Co-Working Spaces

A clever, cost-effective alternative to working on your own, co-working spaces could help you to do better business

Featured May 11 Words by Ian Wylie
Co-Working Spaces

Florian Leinfelder admits that he misses singing along to the radio, but otherwise the computer-engineering student says he works much better when he's at Club Office, a Berlin "co-working" space. "I simply don't like sitting alone in my room while learning or working. It's just more fun being around other people while doing that," he says. "I even met another student here that I'm now doing a project with. You can meet a bunch of different people working in totally different professions. I no longer do the graphics for my website projects on my own, but work with a graphic artist I met here."

Co-working spaces are shared office spaces where working travellers or local self-employed workers, independent contractors or students such as Leinfelder can pop in to get some work done and, if they want, meet like-minded people. For travellers, co-working can be a convenient, cheaper alternative to accessing the internet in a hotel room or pricey caf�. For local freelance workers, it also provides a means of separating work from home, and keeping business distinct from personal life.

It's also a booming business. According to co-working portal Deskwanted.com, there are more than 600 such spaces around the world today, compared to just 350 at the same time last year. "They are friendly and interactive," says Deskwanted founder Joel Alas. "Individuals can exchange ideas, contacts and jobs, and feel they are part of a community."

While shared office spaces have existed for decades, the co-working trend was popularised by Brad Neuberg, then a self-employed coder for Google, in San Francisco in 2005. He invited fellow freelancers to meet up several times a week in an apartment he called the "Hat Factory". From there, the idea then spread across the US and Europe, where today, most major cities have one or more co-working spaces. Most charge a daily rate, many have weekly rates, and some offer 10-visit cards or similar passes. If you're on a trip abroad, you can simply pop in with your laptop, sit at a desk, access a fast internet connection and get some work done. The average daily desk rental rate in mainland Europe is around �19, says Alas. In the UK, the cost is slightly higher - up to �50 (�56) in London - but still not a lot for a quiet place to work, connections with the local community and a day of productivity.

Since co-working spaces are run and populated by creative individuals, many of them are also creatively decorated. "Many look like hip office sets used on sitcoms, with couches, ping-pong tables and funky lamps," says Alas. "Many occupy former industrial spaces and retain their gritty edge. Others are beautiful light-filled zones of contemplation and creativity."

"There's not just a desk but also some sofas, a bar area for a break, even a beanbag to just lean back while reading some stuff," says Leinfelder of Club Office in Berlin, where he pays �99 a month for access to high-speed internet, a printer and coffee machine. "The place is big, clean, bright, warm, just perfect to work in. The Club Office is my place to work, and when I get home I can fully relax - another positive aspect of not working at home."

For the working traveller, another upside of co-working could be that you get to meet some locals willing to introduce you to the city's culture and nightlife. "They may have contacts to local services and businesses that you need to access during your stay," suggests Alas. "Or they may be future collaborators for expansion plans in the city you are visiting."

Of course, co-working might not always be your best option. "When the space gets busy, it can be tricky finding a desk, and I find that when I have big projects to finish or a tight deadline to meet, I prefer the quiet of working from home," says Nathalie Nahai, founder of We Make Them Click, a consultancy that specialises in the psychology of web design. But most of the time, she works at The Cube, a co-working space in the East End of London. "If you're thinking of finding a co-working space, make sure you try out a range until you find one that is right for you," she says.

Likewise, Judith Ploegman, who manages social innovation projects in Amsterdam, values the opportunities that co-working brings. "Find a place with people who do things that you are interested in so you can learn something new," she says. "Talk, take the initiative - information exchange and new insights don't just happen in co-working places. You need to make it happen. That's where the fun is."

TOP SIX FLEXIBLE DESKS

WOSTEL, BERLIN

The name melds "work" and "hostel", and Wostel has the retro aesthetic to match Berlin's hip Neuk�lln district. wostel.de

THE HUB, BRUSSELS

Part of the worldwide Hub network of co-working spaces, this old chocolate factory is also a weekend venue for conferences and meet-ups. brussels.the-hub.net

COWORK LISBOA, LISBON

Large and buzzing shared office, with a good caf� - and costs as little as �10 a day. coworklisboa.pt

LA CANTINE, PARIS

Huge co-working space right in the heart of Montmartre that shares the bohemian chic of the neighbourhood. lacantine.org

COWO 360, ROME

Founded by a graphic designer and post-production editor, Cowo 360 is minimalist and stylish, as you might expect an Italian co-working space to be. coworkingroma.com

THE CUBE, LONDON

Aimed at helping entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground - even if they are just visiting. thecubelondon.com