Riga Works

Team: Kate Turbina + Today&Laboratory

3D: www.syncviz.com

Living room/ Reception area

It's pretty common today to work in non-traditional places like Coffee shop, a shopping mall, library or even a boat or a bench in a park. However, despite this trend, a lot of people still value having a traditional workplace. Especially in today's world where workers have got the mobility. This brings a great opportunity for designers and their clients to come up with innovative environments that inspire people to perform at their best!

I’m going to speak about co-working and a community based on the built project Riga Works. We have developed a cutting-edge coworking project within a generic business park, offering residents access to fully equipped offices with ergonomic furniture, high-speed internet, and the most modern office equipment, as well as access to inviting common areas for both work and leisure.

Later such a typology started to be a trend because after pandemics due to the hybrid scenarios of work people started looking for the community and a comfortable space to work from. 

Task

I have developed this project being a part of Today&Laboratory team. Project’s business objectives were twofold: to generate additional revenue for the business center, while simultaneously providing added-value services to its residents and guests. Prior to designing the space, we conducted a research and developed a comprehensive product concept, which included identifying target customer groups, defining the product mix, and establishing the conditions for their sale.

Common areas

Common areas

What is the co-working space?

Let's talk about coworking. The innovative idea of working processes disrupting.

It has started in early 2005 in San Francisco from a small collective that was only open two days a week, but over time it grew into something much bigger! Now, coworking is experiencing a huge boom all over the world! 

Co-working idea is built on the community of similar progressive people. It's a fantastic option if you're looking for affordable office space in expensive urban areas. What's even better is that coworking can be tailored to suit the specific needs - whether you prefer working solo or collaborating with others, full-time or part-time. There are endless options when it comes to coworking spaces, with amenities that rival those found in fancy corporate offices.

Nowadays we can mention different types of areas inside a co-working space from private offices to shared workspaces, conference rooms to event spaces. There are coworking spaces that cater to specific interests and industries, offering opportunities to work alongside potential mentors and collaborators. Whether you're a creative type, tech enthusiast, or a woman entrepreneur, there's a space that's perfect for you!

The Biggest Coworking Companies Include:

Impact Hub, WeWork, Knotel, CoLab, District Cowork, Industrious Office, The New Lab, Venture X, Serendipity Labs, Green Desk, SomeCentral, Spaces.

Below are some other interesting companies that influence market in the USA and in the world: Regus, Talent Garden, Ucommune, Expansive (Novel).

Reception

Studio

Mood board

Studio

Infrastructure. Community Design for the Workplace

In the field of architecture and planning, community design stands out as a methodology that prioritises bottom-up approaches over the more conventional top-down thinking. This approach involves architects and designers actively listening to clients, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of their goals and objectives, both in terms of their end product and their overall practice.

Effective community space development is the result of a highly collaborative effort between architects and future customers. Through an integrative process, we incorporated client’s input to create a physical environment that meets the genuine needs of the community. By doing so, we co-created a space that fosters positive experiences and encourages people to spend time there. In the context of the workplace, a well-designed environment enables individuals to perform at their highest potential.

Coworking table/common area

Community importance. Trend or the real need? 

Did you know that the physical environment can have a valuable impact on creating a sense of community among colleagues and business growth? Sure, it's great to have a visually appealing space, but there's so much more in creating a space where people feel connected and supported. Our homes, workplaces, and other spaces are made up of a variety of elements that contribute to their overall character and atmosphere. That's why it's important to consider all of these factors, rather than just focusing on the surface-level appearance. Just like people, the qualities of a space are more than just "skin deep."

Design & Business

Our design was centered around creating a modern, business-friendly coworking space, with a strong emphasis on modern design and ergonomics. We challenged ourselves to provide a diverse range of zones, including quiet and cozy areas, as well as more formal business settings. We also incorporated greenery throughout the space, as a key decorative element, using green color as an accent to highlight the natural ecological environment created for people.

Layout

Our vision for the space was to create a dynamic infrastructure and community space, which offered a welcoming environment for people to work, meet, socialize, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee with colleagues. To achieve this, we approached space design with two main goals in mind: first, to create an attractive service environment for residents that included mini-offices, a lounge area, a meeting room, a kitchen, areas for focused individual work, and an event hall. Second, we aimed to introduce space flexibility, which we accomplished by implementing a modular structure with caissons in the ceiling, allowing us to adjust the proportion of public and private areas as needed.

Created flexible zoning system ensures that the space can be configured to meet changing market demands, while minimizing risks for investors.

Materials

In terms of materials, we used dark natural materials, with a color scheme consisting mainly of black and green. We aimed to evoke a magical atmosphere reminiscent of a night garden, with a balance of neutral, restrained colors, and brighter, livelier tones.

More vibes

We implemented a unique tip to create an inviting atmosphere to the space, by incorporating coworking design elements into the common infrastructure of the business center. This approach creates a seamless transition between two spaces, blurring the boundaries between "inside" and "outside".

Resume 

I want to highlight co-working spaces' growth and popularity and the importance of community design in creating a sense of community among colleagues and business growth. We have developed a project of Riga Works, which aimed to generate additional revenue for the business center while providing added-value services to its residents and guests. It is important to start from a research, identifying target customer groups, and establishing the conditions for their needs. 

We were focused on creating a modern, business-friendly co-working space with a strong emphasis on modern design and ergonomics. The space incorporated a diverse range of zones, including quiet and cozy areas, as well as more formal business settings, and greenery throughout the space. Despite optimizing project’s budget, we spared no expense when it came to the greenery, as the effect it had on the overall ambiance of the space was well worth it.

The flexible zoning system ensured that the space can be configured to meet changing market demands, while minimizing risks for investors. 

My objective is do develop in the field of community-based design and architecture, utilizing their skills and experience in creating innovative, cutting-edge co-working spaces.

I am looking for likewise brave people who like to experiment and share their innovative ideas while working on the project. If you feel attracted by the atmosphere of my concept I welcome any form of collaboration. More projects at my Instagram! You are invited to follow this link: @kate_turbina_works. More works at my website! You are invited to follow this link: www.kateturbina.works