I bumped into the ever lovely James Harrison at Clerkenwell Design Week and as we got chatting we discovered that I spend two days every week in the building right next door to his studio! So I couldn’t not pop in and have a nose around…
He’s based in a shared workspace in London’s Stoke Newington. It’s a vast triple-height warehouse space that he and the other designers, makers and artists who work there have slowly carved up, adding floors, walls and staircases, resulting in a rabbit warren of creativity. It’s a really inspiring space to explore. There’s even an office dog!
“We started with an empty warehouse and have gradually created other studios, a showroom and a workshop. The space has grown organically as we have needed new areas and as people have joined us. I love the fact that our workplace is unconventional and that we are surrounded by other creatives. There is always something interesting going on between us whether it is globe making, photography, or prop building. It also means we have a great pool of knowledge and resources to call upon which can only be a positive thing.
“Having the workshop right next to the studio is hugely beneficial because it means we can prototype and experiment as we design. This hands-on approach creates new ideas and makes you think in a way that you just wouldn’t think sat in front of a computer.”
James founded James UK in 2006 and all his furniture is designed and made in Britain.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- creative spaces :: emma alington
- creative spaces :: sarah hamilton
- creative spaces :: studio aalto
- creative spaces :: tom raffield
Great stuff James.