Kwerk is a new creative workspace in the centre of Paris

Balcony in Paris with red and wood sofa overlooking the street

Albert Angel and Lawrence Knights have created Kwerk – a 24/7 co-working space in the centre of Paris. Pictured: view from the fourth-floor terrace

(Image credit: Benoit Florençon)

By Jean Grogan

last updated 29 July 2022

'How we work has evolved beyond recognition,' says Congo-born architect Albert Angel who, with Franco-British entrepreneur Lawrence Knights, has reinvented co-working in Paris with a radical new concept, Kwerk.

Kwerk is a double word play, riffing on the French pronunciation of 'co-work' and 'quirk' with a possible subconscious allusion to 'twerk' – either way, this is a seriously sexy workplace.

'Isolation is the enemy of creativity,' says Angel. 'We wanted to favour interactivity by creating a space with a collective consciousness.'

The 23,680 sq ft building is located in Paris' busiest business district, the eighth arrondissement. It is the second Kwerk in the capital and is the brand's flagship space.

Angel and Knights travel constantly between homes in Bali, New York and Jakarta. Kwerk's interior reflects these multicultural influences with an ambience that is part boutique hotel, part art gallery.

Kwerky touches include Angel's take on Balinese Ogoh-ogoh sculptures inspired by the Hindu celebration of Nyepi, the Day of Silence that welcomes New Year. The Ogoh-ogohs symbolise the association of opposing forces and the converging of communities to face them.

Maud Chuffart, founder of the Yoga House in India, directs the yoga and meditation studio.

Eight velvet-curtained confession booths tiled with coloured cork bricks provide confidentiality; while security is provided by the 'Green Army', knee-high stone statuettes imported from Papua New Guinea with fluorescent green camouflage by Angel.

Two African fertility dolls occupy a shelf in the lobby in a salute to Angel's birthplace. 'I'd be careful with those,' says Knights. 'Our office manager was admiring them and she's just announced she's pregnant.'

Booths in an office with primary coloured curtains and a yellow sofa against a wooden panel wall — Kwerk is a double word play, a riff on the French pronunciation of 'co-work' and 'quirk' with a possible subconscious allusion to 'twerk'. Pictured left: the space's confession booths. Right: work room details

A cork lined hallway with black steps leading to a roof terrace with planters and seating and a graveled roof terrace with green headed statues — 'Isolation is the enemy of creativity,' says Angel. 'We wanted to favour interactivity by creating a space with a collective consciousness.' Pictured left: entrance to the terrace. Right: the 'Green Army'

Lobby of a co-working space with leather sofas, wood stools and a white stature of a horse and rider in a glass case — The 23,680 sq ft building is located in Paris' busiest business district, the eighth arrondissement. Pictured: the lobby, with a view onto the garden

Black room with wooden tables and bench/files with an animal scuplture whish is part elephant and part octopus — Angel and Knights travel constantly between homes in Bali, New York and Jakarta. Kwerk's interior reflects these multicultural influences with an ambiance that is part boutique hotel, part art gallery. Pictured: 'The Octophant'

Yoga room with red yoga mats and purple cushions — Maud Chuffart, founder of the Yoga House in India, directs the yoga and meditation studio. Pictured: views of the dedicated yoga room

Meeting room with lang conference table and chairs, red curtains and a plant light feature. — The space is the second Kwerk in the capital and the brand's flagship space. Pictured: the meeting room

Salon seating area in an office space with brightly coloured sofas and a cork paneled wall — The 'BonBon Salon'

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Kwerk website

Photography: Benoit Florençon

ADDRESS

Kwerk
44–46 rue de la Bienfaisance
Paris 75008

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