Championing accessibility and inclusivity, the x+why-operated workplace not only provides local charities with coveted central London office space, but sets an entirely new standard for purpose-driven design.
5 min read
Words: Chloé Petersen Snell
Photography: Jack Hobhouse
In the last few years there has been a ramped-up focus on inclusive design, with more designers and manufacturers than ever creating inspiring work around neurodiversity and accessibility. Fast work, but big steps can prove tricky, and sometimes box ticking exercises become a bolt-on in an otherwise inaccessible space. An example of sweating the small stuff when it comes to tuned-in, accessible design is Fivefields, a new, impact-driven home for charities and social value organisations in central London.
Supported by developers Grosvenor with charitable trust The Westminster Foundation and operated by flexible workspace provider x+why, the project provides 30,000 sq ft of space for charities that would typically struggle to find such prime central London office options; rents are subsidised by the Westminster Foundation. Fivefields is already a success, with tenants ranging from the London Wildlife Trust to Heritage of London Trust and a number of children’s charities.
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