Access to nature is at the top of every wellness-in-the-workspace list, and in Amsterdam, Space Encounters takes it to the next level by transforming a former warehouse into a veritable light-filled jungle for an on-the-rise international stroller manufacturer. For an online career portal in Portland, Los Osos scales things down to a more intimate level with a portable, 26-square-metre ‘workspace on wheels’ crafted from custom-milled Douglas fir and semi-translucent polycarbonate; and in Montreal, ACDF is developing a more mature aesthetic for the area’s burgeoning tech industry through considered colours and raw materials. We also explore how designers are nurturing creativity through rest and relaxation, with such human-focused approaches as UNStudio‘s RESET pods, immersive and experiential silos that aim to help office workers mindfully manage stress.
Moving to the residential side of well-being, a new block of affordable housing in L.A. has opened that gives homeless and disabled veterans a place to call home. Conceived by Brooks + Scarpa, the five-storey building provides a haven for its residents, offering both private and communal spaces to heal.
Also, Knauf and Brown in Vancouver turn a teenage passion for skateboarding into a successful design career; a spotlight on facades that are making the most of the outer layer; landscape architect and maker of mega-curtains Petra Blaisse reflects on the success of her two-pronged career; and we introduce the 70 finalists of the seventh annual AZ Awards vying for the top trophies.
The June 2017 issue of Azure is now available in Canada, and hits U.S. newsstands on May 15. Get yours now: for single copies go to shop.azuremagazine.com; to subscribe, go to azuremagazine.com/subscribe.