Architecture

BEEBOX office pod's secure take on shared work spaces

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On trial in Amserdam, Beehive's new BEEBOXes are secure, mobile self-contained one or two-person offices
On trial in Amserdam, Beehive's new BEEBOXes are secure, mobile self-contained one or two-person offices
Beehive describes the BEEBOX as a "complete workspace," that has no prerequisites for installation and use beyond the electric socket you plug it into
From Beehive's point of view, a major advantage of the BEEBOX is that it allows almost any disused building interior to be transformed into a full-functioning office in the relative blink of an eye
If you're in Amsterdam, Beehive will let you try a BEEBOX for a day for free, after which rental is priced at €255 (US$340) per month
Beehive describes the BEEBOX as a "complete workspace," that has no prerequisites for installation and use beyond the electric socket you plug it into
Locked up, the BEEBOX is enclosed in a perforated steel enclosure
From Beehive's point of view, a major advantage of the BEEBOX is that it allows almost any disused building interior to be transformed into a full-functioning office in the relative blink of an eye
Beehive describes the BEEBOX as a "complete workspace," that has no prerequisites for installation and use beyond the electric socket you plug it into
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Buro Beehive transforms disused buildings into flexible workplaces for creative entrepreneurial types. These sorts of "co-working" spaces are becoming ever-more familiar features of modern cities. Beehive's new BEEBOX offers something new, however. These secure, mobile self-contained one or two-person offices may just give its work hubs an edge.

Beehive describes the BEEBOX as a "complete workspace," that has no prerequisites for installation and use beyond the electric socket you plug it into. To show it off to Amsterdam's self-employed, Beehive has installed twenty BEEBOXes at its location on Cruquiusweg 146-B.

Locked up, the BEEBOX is enclosed in a perforated steel enclosure measuring 200 cm (79 in.) wide by 90 cm (35 in.) deep, with a height of 160 cm (63 in.). Unlocked, the BEEBOX divides into two units: a desk for one or two people and a storage unit with cupboards and work surface. The desk has lighting built in.

Beehive describes the BEEBOX as a "complete workspace," that has no prerequisites for installation and use beyond the electric socket you plug it into

From Beehive's point of view, a major advantage of the BEEBOX is that it allows almost any disused building interior to be transformed into a full-functioning office in the relative blink of an eye. Provided the building's power system is up to the job, the only task remaining is to bring in an internet pipe and set up a wireless router or two. The need for expensive office fit-outs is avoided, making temporary, opportunistic use of disused buildings feasible: BEEBOXes can simply be relocated at the end of an agreement.

From the user's perspective, as someone that has dabbled in shared work spaces, I can attest to the advantages of the security offered by the BEEBOX. Not only does this add some peace of mind where leaving computer equipment on the premises is concerned, but it allows Beehive to offer this particular workspace 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A bugbear of many "flexible" workspaces is the inflexibility of their hours. Obviously, the BEEBOX is not an alternative to proper building security, but rather an enhancement of it.

If you're in Amsterdam, Beehive will let you try a BEEBOX for a day for free, after which rental is priced at €255 (US$340) per month, with flexible working arrangements from €14.50 ($19).

Source: Beehive, via Dornob

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8 comments
Riaanh
Good concept, but I am worried about the chair !!!! It is going to dissapear, unless you put a bike chain around it.
EddieG
It is quite unclear what the purpose of a place like this is. You already have a computer. You already have a network connection. You already have a chair. The only thing you can do in the office is touch or smell other people, and eavesdrop on their conversations. We should be practicing telecommuting, not building more office space. I don't get it.
BombR76
Riaanh, . . . I was thinking the same thing !!! Can the chair be put on the desk before closing? How about on top, with an integrated U-lock? A bike hanger on the opening panel would be nice.
DemonDuck
Even cubicles are better than these. The hard part is running internet and electric cables to the computer and lights. Put the cables in the picture and you've got a real mess.
Edmond Hwang
I was thinking the same thing about the chair.
The bike hanger is a great idea as well.
Working from home can be great, but sometimes you need to be around other people and interact.
Jon A.
I bet it would be a lot cheaper to set up regular workstations in a trailer you can lock.
It would also feel a lot less like a prison.
Snake Oil Baron
Like cubical farms but without the annoying personal objects. I like it.
Rann Xeroxx
I telecommute half the week and the rest I work in our office. There are reasons of working in both spaces and getting people together for major projects in a particular area is very important. Think of the aftermath of a disaster like super storm Sandy, that afterward you have months of work for temporary workers.
I like the bike rack idea for the chairs. A good office chair can cost $1k easy. As far as electrical, you can run this like a shop floor and run the power from the the ceiling down along with CAT6 for VoIP phones.