtain-lined walls, concealed ambient lighting, and passive air circulation.
Together, the spaces of The Commons South Yarra offer a diversity of amenities with the added value of spaces and opportunities for interaction and creating that you can't get working from home. A breakfast bar and craft beer on tap feature in the cafeteria area, a multimedia podcast studio, workshop, and photography spaces offer niche services for a range of industries; wellness options, a parents' room, and dedicated quiet zones provide work/life balance and support; and arcade games, a billiard table, and BBQ facilities offer space for dedicated play and socializing.
At The Commons South Yarra, the concept of 'serious fun' is infused throughout the design, amenities, and workspaces, offering a vibe of collaboration, community, and creativity.
