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As such, occupiers acquire additional
space to allow for expansion or swing
space, resulting in excessive initial day
one costs. By introducing meanwhile uses,
occupiers are provided with a refreshing
and innovative option to mitigate costs and
provide occupational agility.
A smaller group of occupiers which
include startups, charities, and low-income
initiatives often require affordable space
while they develop their businesses.
Meanwhile uses can provide them with
flexibility, access to markets they would
otherwise be priced out of, and the ability
to experiment new business ideas with
lower commitment, risk, and costs.
While corporations mull over how best
to resolve this issue in the most cost
effective and efficient way, innovative
companies have sprung up across the
globe. For instance, the likes of Headbox
and Peerspace operate as an Airbnb-type
provider of commercial event spaces,
Storefront facilitating retail pop-ups, and
the Creative Space Agency promoting
meanwhile use by creatives and artists.
Not to mention government initiatives
facilitating such uses, some of which offer
grants to occupiers.
MeetLab, Budapest
A community workshop
and experimental space.
Its mission is to innovate
the development of visual
and other forms of culture,
to make such knowledge
accessible through design
pedagogy and incubation
of student projects.
DISRUPTION
Central Parade, London
A former council direct centre
that has been transformed into a
mixed use creative hub of retail,
office workspace, studio space,
and a bakery, for two years while
the long-term future of the site
is decided upon.
The project was jointly funded
by London Borough of Waltham
Forest and the Greater London
Authority’s High Street Fund,
designed by Gort Scott
Architects and is being managed
by Meanwhile Space CIC.
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