SIZE: 1000sqm GIA Design brief included: high quality, and efficient layout, fit out and refurbishment for growing companies. In collaboration with the Corporation of London, the project was for an incubator to assist the growth of new businesses. The first innovation hub of its kind, Innovation Warehouse pioneered a new format now known as ‘coworking’. The vision was for an ‘experiential business school’ – a hybrid shared office space come accelerator, the curriculum being the day-to day activities of the resident entrepreneurs’ own businesses. Providing investment, mentoring advice, access to professional services and quality, this is more than flexible space at affordable costs. The image internally is inspired by the iconic, listed 19th Century market building Innovation Warehouse occupies. The space required a model of cultural openness promoting a network, and forums for the sharing and creation of value-added knowledge – now known as the ‘sharing economy’. Spatially it promotes draws on ideas and spaces around it, spilling into local cafes, shops and outside spaces as convenient. Entrepreneurs are the driving force of the next new economy. Paul Vick architects have enjoyed working with both private and institutional entrepreneurs. The start-up innovation hub has catalysed a number of ideas raising next stage finance and growth beyond the warehouse. Where business growth is understood as the today and tomorrow of our City’s wellbeing (economically, socially, and culturally), Innovation Warehouse and the ideas of an architecture (both literal and figurative) that come out of it go on to challenge us in making and evolving the city’s fabric.