Tom Dixon converts Clerkenwell church into co-working space
Clerkenwell Design Week 2016: British designer Tom Dixon has installed furniture and lighting inside a church in London's Clerkenwell, transforming it into a co-working space and restaurant (+ slideshow).
The designer took over the St James Church during Clerkenwell Design Week, which ran from 24 to 26 May.
![Tom Dixon furniture and lighting exhibition at The Church for Clerkenwell Design Week 2016](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/05/tom-dixon-the-church-exhibition-lighting-furniture-clerkenwell-design-week-2016_dezeen_936_19.jpg)
Dixon collaborated with the church's vicar Andrew Baughen, who saw the potential for the building to be used as a workspace by the residents of Clerkenwell.
"Andrew Baughen [saw] the potential of making this unique building available to the daytime residents of Clerkenwell, the creative workforce and a place for the residential community to use as a resource," said Dixon.
![Tom Dixon furniture and lighting exhibition at The Church for Clerkenwell Design Week 2016](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/05/tom-dixon-the-church-exhibition-lighting-furniture-clerkenwell-design-week-2016_dezeen_936_18.jpg)
"The partnership [involved] us installing a co-working environment and a kitchen, all to be donated as permanent fixtures once the Design Week juggernaut rolls out of town."
Inside the main congregation area, Dixon's geometric Curve lights are arranged in a grouping. Their nickel silver coating contrasts with the brightly coloured stained glass window, and their punctured shades transmit light as a filtered glow.
![Tom Dixon furniture and lighting exhibition at The Church for Clerkenwell Design Week 2016](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/05/tom-dixon-the-church-exhibition-lighting-furniture-clerkenwell-design-week-2016_dezeen_936_20.jpg)
Close to the altar, an area with chairs and tables allows visitors to sit down and relax. Upstairs, a co-working space open to the public is furnished using Dixon's chairs and tables.
![Tom Dixon furniture and lighting exhibition at The Church for Clerkenwell Design Week 2016](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/05/tom-dixon-the-church-exhibition-lighting-furniture-clerkenwell-design-week-2016_dezeen_936_16.jpg)
Dixon recently used his furniture and lighting to kit out a co-working space for freelancers and small businesses in the London suburb of Camden named The Atrium.
Dixon is the latest in a string of designers who are creating co-working environments following increased demand from start-ups and freelancers.
![Tom Dixon furniture and lighting exhibition at The Church for Clerkenwell Design Week 2016](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/05/tom-dixon-the-church-exhibition-lighting-furniture-clerkenwell-design-week-2016_dezeen_936_17.jpg)
New York-based Leeser Architecture inserted angular and brightly coloured stairwells into Brooklyn's Coworkrs, while London firm Jump Studios also created a bold scheme for the Google Campus co-working space in Madrid.