For 2016's London Design Festival, MINI collaborated with architect Asif Khan to create such a place on the streets of Shoreditch. 'Forests' consisted of three transparent pavilions, filled with lush greenery and furnished in a simple, minimal style. Each one was made a little different, with different purposes in mind. The 'Connect' space featured a table for meetings, talks, dinners or coworking jams. The 'Relax' space had a bench for quiet contemplation, or just somewhere to put your bags down and rest your legs. The 'Create' space, meanwhile, offered a flexible arrangement of tables, chairs and other bits and pieces, so you could use it for whatever you like. Not strictly private or public, outside or inside, but a hybrid of all these things, 'Forests' was a place for interaction, collaboration and shared experience in the middle of the city. Khan was inspired by the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, or 'forest bathing', a complete sensorial immersion in the sights, smells and sounds of nature, but also by a lifetime spent living in London, and a deep desire to bring its diverse communities together by unlocking the potential of public spaces.