New living paradigms, including work and leisure, lead to the creation of a new collaboration environment. We are talking about open and flexible spaces like those of coworking in Barcelona.
Within the current working framework, the new professionals and working spaces have gained ground far from their traditional format. One of these new formulas results from the need to share spaces with freelancers and small companies.
This practice is known as coworking and it is fueled by an entrepreneur initiative that, in many cases, does not have the option to rent a study.
Sharing a working space with different people for the development of a professional activity makes the risk much lower and the result, considerably much more creative. And in this respect, Barcelona is a worldwide referent.
Coworking Spain Conference 2013_report from Luis Arrieta on Vimeo.
The latest edition of Coworking Spain Conference in Barcelona, celebrated in 2013, was clear evidence of that.
Coworking spaces are shared by locals and foreigners residing in the city, who in turn, share the same working philosophy: coworking in Barcelona.
Residents: Coworking as the office of the future?
Working spaces are changing, a situation that is clearer if we look at the United States. There, the traditional office divided into tiny cubes is being replaced by a different concept, where freelancers, small businesses and temporary workers share the same space.
It is estimated that by 2020, 40% of American workers will be doing their works from their independent spaces. Where? In coworking areas, where the traditional concept of office is reinvented.
The common working situations take place in office buildings or in a room at home. What does coworking offer? Flexibility to start and finish work, independence during the working day, shared resources at a good price and, above all, the chance to socialize. Creating professional connections breaks individual work and gives the possibility to share common doubts, as it would happen with a partner at work.
Coworking uses a different paradigm, which adapts to a new economic reality: sustainable and creative spaces to make the most of the timetables and reach better results.
It is also an interesting option to break the dynamics of working from home, thus separating personal and professional life.
Tourists: Why not taking your business with you?
Within the current global environment, entrepreneurs do not want to see their business activity limited to a tiny room.
That is why, in order to discover new business ideas and collaborators, travelling has become part of the working plan as a new business setting for entrepreneurs.
The so-called entrepreneur tourism offers trips including accommodation and coworking spaces, which are fully equipped to start working. Moreover, all of them have something in common: many leisure possibilities.
There are more and more of these options. They offer stays in beach spots, which can be enjoyed weekly or during the whole year. Some of these cities allow people to work while enjoying sport by the sea or the mountain.
The fact of combining both options creates a healthier environment for ideas to freely flow among work and leisure. Entrepreneur tourism, more than going on holidays and isolate from the world, looks for unveiling other settings and finding new collaborators.
Coworking platforms in Barcelona
The concept of coworking is not deep-rooted in our country yet. However, in such an open-minded and cosmopolitan city as Barcelona, this new working philosophy has long been implemented.
In this city, there is the greatest number of coworking spaces per capita, although this figure will continue going up since there are still many people working from home, according to Jordi Silvente, president of Cowocat (an association of coworking spaces in Catalonia).
This model has been taken by some coworking spaces located in the city centre. The first one was Gracia Work Center (Pg d’Amunt, 7), located in Gràcia Neighbourhood since 2007. This was the time in which business outsourcing allowed the creation of coworking spaces, which were much better equipped than the traditional shared spaces.
Another spot with long experience in the sector is MeetBCN (C/ Balmes, 167). It is located in the heart of Eixample of Barcelona, where small businesses and professionals come to terms. The opposite happened in the case of Atta (C/ Tanger, 33). This centre is equipped with 3D printers, thought for engineers, architects and designers, and is located in the centre of Poblenou.
A space that characterizes for its spaciousness is Betahaus (C/ Vilafranca, 7), with 2000 m2. The biggest coworking company in the city is located in Gràcia Neighbourhood, with 220 members enjoying activities and multiple meeting spaces.
One of the latest incorporations has been CREC (C/ Blesa, 27), in Poble Sec Neighbourhood. This 1000 m2 space has capacity for 90 people and offers different types of services.
Coworking spaces have a two-fold benefit: entrepreneurs can share resources and find collaboration spaces with other colleagues. The owner gets a higher profitability for the full rental of the property.
This is a working and business opportunity offered by Barcelona, a city with plenty of experience in the sector.
