The utilization of coworking spaces by freelancers, startups, and corporate companies is on the rise. Factors feeding the trend include increased flexibility, lower costs, greater emphasis on employee values and the global drive towards innovation. However, each has their own strategic position when it comes to coworking. What are the reasons for considering a coworking space than a furnished office? Why do they utilize such space and what are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so? And what benefits and challenges do the providers of coworking spaces have when it comes to designing the layout?
It’s expected that more startups and corporate companies will become coworking members over the next few years. Larger providers of company coworking spaces are hosting to global tech. giants and consulting corporations as their corporate members, because of the sole reason that the atmosphere in energetic, vibrant, and promotes productivity. In India particularly, the coworking spaces in Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Delhi has seen a good growth owing to the aware audience, but moreover because they want to work in a space that is highly-comfortable and provides a mindblowing productive environment.
The buzzword in today’s scenario is the concept of co-working. With freelancers and virtual jobs gaining importance, the need for co-working space has increased. Further, mushrooming start-ups and entrepreneurs find it very innovating since the ambience of co-working space aids in promoting productivity. A lot of emphases is paid to the layouts to ensure that in every possible manner it is flexible and in sync with the needs of the employees.
The concept of co-working space has also been scientifically proved. Research by Deskmag and Deskwanted has illustrated the following figures:
Design concepts that affect collaboration, creativity, and productivity
The Word co signifies collaboration and creativity, which is clearly edged in the concept of co-working space. Every intricate detail is monitored and carefully designed to keep a collaborative environment wherein each one feels a part of the community and are ready to help each other out.
(A workspace that is well-lit and has plants around, gets more out of a worker.)
Free open space– Now, office spaces have always designed their area keeping in mind the number of employees that would be fitting in the area. Well, for co-working, the concept changes a little bit. Instead of looking at the maximum number of employees that would be sitting, care is taken to ensure that enough space is levied ensuring an open environment. This overpowers the clumsy feeling that most of the cubicles generally levy.
Separate area for private conversations – While openness is promoted by a free working environment, for those special meetings that need utmost concentration, separate spaces are demarcated. These ideally suits in situations wherein less disturbance and focus are the crux.
Enlightened with sunlight – Scientifically, rays of sun make the human mind more active and cheerful, and this is exactly, how designers of co-working space are taking advantage of. Glass surface for common areas that aid in penetration of sunlight is kept in mind while designing spaces especially the common rooms.
Adjustable desks – Our mind functions well when they are prone to a new environment. With adjustable furniture such as desks that can be swayed in a different direction to change the look completely, is what essentially makes co-working space a great catch.
Take the Google Campus in London for example, which stands as one of the best examples of office design that has deployed the co-working office layout concept for gaining better results. In fact, Google is also trying to invest in their co-working ideas owing to the practical benefits encountered. Zappos and other nationalized banks in Australia and the US are also following the same trends.
(The Google London Campus thoroughly uses the co-working layout to boost productivity.)
With a flexible approach, one can easily unleash ideas and successfully implement them. Keeping this in mind, the hot-desk coworking options that levy a ‘plug and play’ facility to the users. One can easily opt for varied choices, which ensure a unique ambience for promoting creativity. As against the traditional setup, wherein a mundane atmosphere is created that cannot be changed or modified, the hot-desk concept allows gaining a different working environment, which inevitably proves to be beneficial. Research points out that a change in surroundings have a great impact on the minds, and hence, this feature of hot-desk is a very good concept for a co-working space.
All the more, if you have a flexible membership in coworking spaces, you can successfully utilize the right area as per your needs. Most of the time if the lounge area stays free during the weekends, with a flexible membership you can choose to select it to complete your important projects. With a flexible payment option, this set up also becomes pocket-friendly, which attracts entrepreneurs and start-ups easily.
Technological innovations are again a feature, which it should be on a top priority for community managers. So, whether it is for the freelancers or virtual employees, it fosters a mode for interacting with the latest technical tools such as conference calls, video calls or capturing highlights of the meeting.
All in all, co-working space has huge benefits in terms of physical presence, financial aspect, as well as, collaboration forming an angle. Truly, co-working is the future trend for the businesses, and the right design fosters greater productivity.