BVN Stories — December 30, 2022
Wellness and Co-Working
And-Co, Vancouver is a new kind of “third space” designed by BVN and Kitspace.
How would you like to plan out your day using an app to book a morning yoga session, a private workspace for a few hours to write that report, a client lunch, a podcast recording session in studio then tickets to a cocktail hour lecture… all in the one place?
And-Co in Vancouver offers just that - a premium co-working space with room for every part of daily life from professional to personal to social. An architecturally designed space for today’s hybrid work world, made easy through smart technology.
BVN, KitSpace and And-Co are defining what a third space can be - a wholistic workplace for well humans. Playing host to different kinds of work. Catering equally to corporates, creatives and content producers. Small businesses, start-ups and freelancers.
The focus on wellness is a big part of the And-Co difference. A dedicated fitness studio (designed by Kitspace collaborator Leckie Studio) with a full-time instructor ensures members can bring exercise into their work day, whenever and however it suits.
A bespoke on-site restaurant Nox (also by Leckie Studio) ensures the good life is part of the everyday as well.
Conceived in collaboration with BVN, building owner Arpeg, and long-time fabrication partner Kitspace, And-Co was designed to challenge ideas of what workplace can and should be.
The logic of the spatial design draws on BVN’s 30 years of workplace intel from across the globe. The overarching principal of “be ready for change” means this is a workspace designed to adapt, economically and sustainably. As the demand for third spaces has grown, their sophistication has evolved together with options for memberships that strengthen the sense of community and inclusivity: And-Co represents the best of these today.
And-Co occupies the podium floors of 620 Cardero St, a new 26 storey mixed use building in Coal Harbour, Vancouver, owned and developed by Arpeg.
BVN London architect Susi Mayer first introduced the concept of the large internal void spanning the 3 floors, connecting the entire space around a communal core. The void is anchored by a flexible event and social space that can host large gatherings, lectures and performances. Members benefit from an extensive program of dynamic, curated events here, providing opportunities to connect, relax and be entertained.
BVN and Kitspace collaborated on a kit of modular, bespoke furniture throughout the space, including dividers, partitions and shelving, designed to be reconfigurable and future-proof through its modular design. The original and much-loved Arpeg board room from their first home in the Georgia Medical-Dental Building, since demolished, has been literally saved and re-installed inside the new space!
Nick Flutter, from BVN New York, says the partnership between BVN and Kitspace has progressed naturally as demand has grown for both modularity and upcycling in workplace design.
“Upcycling goes beyond reusing and recycling materials in building construction. If you’re serious about presenting a workplace as sustainable, you need interiors to match.That’s where Kitspace’s approach to interior design has aligned so well with ours.”
Susi Mayer, from BVN London says that designing with a modular, kit-of-parts approach is essentially future-proofing the workplace.
“Its flexibility opens it up for a changing business environment, ready for anything. If there’s one thing we learnt from COVID it’s that we don’t know what we don’t know. And we need to be ready for change.”
“What we need and expect from workplaces evolves radically over time. If we work with the expectation of change, we can minimise disruption on people and the planet.”
Kitspace’s Graham Blake is on-board with BVN’s concept of Elastic Work.It’s a mindset they’ve shared since first working together almost a decade ago.
“Our work with BVN has revolved around the elements of sustainability and future-proofing, then adding another layer focusing on the day-to-day inhabitants of a space. We’re thinking about the role design plays in shaping a healthy workplace culture. How we can use design and technology to address wellbeing and work-life balance. Get that right and you have a recipe for a successful co-working space”
Now open in the popular Coal Harbour precinct, And-Co is an easy walk or short commute from downtown Vancouver.
