Co-working brand Silversquare Central has hugely upgraded its offer by entrusting design gallery Maniera to curate its central workspace.

Key features

Reflecting a three-year-long process, the project has revamped Silversquare Central’s entire 6,000-sq-m premises, a modernistic building erected in 1934. Wishing to accentuate the original architecture by Alexis Dumont and Marcel van Goethem, the collaborators – Maniera and studios Doorzon Interieurarchitecten and Piovenefabi – stripped the industrial space, focusing on bringing in bespoke furnishings and optimizing the layout over introducing a totally new aesthetic scheme. New architectural features include a concrete staircase that better connects the workspaces and greenhouse-style frames, which increase structure and function. 

While the 12 architects and artists commissioned by Maniera were briefed to first and foremost deliver on usability with their designs, each work highlights the individual creativity of the contributors. A snaking hand-painted floor drawing by artist Christoph Hefti takes over an entire level of the coworking office. Comprising everything from rock-like beanbags to a S-shaped sofa, its statement seating was conceived by Piovenefabi, Felt Architecture & Design, A JDVIV and MOS; Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen, Richard Venlet i.c.w. Leander Venlet, Maxime Prananto, Stéphane Barbier Bouvet are responsible for the myriad flexible table and desks designs now present in Silversquare Central. Upholstery by Onbetaalbaar and Veerle Tytgat and lighting by Studio Verter and Piovenfabi cement the meticulous collective attention to detail, and the custom aspect of the space even extends to the bookshelf-cum-room-dividers and clothes hangers, both authored by Jo Taillieu Architecten. 

Frame’s take

While many co-working brands have taken hyperlocality into account, to expect a unique interior scheme for each location wouldn’t exactly be reasonable (or feasible). The smart partnership between Silversquare Central and Maniera reveals new possibilities for the design of co-working spaces, however. Well positioned to tap into the most creative and skilful local design (the majority of the architects and artists hail from Belgium), Maniera facilitated the development of a space that can’t be replicated anywhere. Besides getting to work in an architectural landmark, members also get to utilize and appreciate gallery-worthy design daily. Not many co-working brands can offer its members the same. If this project is any indication, operators can gain clear advantage over competitors by widening their scope when it comes to bringing design collaborators on board.