Thanks to the prevalence of powerful laptops and cloud-based infrastructure, dreary office cubicles can increasingly be jettisoned in favor of dynamic spaces which encourage collaboration and innovation. The Pop-Up Office installation by Dubbeldam Architecture and Design is an example of this, delivering an office space concept which seeks to re-invent the workspace for the Post-PC era using reclaimed wooden pallets.
Flexibility is the watchword of Pop-Up Office, and the overall design is based upon several individual modules which have different themes. These include “Collaborate” (a desk and shelf), “Lounge” (relaxing area with plants), and “Refuel” (coffee area). The idea is that the modules would come together to suit the needs of the people using the office.
Each Pop-Up Office module features wall, floor, and ceiling sections, which simply slot into each other – no screws or glue required. Furniture elements are assembled in differing configurations, and shelves can be inserted into the slots between wall boards as desired.
Dubbeldam Architecture and Design is keen to promote a variety of practical uses for the Pop-Up Office, including outdoor festivals, a low-cost (and green) option for startups looking for unusual office spaces, or maybe even disaster relief situations.
Pop-Up Office was unveiled at Toronto's 2013 Interior Design Show as part of the “How do you work?” exhibition. We've not heard whether or not the design is going to see production in the immediate future, but regardless, it’s certainly an interesting take on the future of the office.
Source: Pop-Up Office via TreeHugger
If you go around to enough shipping companies, stock feeders, hardware stores etc... and ask for any unused pallets you'll gather quite a collection of pallets for free. This office and other similar projects can make use of the inefficiencies of other businesses to increase economic output.
Similarly you'd be amazed at the amount of building material you can gather essentially for free (you usually have to go and pick it up) by looking in the local classifieds. People are giving away pallet loads of excess bricks, pavers and tiles. They will otherwise just throw them out!
There are pallets that get thrown away after one use- I have a double wide version WITH an industrial double wall cardboard box on it right now. I got from a glass company that throws them away or gives them away to anyone in the industrial park after receiving them.
There are those pallets that get reused 'til they're unusable.
There are pallets that get re-sold by scavengers.
There are those living in cardboard boxes in this world that are looking to move up to a home made from pallets...
Pallets obviously have widely differing fates,mileage and cycles of usage- some even end up as start-up office furniture for hipsters!