Ever since Hurricane Sandy savaged the East Coast last week, I can't help but see the world through a crisis-scenario lens. (Thankfully, last night's nor-easter was only a minor inconvenience, an uncanny reminder that most weather systems blow through in a matter of hours or days without any long-term consequences.) Thus, I was interested to see the BEEBOX mobile office turn up in the inbox. Designed by Amsterdam's Buro Beehive for manufacturer Fiction Factory, the all-in-one workspace packs neatly into a 2m × 1.6m × 0.9m box—just small enough to fit in a standard doorframe—for easy shipping and setup.
The BEEBOX is especially convenient for locations which have a flexible need for workspace. In order to enjoy the BEEBOX no construction measures are necessary; the BEEBOX offers immediate privacy and comfort. The BEEBOX is also extremely suitable for turning (temporarily) vacant buildings and/or spaces into workable spaces without any effort. The only thing a BEEBOX needs in order to be fully operative is a socket.
Granted, it's that last requirement—power—that precludes the BEEBOX's emergency response applications—AT&T's mobile hotspot trucks are probably a better bet for restoring productivity, since many of us need only an Internet connection to work these days.
Which doesn't make the elegant office solution any less impressive: with a height-adjustable desk, room for two, built-in lighting and outlets, lockability and customizable colors and materials for the interior, the BEEBOX might just be the perfect fit for, say, a co-working space. In fact, designers Christophe Veen and Bart de Groot note that "it is our contribution to the fulfillment of vacant buildings... a way to make investments in working environment sustainable. Instead of investing in the building you are investing in furniture that is mobile. So your investment is not gone when you have to leave the building, you can take your investment with you."
