When work is your life and your life is your work, the sanctity of space can easily be compromised. Dani Roche, founder of digital agency Kastor & Pollux, felt these growing pains and has finally embraced *the coolest* studio in downtown Toronto for her team. We congratulated them by outfitting their new digs in the brightest S6 swag. Check out their new creative space and read Dani’s take on the importance of separating work-hustle-life from real-life.
This Summer ’16, Kastor & Pollux turned 5 years old, expanded the team, and signed a new lease (on life)! I’ve always been really good at compartmentalizing. Spaces, feelings, time. But about two months ago, I realized a growing resistance to compartmentalizing my home studio wasn’t necessarily a sign of weakness.
After Kastor & Pollux’s Big Transition back in 2015 (ICYMI, Bianca stepped down from her position as K&P co-owner), I rented a live/work space. Team meetings and brainstorm sessions were held in my hybridized living room/dining room/bedroom/studio space. After a while, the need for a change of scenery became apparent and our team soon retreated to coffee shops, setting up camp amongst a sea of freelancers. Though the constant stream of caffeine was nice, there’s no denying the importance of a comfortable work environment and its correlation to one’s creative output.
For the longest time I thought it was OK to combine live and work spaces, but as the K&P team grew, I realized we could never know our full potential until we were under one roof. We had outgrown my home and needed a space that gave us the freedom to come and go as we please, without the limitations of the hours set by a coffee shop (or my sleep schedule).
In August, I signed the lease for our new studio. Shortly after, the space was filled with tropical plants, camera gear, and a dusty rose-coloured couch that we rescued from Kjiji (which almost killed us as we lugged it up six flights of stairs). In the far corner lives a collection of brightly hued backdrops leaned familiarly against the wall, printed pillows, and past K&P collateral hung up on the walls. Just like home. But actually nothing like home. Because for once, home is somewhere else.
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