Whether you’re brainstorming new ideas or polishing your pitch deck, here’s some of the most inspiring spaces in London, Paris and New York to get down to business.
The Urban Beach – Granary Square, London
A chaotic mind leaves little space for new ideas. But time in the open air can help put things into clearer perspective. Raising the bar on stellar open spaces and a real people’s meeting place is Granary Square, conveniently located by St Pancras International. Taking centre stage in front of the industrial Granary building (now home to Central Saint Martins) is Europe’s largest and most impressive fountain feature. People-watch from one of the deck chairs and enjoy the free Wi-Fi.
Weird and wonderful – Wellcome Collection Reading Room, London
A quirky and dynamic gallery-cum-library-cum-events space, the Reading Room is unbeatable for quiet downtime or striking up an inspired conversation with a stranger. A grand stairway lined with cushions leads to a café, thousands of books and 100s of contemporary sculptures, paintings and medical artefacts. This one’s for the procrastinators.
All aboard the fraternity – Station F, Paris
Get to inbox zero in no time in the world's biggest startup incubator campus in the 13th arrondissement. Open 24/7, it’s much like a university with various programmes, services and housing for those just starting out in the startup world. Once an abandoned railway, which lends this space its name and industrial look, the original concrete and shipping counters have been turned into meeting rooms and event spaces.
Slow living – My Little Paris
Parisians live life in the slow lane better than most, so it makes sense that a trip to this city is only complete with a visit to My Little Paris’ summer guesthouse for a recharge. Hidden in the heights of Montmartre is this well-appointed pastel-hued haven with original fireplaces, a cosy garden and a cushioned cinema in the attic. They’ll be holding open-air conferences, breakfasts, exhibitions and creative workshops around “slow living” all summer.
Watch the throne – The Wing, New York
For the female hustlers who need space to connect and prep for world domination, together. This is the women-only social and coworking members’ club everyone wants to join. Each knockout detail in this airy Manhattan apartment, from the artwork in the open library to the wallpaper in the beauty room is designed by women, for women. Pink-hued conference rooms, charging stations, on-demand massages, blow-dries, a café – with amenities like these it’s no wonder there’s a 3,000 membership wait list.
Looking up – New York Public Library, New York
If libraries are where you’re the most inspired and productive, it may as well be at the beloved and historically grand New York Public Library – one of the last truly quiet spaces in the city for reading and working. It took an army of architects, engineers and painters to restore the iconic Rose Reading Room and its ethereal sky mural back to its original glory after its mighty fall. Stuck for ideas? Just look up.
