Wednesday 15 January 2014

Oh I do like to work beside the seaside

I'm sitting on a leather poof by a dark stained low table in The Harbour Works, the new 'flexible workspace' provided in Torquay by the Torbay Development Agency (TDA).  With sun streaming through the floor to ceiling Georgian windows and the sound of seagulls in the distance I feel like I'm on holiday. 
































A working holiday perhaps as this place is geared up for 'people like me' to work remotely with drop in facilities, meeting rooms and a flexible open plan space.

The rooms, set on the first floor overlooking the harbour, are designed with a mix of Eames-esque classics, a soft palette of greys, cushions, rugs and natural oak flooring which creates a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere.  The style picks up on trends in office fit out and Third Space thinking, somewhere between home and office, it's a sanctuary away from the tourist masses.

The TDA is making lots of effort to create flexible work spaces across the region.  A sister site, The Sea Works in Brixham, provides similar drop in facilities whilst the more establish innovation centres provide office and conference space, all aimed at providing a range of cheap and flexible options for local businesses of all sizes.

























The club/coffee house like aesthetic is reminiscent of iconic spaces like Shoreditch House and Soho House in London.  The Harbour Works lacks a rooftop pool but with the sea literally metres away it's got the real think on its doorstep.  A galley kitchen including a bean to cup coffee machine provide the creature comforts.

With dedicated meeting and video conferencing rooms and the remaining open plan space there's flexibility to create different types of working spaces from individual desk and meeting tables to armchair working.

It operates on a membership basis where you can pay for day by day attendance or bulk buy packages, includes free wifi and a bookable mac, and best of all you have access to the TDA's business support services and networking opportunities throughout the year.

Ideal for the agile workers of today's economy or an alternative to your conventional office space.





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