April 10, 2014
Workplace design is theme of latest Insight, now available to view online
The latest issue of Insight, now available to view online, has a strong workplace design theme. Simon Heath reviews the nominees for the Design Museum, Designs of The Year awards and Justin Miller previews the Salone Internationale del Mobile (International Furniture Fair) in Milan. We discover how the new Axel Springer media centre in Berlin is intended to encourage collaborative working and why the design of Google’s new Amsterdam offices [pictured] puts the emphasis on youth culture to attract tech savvy staff. A BCO report claims that improved energy efficiency in an office may represent a saving of as much as £50 per square metre; a new Internet Consortium (IIC) aims to drive the uptake of the Internet of Things and research finds simply turning down the thermostat and asking office occupants to don another layer could help address global warming. To automatically receive our weekly newsletter, simply add your email address to the box on the home page.
January 10, 2014
SkyCycle. Great idea, but how realistic is it really?
by Andrew Brown • Comment, Environment, Facilities management, Workplace
A cycle lane in the sky is a brilliant concept. The very name conjures up visual images of 21st century transport networks that HG Wells might have been proud of. But wedged above the Enfield Town to Liverpool Street line or its equivalent it seems very unlikely. So let’s assume this is an exercise in marketing, making use of good research and creative design as a means to kick start the debate about how we get to work and how we can accommodate more different and more sustainable methods of commuting. And let’s not restrict this to London either. The capital might have more obvious issues, more publicity; a larger than life Mayor; plus too many cycling fatalities, but they are problems shared across the UK.
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