The term coliving has been popping up more and more in conversations concerning the future of work. An increasingly mobile workforce, in combination with the rising populations of freelancers and the development of the coworking movement has created a demand for coliving spaces. Of course coliving is not a novel concept. Humans have been sharing resources and living quarters for as long as we can remember, but today the concept has taken on a new approach in relation to the modern workplace.
While in many ways the coliving moment is still in its nascent stages, the future looks promising. As it is still developing, many people still see coliving as inextricably connected to coworking. Spend a month on the beach with your laptop and call it coliving, but what we see is that the movement goes much deeper than that. Here we outline the 3 primary types of coliving scenarios seen most commonly today.
Coliving Spaces (A level up from Coworking)
Coliving Spaces are your home away from home. Typically, they are set up in one, usually idyllic, location, with all of the comforts you will need for a productive experience. Coliving is a great option for those who want to settle a bit outside of their normal routine. Like the movement itself, each coliving spaces has its nuances, sometimes catering to a specific interest or profession. For example, Sun and Co. offers colivers (up to 20) a 4-story home in the center of Jávea, a Spainish seaside town, perfect for those looking for a “coworkcation”.
Participants can enjoy the many beaches and national parks along the Mediterranean Coast, while also feeling the comforts of home. The communal living space allows guests to come together, share, cook and relax. When it comes to meeting deadlines, Sun and Co. also provides a fully functioning coworking space, in addition to events and networking opportunities.
Coliving retreats (Break the routine)
While they don’t have a set check-out date, coliving retreats offer the full communal experience for those who may not have the luxury, or desire to, set off backpacking around the globe with just a laptop and a week’s worth of underwear. Coconat is a great example of today’s coworking retreat. Offering their members the chance to get some serious work done in a beautiful environment, which is not completely isolated. Just an hour from Berlin by train, colivers and coworkers can easily break their routine for a week or a weekend. Coconat embodies the coliving values by bringing the community together with their “family-style” approach to meals, encouraging conversation and connection. They also recognize that everybody has different needs, so there are various options available for working, from private bungalows to a central workspace.
Coworking retreats are ideal for most remote workers, especially those with family or job constraints, as they tend to offer everything you need for a productive session out of your day to day. In Northern Serbia, Morkin House is making a name for themselves in the coliving world. Not only do they offer fully kitted out workspaces and accommodation in a sleek modern workspace, but the Mokrin team offers programs for individuals and teams that will help them increase productivity while away. The space is just two hours from Belgrade, but for coworkers, it’s a world away.
Coliving Camps: Not your typical summer camp
Like coliving retreats, camps are typically used for a shorter period of time, what sets camps apart from established coliving spaces is that they are a combination of a workplace retreat and the fond memory of childhood summer camp. In the same way that retreats meet the needs of digital nomads who aren’t looking to commit to long-term coliving, camps offer a fully immersive experience for a set amount of time. For example, DNX Camps are dedicated to “living the digital nomad lifestyle 24/7” and organize various camps around the world. Providing several packages in places like Lemnos, Greece, Dahab, Egypt and Jericoacoara, Brazil, each camp is around 10 days and includes a myriad of activities, workshops and talks. Participants are given the chance to curate their experience, as each camp has a specific itinerary for each location. Wake up to a healthy breakfast, engage in skill sharing and take a day trip together. Like retreats, camps can also benefit professional teams looking for a bit of guided inspiration.
Coliving Trips: A trip to remember
Another way to experience the coliving phenomenon is to go on a trip. Short, sweet and jam-packed with activities for a varied network of entrepreneurs and digital nomads from all walks of life. Not limited by stationary workspace, coliving trips allow member to set up shop whenever and wherever they want. This has resulted in taking an innovative approach to what we consider “home to be” by exploring various unique locations around the world, from remote islands to waking up in the middle of the woods. KantoorKaravaan, for example, takes the coliving trip to a new level, offering coworking spaces in movable caravans that move from destination, sometimes based on events or meetups. Recently Kantoor went on a Eurotour that took them to Websummit in Lisbon and on to a mini tour through rural Spain.
KantoorKaravaan
After hitting the open road, colivers can go a step beyond and hit the high seas with Nomad Cruise or Coboat. A combination of all three coliving models, Coboat gives up to 12 members the chance to embark on an adventure that is fully equipped with professional amenities. Of course, the unique environment encourages those aboard unplug, enjoy a swim and take a few sailing lessons.
Coliving spaces and their communities
In addition to a growing number of independent spaces, the rise of coliving today is causing people to question how they see their futures. Not only do young independent workers prefer to work for a cause, rather than just a paycheck, they are also questioning how we consume and take up space.
Larger companies have caught on to the trend and have expanded the possibility for coliving communities to form as part of the workspace, as they have become increasingly integrated into the corporate world. This has caught the attention of several industries, such as real estate, as larger companies have begun to expand by adding their own coliving space. Wework, the largest coworking network in the world, with spaces on almost every continent are now expanging with their newly minted coliving network, Welive. An extension of Wework’s coworking empire, Welive is a coliving community that helps ease financial stresses of urban workers
For more about coliving communities today, continue with Why coliving?
