Top image: Hub Adelaide

The working life of the entrepreneur, while free of the traditional nine-to-five tedium, can be a lonely and isolated one. The number of co-working spaces that have sprung up around the world over the last decade or so point to the reality that shared resources, a network of like-minded contacts, and access to opportunities for learning are increasingly in demand. We need more than shallow digital interactions. And entrepreneurs – more than any other group – need a solid network of industry contacts if they are to thrive.

The international Hub network of co-working spaces offers more than a desk and task chair; it also represents a community of entrepreneurs and the prospect of meaningful collaboration and support. The Hub’s spaces in Sydney, Adelaide and Singapore capture its ethos perfectly: flexible, comfortable, transparent and collaborative. Interior fit-outs by HASSELL (in Sydney and Adelaide) and Greymatters (in Singapore) incorporate numerous furniture pieces from Haworth, all of which support the Hub ethos and the need for the users of the spaces to mould them to their changing needs.

Lightweight, mobile and adjustable furniture pieces define these flexible interiors. In Sydney, HASSELL selected furniture by a number of Haworth xFriends partners – for example, the vivid-green Realm Pod two-seaters (designed by Fletcher Systems to create a secluded space with acoustic qualities), and the fuchsia-coloured Maria adjustable-height side table (designed by Johannes Torpe). These are teamed with Haworth’s Zody task chair (designed by Michael Welsh and Ito Design), clusters of Intuity benching systems (designed by David Grainger, Bang Design and the Haworth Design Studio), sit-stand tables, and various other sitting and lounging options.

Hub Sydney

Hub Sydney

Catering well to the varied demands placed on it, The Hub Sydney offers spaces for collaboration, zones for formal discussions, and spontaneous touchdown areas. The Hub Adelaide performs equally well, with playful colours and forms setting the tone for an eclectic range of Haworth products. The hardworking Zody task chair appears again, providing the much-needed support and comfort for a day of concentration. The curvy Plu, Kiwi and Monkey Nut tables (designed by Tilt for Haworth xFriends) promote conversation and interaction during work, while the lightweight and stackable Very Wire chair (designed by Michael Welsh and Nicolai Czumaj-Bront) allows meeting spaces to be reconfigured with minimal fuss.

Acoustically segregated zones have been carved out with the Haworth xFriends Airea Pod (designed by Orangebox) – an adaptable modular meeting-room system that overcomes the need for expensive, static walls. And occupying the centre of the main workspace, the curved Haworth xFriends Perimeter High Back Seating in cool green (also designed by Orangebox) is an ideal spot for more casual collaborative meetings. Finding its way throughout the office is a suite of Haworth Planes whiteboards (designed by Daniel Figuero and Dan West) – simple wheeled creative companions with attention-grabbing blue frames.

Hub Adelaide


Hub Adelaide

Hub Adelaide

At The Hub Singapore, Greymatters similarly choreographed a working environment that allows high levels of collaboration and flexibility to support the networking events, workshops and mentoring sessions that regularly happen there. The space provides everything from team rooms, to flexible seating, breakout networking areas, Skype booths, and meeting rooms. Re-configurable Kite and Tilt tables from the Haworth xFriends range cater to the different needs of the community of users. Zody task chairs were specified for the free seating areas and team rooms, and the Very Wire chair promises flexibility of use for a key area of the plan. The team is currently in the midst of opening their second office in a charming heritage shophouse at Cuppage Terrace.

Hub Singapore

Hub Singapore

The static furniture of the past is no match for the diverse functions and high-performance requirements of today’s new working environments – a fact that The Hub spaces demonstrate all too well. No longer must we mould ourselves to our office interiors. The future will emerge from the innovative potential of new networks. What better way to support that future than with an environment we can shape to suit us.

Haworth
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