B:Hive, Smales Farm

Provide a concise, straightforward description of the project identifying the essential elements of the client's needs and objectives, the site context and your design solution. Please be as brief as possible – limiting your description to 300 words or less – while covering the key issues i.e. information about the projects sustainability and building performance including green-star ratings and other elements in the design that improve performance. The B:Hive concept has been conceived by Smales Farm as the first step in the transformation of a twentieth-century office park to a twenty-first century engaged urban hub; and as such this is a new model of office building – it is actually the antithesis of “office building” in that its’ genesis is to be a “place” for flexible, collaborative and community engaged work attracting start-ups, small companies and individuals. There are currently 100 individual companies in B:Hive. The five-level building engages at ground level with Goodside - a new vibrant hospitality precinct designed by Izzard - which seamlessly merges into the ground floor of B:Hive and creates an energetic flow from the public realm to the interior of the building. The ground floor is designed as a hosted events space with a large meeting forum and a range of meeting rooms available for both the Farm and the community. The atrium is the element that enables a new work community to thrive. The connecting stair is located close to the entry encouraging people to walk through the building rather than take the lift which is located to the edge, providing opportunities to engage, meet, observe and participate. The floors are designed for complete flexibility with relocatable walls located around the perimeter, creating suites enabling collaborative space around the atrium for overflow and individual subscribers. Wellness is a primary consideration of new work and mixed mode ventilation by using façade thermal chimneys is facilitated by drawing air through the atrium; a large clear skylight over the atrium enables direct sunlight to penetrate deep into the building, and the stair provides easy walking and energising throughout the day.