Artists and their co-working spaces in the past

Medieval times saw the rise of guilds that governed the functioning of artists, architects, and other professions. Those were times when art was considered elite and sophisticated. The work done by these artists was valued and helped put history eloquently for us to understand it today.

These guilds focused on providing support to other craftsmen and also gained over a certain political stance like. Its quite synonymous with the traditional office in times of today where workers find support around. It helped reduce competition amongst themselves while maintaining the standards. The members of the guild were expected to pay its collective expenses in return for the benefits obtained.

In modern terms, medieval guilds were committees and other governing bodies but on a larger scale and focused on arts and trade. 

Today’s artists, both small-scale and established ones, collaborate in cafes and parks as a small group. And only spaces they have left can be counted on their fingertips.

 

Office spaces / Coworking spaces for the creatives today

As times change, the means change. Ever since the advent of the internet, people have evolved in ways the creators of the web would not have imagined, for good and for worse. Artists today mostly function from the comfort of home office while working in start ups that focus on cost savings.

The Internet has provided a platform for professionals of all ranges to connect with people all around the globe making their work known and establishing their presence.

But despite the perks of having the internet, the tangible essence of doing things in real life is irreplaceable. Activities like chatting up with friends, using meeting rooms, reading, and writing on paper, playing cricket in the street, never lose their charm. 

And so does having a space to collaborate over our passion or have like-minded people engage with our opinions face to face rather than having an invitation to collaborate sent over an email.

How does this polar situation stack up against times like today? How will a space that can bring the best of both worlds look like?

 

Fig: 1– Hand’s on building/fixing - An  Illustration

The design challenge is to create a coworking community. 

Cherishing the tangible nature of the world is as important as appreciating and evolving with technology.
In today’s time, this social meeting happens in cafes and restaurants. Meeting people in the real world and marveling over human being’s creative nature needs to become a revived culture.

The challenge is to create an artist’s co-working where the art of all kinds can find an atmosphere to grow. The design is specifically tuned towards people who create, appreciate and celebrate art in their daily lives.

Space would act as and provide an environment conducive to brewing ideas. It would be a tangible form of a social website where artists today expand their horizons. The artists club can have different aesthetics, it can either be modern, minimal, and functional or it can be cozy, academic, and collaborative.

Objectives

Create efficient coworking spaces that bring collaboration among artists

Form - The building form should draw inspiration from art/art forms/artists. 

Tuning - The spaces should be tuned to create art of various kinds.

Collaborative - The spaces should allow activities involving different numbers of people.

Evolutionary - The architecture should be evolutionary and should change with time. 

 

SITE

The site for this project is located in the Vaujours region of Paris. It is a suburban commune in the northeastern part of the city. This location is known for its wines and the site is located amongst lush greenery suited for a calm environment. 

Fig: 2 – Site plan – with entrance marking

• Site area: 21043 sq.m
• Area of the site to be utilized (Ground Coverage): 10% - 2,220sqm.  
• Max built-up area permitted: 5000sq.m
• Height restrictions - 15m
• Coordinates - Maps