Industrial Repurpose – CLT Office Pods by Matthew Woodward Architecture and Urban Logistics Co.
Fitting out and scaling offices up or down is typically a costly and very labour-intensive exercise. A collaboration between Matthew Woodward Architecture and Urban Logistics Co. has risen to this challenge with the design of office pods fabricated from cross-laminated timber (CLT), offering an ecologically conscious and affordable solution for reconfiguring rigid industrial spaces into flexible environments that are quiet, private and aesthetically considered.
Urban Logistics Co.’s model of acquiring and managing logistics assets in inner urban markets is grounded in the adaptive re-use of existing industrial sites and facilities. This approach sees the company reposition and develop a portfolio of high-quality office and warehouse space in a rapidly changing industrial landscape. In line with this objective, the CLT Office Pods revolutionise the process of revamping previously hard-edged industrial sites into dynamic and multipurpose office spaces. It’s a two-fold approach to sustainability – not only is CLT renowned for its sustainability credentials but the pods enable the repurposing of existing building stock, utilising the energy already embodied in the structure and reducing the impact associated with demolition and new construction.
Combining an innovative solution to the challenges set by working with existing industrial buildings and the clean aesthetic imbued by the soothing tones and materiality of timber, which projects an aura of calm and inspiration, Matthew Woodward Architecture and Urban Logistics Co. have set about transforming not only the construction process but also enhancing the experience of the workplace itself.
