Creative Space

by Startacus Admin

Don’t you just love it when something is not exactly as it seems? When ingenuity, creativity, and innovation are in abundant evidence?

Yep. Us too.

That’s probably why we’re loving this new initiative from drinks manufacturer, Absolut.

Their recently launched Creative Space project in Gröndal, Sweden has seen four of their shipping containers being transformed into one unified working hub where people can meet, exchange ideas and collaborate on solutions to environmental issues and problems. The thinking is that by enabling people to come together like this, not only will this have a positive impact on the environment and economy,but it also will directly encourage and stimulate creativity and innovation.

Creative Space has been designed so that there are five zones - the four containers and the connecting outer landscape. These are:

• The Bar - this space is intended to be a place for a casual meetup with a fellow creator - a place to chat, relax and get a little inspiration from books and magazines
• The Distillery - this space is intended to be the place where the brainstorming happens and where ideas can be distilled.
• The Bottlery - it’s all about the planning and production here. The walls are covered with whiteboards so that users can write and sketch to their heart’s content.
• The Workshop - this space is where the finer details can be ironed out. Whether it’s creating a mockup or a prototype, or using the 3D printer and laser cutter - this area is where it will happen.
• The Landscape - this exterior space is where larger group activities can take place and a place where users can simply hang out and relax.

The company’s own waste products have been used in the design process. For example, bottles have been reinvented as light fittings and cardboard boxes and tubes have been turned into seating and decoration within the containers.

To kickstart the whole project, a Hackathon will take place between June 12th and 14th. During this time, participants will be working on finding solutions to some of the challenges that The Absolut Company presently has - for example, how the company’s environmental impact can be minimized.

Participants will work in groups over the weekend and a jury will decide on the best ideas that can be implemented or put into production.

It’s great to see a large company such as Absolut embracing new ways of doing things and making a concerted effort to stimulate creativity and innovation.

We only wish more companies would do the same!

If you are interested in the reclamation of shipping containers you might like to take a look at some of these recent related posts!

ISO Spaces Popups made from recycled shipping containers
A shopping centre made from shipping containers
GrowUP! Recycled shipping containers turned into urban farms

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Published on: 10th June 2015