Office envy

As I’ve mentioned before, our HQ here in Copenhagen is in a fantastic place called La Oficina. This is a shared office space for small businesses – but a very different one. The metaphor for the place is not really an office, it’s a café.

La Oficina Copenhagen

When you step inside, the first thing you see is the bar and the grand piano. In fact, there are no desks, office chairs, cubicles or bulletin boards anywhere. You go in, you pick a table like you would at any café and you work, have your meeting, have coffee or whatever.

La Oficina Copenhagen

In short, it’s a beautiful and brilliant place and the café setting makes it really easy to meet and learn from all the other amazingly cool people who come here.

But a place in England has just upped the ante. When I saw this, I became instantly green with envy:

slide

Yes, that is a slide going down three floors. I have not tried it but it looks fast.

It’s in the newly opened Electric Works office complex in Sheffield.

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19 responses to “Office envy”

  1. Catherine Cantieri, Sorted Avatar

    What a lovely office you have! And what a great space to encourage sharing and support between workers.

    About that slide: it’s all fun and games until someone with indigestion tries the slide. Then it’s out of commission for 2 weeks while an unpleasant smell pervades the building. Still, I understand the envy. :)

  2. Alexander Avatar

    I have to ask, Catherine: Are you theorizing here or are you speaking from personal experience?

  3. Mark Lewis Avatar

    Very cool! It’s all about the environment. I have been thinking recently how I could change my home office (which is really part of the living room and kitchen) to be more inspiring and productive.

  4. Kiz Avatar
    Kiz

    I think they cribbed that idea from Google. The Googleplex in California (and the one in Zurich, I think) has a slide leading from the upper floors straight into the cafeteria.

    Not a bad place to go for ideas on office design, though. K

  5. Anelly Avatar

    I really think environment is influencing our productivity. It’s great to work in a place like that.

  6. Selfcoachingcards Avatar

    Oh I love La Oficina! When I need to get work done, I go and sit in a cafe, too. But it would be nice to have a place that’s dedicated just for that!

  7. Jason Monastra Avatar

    That is awesome. Not many spots like that….let me re-phrase. NO spots like that out here in NC where we are. However when we expand, that offers some good ideas. Seems very relaxed and focused at the same time. Appreciate you sharing.

  8. Patricia Avatar
    Patricia

    Lovely place.Encouraging production and exchanging of ideas.I’d love to try the slide.Thanks for sharing

  9. Hayli @ Transition Concierge Avatar

    Thanks for the photos of Seeeeriously Cool Workplaces. Totally mind-blowing, and your place isn’t too shabby either! I think I’m going to ditch my home office for a cafe.

  10. Vincent Avatar

    I would send you a picture of my workplace but it would either make you cry or laugh hysterically. It is a very sterile environment.

  11. Isobel Joaquin Avatar

    Restricted environment leaves very little room for creativity.

    Alex, your office sounds like fantastic place to work in.

    I just wonder if you guys still feel the need to sometimes escape from work and take a break at a nearby coffee shop or maybe coffee shops remind you of work? ;-)

  12. Laurie | Express Yourself to Success Avatar

    What a great idea for workspace! It’s got me thinking in a completely new way about how I can incorporate untraditional design into my space that inspires more creativity. hmmmm….

  13. Alexander Avatar

    Isobel: That’s a great question, and you know what: Occasionally I still feel the urge to go work some place else.

    Variety is the spice of work, I guess :o)

  14. Alan Furth Avatar

    I am of the opinion that context and environment is everything when it comes to inspiration, creativity and productivity… Working in such an office in lovely Copenhagen can’t get any better!

    I recently wrote a blog post on the subject:

    http://alanfurth.com/freedom-of-itch

    You should check out the people at Kontra coffee http://www.kontracoffee.com. If you don’t know them already, ask for my friend Morten Munchow. In my opinion they have the best coffee in town, would be a great addition to La Oficina…

    cheers!

  15. Greg Avatar

    I am in envy of both those office spaces – i love the whole concept

  16. Mr. Chow Avatar

    ‘Love those offices…. ‘Will look for one in New York for my own.

  17. Office Humorist Avatar

    Awesome office! I’d work just about any place with a slide. Well just about, Chuck E Cheese has slides but I wouldn’t want to work there–I’m scared of large mascot animals.

  18. Phil LaViolette Avatar

    If only we could get planning permission! And think of the energy costs saved from not having lifts/escalators! I was wondering though how do they get up, indoor rock wall!? ;)

  19. […] in the office, but we wish we had slides instead. Some of our favourite office slides are; the three floor slide at Electric Works in Sheffield, the three lane wavy slide at Google Youtube and the spiral slide in […]

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