Member Article

Hackney's 'Tree Office' to tackle workspace shortage

Work is about to begin on London’s first ‘Tree Office’ in the heart of Hackney’s Tech City to provide a unique co-working space for businesses and the wider community.

Built around a tree trunk in Hoxton Square, the construction of the first ‘Tree Office’ will begin on 18 May, offering a unique space for businesses and community groups to rent that will generate income for improvements to Hackney’s parks and green spaces.

Seating six to eight people working on laptops, or holding meetings, the weather proof structure will provide views out across the square and up into the tree’s canopy, and has been designed to be as transparent as possible.

The Tree Office is being delivered by Hackney Council, Groundwork London and Arts Admin as part of the Park Hack project.

Park Hack is one of 11 Rethinking Parks projects in the UK piloting new business models that aim to generate greater investment in our parks and open spaces.

Park Hack is being led by Groundwork London and Hackney Council with support from architects Gensler. The Rethinking Parks Programme is funded by Nesta, Big Lottery Fund England and Heritage Lottery Fund.

The ‘Tree Office’ has been created by artist Natalie Jeremijenko in collaboration with artists Shuster + Moseley, architects Tate Harmer and consulting architects Gensler.

There will also be a booking system which will go live after the space launches on 1 June. The ‘Tree Office’ will be in place for seven months as a pilot project and hopes to welcome hundreds of people from across London whilst providing an enjoyable, contemporary attraction for park users.

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council said: “The Council has partnered with a range of organisations to launch this innovative project which will help provide unique workspace in the heart of borough’s tech cluster that is home to thousands of small, growing businesses.

“Also helping to generate funding for the borough’s beautiful parks and open spaces, the innovative design of the ‘Tree Office’ will provide a space not only where people can work and meet, but also to interact with the natural environment, a vastly different experience from working in a modern office. I’m excited to see the people using this space once the project launches early next month.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .