Welcoming Workplace

Welcoming Workplace is a fascinating and important research project which aims to rethink office environments to enable growing numbers of older people to participate in the 21st century knowledge economy (with obvious implications for shedworking). Based in the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre, it is funded as part of the Designing for the 21st Century initiative from January 2007 to December 2008. Here's an excerpt:

"Taken together, the ageing of the workforce and emergence of new patterns of knowledge work present a critical challenge to current practice in office design, which has traditionally been geared to younger workforces rather than older ones and simple, linear, process-driven work patterns rather than more complex knowledge-based ones. Technological advance with intelligent building systems and wireless technologies underpin this paradigm shift, supporting working styles that are more mobile and networked and work environments that can be customised to individual needs and abilities."

There are also some great photos in their image bank which are well worth browsing.

Among those taking part is Catherine Greene who has explored the idea of the office previously in very interesting ways, including her 'Inside it's raining', pictured above, for which she created a water permeable window so that if it rains, your desk gets wet. Apparently the desk is designed to deal with this and you can carry on working. I also like the look of her rain curtain pictured below about which she says:

"Time spent outside has a profound effect on our mental health making us feel happier and healthier. This project brings the outside inside the office using water to create a space that is very different from that of the computer, phone and photocopier. It separates the space automatically creating a different atmosphere and thought level. It provokes different senses from that which we are used to in an open plan offices, instead of the ring of phone, you hear the trickle of water. It is a stimulating thing to watch and automatically relaxes you. It contradicts the idea of an office and provokes thought of what is practical, what is possible and where do we want to spend our older working years - probably not in a stuffy, over-heated, equipment cluttered environment. But can we emulate an alternative?"

Shepherd's Hut for sale

A reader of Shedworking living just around the corner from Shedworking HQ in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, is looking to sell their shepherd's hut. It does need renovation but is watertight and has been used for light storage purposes over the years. There is a stove but again that needs some attention. The wheels are original cast iron. If you'd like to know more, please drop me an email.

Trunk Station

There's obviously plenty of interest in small-scale shedworking, whether you're thinking about trunks, a capsule, a pod or a booth. Here's the latest, the Trunk Station from Caina. which has all the features that regular readers of shedworking are now familiar with: space for a computer, storage for files and the ability to be closed up and packed away neatly at the end of the day.
Via Treehugger

Shed of the Year - final judging team announced

Tony, last year's winner of Shed of the Year (pictured above) has joined the judges for this year's competition (inventor Trevor Baylis, property Queen Sarah Beeny, chief organiser Uncle Wilco, beach hut expert Dr Kathryn Ferry and myself). More details over at Shedblog.

Pavilion for Vodka Ceremonies

Pictured above is the Pavilion for Vodka Ceremonies, Klazminskoye Reservoir rest area, Moscow region, 2005, by Bureau Alexander Brodsky (photo Yuri Palmin) which the Royal Academy are quite rightly supposing will encourage people to attend the lecture at the RA on March 17 by Bart Goldhoorn, Architecture after Communism. Here's what they say:

"Although Russia’s current construction boom is fueled by ‘Wild East’ capitalism, its nature is still largely determined by its Communist past. Often this is a handicap, as the use of standard designs is common practice, and, in general, the quality of construction is low. Bart Goldhoorn, architect, founder and editorial director of Project Russia, discusses how in some instances the confrontation of the Soviet heritage with the new possibilities offered by the free market lead to interesting and unique architectural phenomena."

Thanks to Phyllis Johnson for the alert.

Abōd

A marvellous sheddish structure, Abōd comes from BSB Design and provides affordable housing in Africa. It's light, flatpackable and can be put together using only a screwdriver and an awl.
Via materialicious

Chatham sheds

Timber Seasoning Sheds, 1774
Scheduled Ancient Monument & Grade II*

In May 1771, the Earl of Sandwich and other Commissioners of the Admiralty Board visited Chatham and were shown how ships constructed from poorly seasoned timber had rotted. Shortly afterwards plans were made to provide timber seasoning sheds in all the Royal Dockyards so that timber could be carefully stored and seasoned before use.

The sheds were to be of a standard design and built in sufficient quantity to provide a 3 year supply of seasoned timber for each yard, at Chatham this equated to 75 bays. All were completed by 1775 and as such the seasoning sheds are probably the first standardised industrial buildings to be erected in large numbers in Britain. Today only two survive - both at Chatham.

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham spotted by Shedworking Scout-at-large Ben Locker