Around the shedworld

The New York Times suggests six ways to thrive as a shedworker in an economic downturn... Shedblog has been watching television programmes about sheds and planning permission... and featuring John Kingston's marvellous crystal garden office (above)... Treehugger points out that working from home makes more sense than ever... The Guardian wonders if there's poetry in architecture... CNN looks at what it's like to live in a house the size of a garden office...... the BBC say the world's shortest physics lectures will be delivered in a shed... Home Office Warrior offers some tips on successful homeworking... The Daily Mail talks to a lady who lives in a steel shed because the outside world is so awful... Chief Home Officer has not only voted, he's tidied his shelves... friend of Shedworking Elspeth Thompson has a lovely new book out which we urge you to buy...

The House Of Books Has No Windows

Although I think Janet Cardiff's and George Bures Miller's installation looks more like a shed. At Modern Art Oxford until January 18 2009. 
Via The Guardian

Wired: abandon traditional offices

When gasoline costs $4 a gallon, companies shouldn't just be doing all they can to expand telecommuting — they should be scrapping their offices entirely. No, not turning them into toy-filled communal spaces, as advertising titan Chiat/Day infamously did in the early-'90s, but abandoning them outright. That might sound a bit radical to those who swear by the office's supposed benefits, like camaraderie and face-to-face collaboration. But time and again, studies have shown that telecommuters are every bit as engaged as their cubicle-bound brethren — and happier and more productive to boot.

Today's must click, Brendan I. Koerner's Home Sweet Office: Telecommute Good for Business, Employees, and Planet at Wired.

H2Office - the floating home office

After various posts earlier in the month about the theoretical side of a floating office, Shedworking is very excited indeed to see that it's becoming a reality thanks to Cardiff-based H2Offices part of industrial design and marketing company WaterSpace Developments. Here's what owner Andrew Master says about it:

"Many new products come about because the inventor can't find anyone else making what he/she wants. So it was for our "floating offices" concept. I wanted a small workspace in the local area to use as a base for my business projects. After scouring the market all I could find were boring, depressing "concrete prisons"! Some of the landlords wanted me to sign long leases. Some would allow a shorter lease but the rents quoted were high."

The answer, especially for those who like boats, is the H2Office (see early concept sketch above), a "purposebuilt workspace for aquatic environments". As Andrew says: "If you're lucky enough to have flexible working arrangements a floating office could considerably enhance your working life."

The first model, which should be available in 2009, is set to look like this:
* a compact design giving enough space for one or two people to work in
* a "private" working area not overlooked by neighbours
* a "breakout" area for small meetings and meals
* a sun deck
* kitchenette
* marine toilet, shower & wet room
* foldaway bunks for occasional overnight stays
* plenty of storage space
* small tender "dock"/bathing platform (for an inflatable / kayak etc)
* dimensions suitable to be berthed on a standard marina (or similar) berth

Andrew is also compiling a list of locations where the site owner/manager would be happy to let you moor your H2Office.

There's also a just started up blog to keep an eye on.

The best shedlike atmosphere in Hamilton

Auckland architect Peter Cresswell rightly praises this marvellous garden shed. His professional comments on the design are particularly interesting:

"One of the great things about good clients and good architecture is that once you develop a grammar for the primary building in a group, the rest of the 'collection' almost design themselves -- as a prime example, this garden shed, designed by some very fine clients as a perfect 'garden wall' addition to their main house. In particular, I love the way the rain chain and the 'slots' in the boundary block wall play off each other, and the way the sunlight comes through upon the decking. Very nice."

There's more about Peter's work here.

Our Small Cabin

Our Small Cabin is a great site which looks at everything to do with building (and enjoying) your own cabin, shedlike atmosphere and even outhouse. Much of the site follows the building of a small cabin in Bancroft, Ontario, but there are also many links and other useful bits of information. Well worth a browse.
Via Tiny House Blog

Bathroomworking is the new shedworking

According to a new survey from Nokia, more than half of Americans have taken a work-related phone call or email in the bathroom. This is partly because nearly 60 per cent of Americans never turn off their mobile devices. More details - including information about Nokia's work-life balance week - at PR Newswire.
Via Wired Blog Network