Super socialising workspace.

The Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory is amazingly interesting example of the workspace of 60’s in POP ART movement. 

This Factory was located in New York, built in 1962 and was designed & decorated by Andy Warhol and his friend – Billy Name. Actually, the whole studio was covered with silver paint and aluminium foil. In my opinion, this space perfectly matched the pop-art artists movement, cause it was something unusual, new and crazy.

Picture 1. Billy Name and Andy Warhol.    Picture 2. Main Factory's material. Silver aluminium foil.

The Factory was more than just a place where Andy Warhol could work, he wanted this studio to be a special space, where artists can come and feel absolutely free to create and do art. Inside, everything was surrounded with inspirational atmosphere, where artists came up with new ideas, where Warhol surrounded himself with people who served him as an unlimited source of inspiration: some artists, movie stars, fellow artists, musicians, actresses, socialites, drug addicts, drag queens, free thinkers, and many others. 

                                                     Picture 3. Party at the Silver Factory.

This was a multiuser studio, where at the same moment could happen many things, in some part there was filming, in others silkscreening, meetings, drawing, creation of some prototypes, discussions, thinkings. The workspace was extremely spacious, so it was possible to work simultaneously for many people, and at the same time you could also find some privacy there, which is really great, because sometimes you need to work, think alone, whilst sometimes team is needed. Also, Warhol held parties in his studio, where he invited all his famous friends, so this workspace easily turned into a party space, which is very unusual and interesting idea of combining two absolutely different spaces together.

 Picture 4. Activities inside the Silver Factory.

I think that’s amazing how this formal idea of a workspace at 60’s, where people were supposed to work hard and a lot can turn into the idea of a space where you can work, party, play, have fun. Actually socialising is a key to successful, amazing projects, which were done in Warhol’s studio and this socialising was created by the space, because it was open, it encouraged people to be together, gave them freedom. I am very up for the idea of having fun while work – when you work hard, and at the same time you enjoy your work, having fun makes more sense and results become better and more pleasant.