Communal Workspaces: An Alternative to the Traditional Office

By Marla Schuchman posted in Web Design Inspiration on 18-08-2010

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Working from a stuffy office or the same corner cafe day after day can be frustratingly monotonous. If you’re feeling washed out by overpowering florescent lighting and need a boost not caused by caffeine, it’s time you looked into coworking - a growing trend of “open source” work spaces.

Coworking is uber-relevant for today’s innovation-centric work world.

The idea is simple: bring together all genres of open-minded workers in a pleasant environment; add desks, good lighting and plenty of electrical outlets; foster conversation and idea crosspollination – and there you have it, an open work space that actually makes work a bit less “workish.”

Wix Lounge

Open work spaces are gaining popularity all across the globe, providing a convivial, viable alternative for freelancers, telecommuters and cube-sharing commissioners. Interested in finding a coworking space in your neighborhood?

Hot Communal Workspaces

The Hub

London, Madrid, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Other Large Cities

With locations in over 20 cities, the Hub is a global community of open work spaces. Their membership structure allows entrepreneurs of all kinds to try the Hub on for size. Paying members get reduced-price access to the Hub’s network of consultants and professionals, as well as access to other Hubs around the world.

Wix Lounge

New York City, NY

The Wix Lounge is the newest and certainly most hip coworking space, launched just last week by Wix. Located in Manhattan, the Wix Lounge provides everything AND coffee. The decked-out space and amenities are completely free to use because, according Wix.com, the company thrives on inspiring creative individuals to do what they do best. It certainly helps when you work in a super-fly loft and are surrounded by designers and artists.

WorkBar

Boston, MA

Think the coworking atmosphere is only for web-techies and geek-o-philes? WorkBar is home to a few start-ups and app developers, plus legal, financial and photography professionals. Like many coworking spaces, WorkBar Boston is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for members’ use. Come in for a tour and you might leave with a key.

Citizen Space

San Francisco, CA

One of the oldest coworking spaces on this list, Citizen Space opened their doors in 2007. Their location in San Francisco makes them a prime campout spot for fledgling start-ups as well as media and communications consultants. Like the name implies, this space is for everyone.

Awesome Inc.

Lexington, KY

Awesome Inc. takes coworking out of the computer-based realm and into the fine arts. In addition to the desk-based coworking space, they also have studio space for artists, and an on-site gallery. All forms of media are welcome in this Kentucky open space, from oil paint to Paint Shop Pro.

Other Notable U.S. Coworking Locations:

Carrboro Creative Coworking – Carrboro, NC
IndyHall – Philadelphia, PA
Conjunctured – Austin, TX
Affinity Lab – Washington D.C.
Gangplank – Phoenix, AZ

Your city not mentioned? Check out the Coworking Wiki to find a coworking space near you.

  • Jaynawallace

    Please don't hate me for asking, but how are communal work spaces that much different than working in a cramped cubical? Instead of listening to your own co-workers banter about a project you may actually be working on, being in a communal space (with non-co-workers) affords the opportunity for even more interruptions and distractions about conversations that don't even involve you. Don't get me wrong, I understand the attraction of co-working facilities (saving on fax machines/printers/coffee/electricity/etc.) and for those who feel extremely isolated at home, it's a chance to be out among the living. But at the same time, doesn't it just encourage the exact same type of distractions that getting out of the office is supposed to alleviate?

  • http://www.i4visualmedia.co.uk essex website designers

    Awesome Inc looks awesome, hehe. I would like to go see how it is there.

    @Jayna
    I think the appeal to people of these places is infact to be around other people, who they don't know, sure we all like everyone in the office but it's nice to meet new people and interacting with them, whilst still being able to intergrate business into the equation:)
    but that's just my thoughts, maybe not^^

  • http://www.nextlevelcustomsigns.com/ outdoor signs

    Seems like the gray area between telecommuting and being on-site. Good if you don't need to deal with a team but could really be distracting since none of you would be doing the same thing.

  • http://fancycms.com FancyCMS

    Yeah these are good solutions but as for me.. in 98% of cases it's hard to implement cause office gives more discipline and makes the workflow sort of… more organized and predictable. I've been working from home withing half a year and came to the conclusion that things like tv, friends, tea, mom and many other factors kept me as far from the working as possible. I think it's applicable to the most of the people.

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