As the pandemic has normalized remote work, designers are coming up with innovative solutions that could change the future of work for the better. In a bid to achieve exactly that, furniture studio Duffy London has designed the Minka Solar Pod.
The project is essentially an outdoor office pod that operates as an alternative to meeting places and work-from-home spots like WeWork and cafes with WiFi. What makes the Minka Solar Pod stand out is that it’s entirely powered by photovoltaic panels and lithium-ion batteries. Using sunlight as a source of power, the pods can be operated anywhere, from busy city plazas like Union Square to public grounds like Hyde Park.
Since their main purpose is to serve as workspaces, the Minka Solar Pods are equipped with USB ports for charging and acoustic panels to buffer outdoor noise and provide a quiet space for meetings.
Each pod can accommodate four people, meaning that work meetings that would typically remain indoors could be taken outdoors for a breath of fresh air and a change of scenery. Also, as reported by Yank Design, the capsules are weather-resistant for use in all seasons.
“We wanted to design a piece of communal furniture that can meet the needs of the modern working and municipal environment,” said Duffy London founder, Chris Duffy. “Indoor or outdoor, our Minka PODs serve as highly adaptable, non-defined spaces that act like mini-hives for human interactions.”
Image source: Duffy London
