As the nature of work becomes increasingly more flexible- with forty percent of the workforce being comprised of freelancers, temps and contractors by 2020-professional environments are adapting to new modes of production. For individuals working in more creative fields a traditional office model does not accommodate for a more generative project flow. However, working from home offers its own challenges with isolation and a lack of community being big drawbacks and impairments. Coworking spaces offer a hybrid environment with the freedom of freelance work combined with the structure and community of an office.
Lokaal is a boutique coworking space situated in Toronto’s Corso Italia neighbourhood aimed at providing a shared space for creative entrepreneurs who want to belong to and work in a collaborative environment filled with other talented minds. Located in a refurbished early 20th century building, the design combines the building’s original features with a distinctive Scandinavian aesthetic. The existing exposed red brick wall was retained and carefully restored, providing a muted contrast to the newly installed, sustainably sourced, light maple wood flooring. While the crisp white walls and charcoal grey door frames and partitions introduce a bolder graphic quality. Brightly coloured light fixtures and graphics introduce a playfulness to the space without becoming overwhelming. While the telephone booth, offering acoustic privacy for taking calls, is characterized by its wallpapered interior depicting a delicate black line drawing by artist Abigail Edwards.
Through a considered design approach, the space encourages collaboration by creating a comfortable and inspiring setting for ideas to flourish. Helping to set the stage for the building of partnerships, collaboration and the sparking of creativity and innovation.
