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Co-working seems to have become something of a buzzword in recent years.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the term or aren’t really sure what it means, the definition is quite simply, “the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment, ideas, and knowledge.”

Co-working is something that is popular here in Thailand especially in Bangkok where you will see numerous co-working spaces available in cafes, office blocks, and even in condos. In fact it is this last location that has perhaps started to play an increasingly important role when it comes to people deciding where they want to live.

We frequently hear that it is all about location, location, location but if all the properties that you like are in that very same location, then other factors, namely the facilities, are what will sway people’s thinking.

Let’s face it, when you buy or rent a condo there are some things that you expect as standard these days such as a swimming pool and gym. Developers need to offer something that is attractive and different to what is available from their competitors and other buildings. With co-working spaces in such high demand, it seems only natural for this to become a great option and something that could help to make a condo stand out from the crowd.

In Bangkok, SENA Hankyu, a joint venture between SENA Development and Japanese property giant Hankyu Realty, have exploited this high level of demand for co-working spaces and now have seven such co-working spaces in their Niche Pride Taopoon-Interchange. Not one to be out-manoeuvred by anyone, Sansiri, one of the largest property developers in Thailand, have co-working space in their Line 101 development. The target market appears to be expats although an increasing number of millennials are viewing this as an opportunity to become a “digital nomad” and set up a base in the capital.

Line 101 Sukhumvit

These co-working spaces in condos give all groups the opportunity to live in a prime location while effectively work from home albeit in a co-working environment. The idea from a developer’s point of view is to maximise the use and therefore the revenue generated from common areas. This could be these said co-working spaces or it could simply be co-kitchen rooms that are now found in some projects.

There are many that that would argue that a co-working space is essential for a modern condo, especially those in Bangkok which are close to either the BTS or MRT. In fact, such is the demand that even older properties are now looking at the potential for converting some under-utilised areas such as lounges into work spaces.

It seems hard to imagine that co-working is just a passing fad. It represents a modern way of working and proves the idea that you no longer need to be tied to a desk in an office to be able to carry out your daily work. For years, we have seen people working in coffee shops such as Starbucks and this is just an extension of the concept.

Of course, it is not only in Bangkok where this idea is popular, we also have co-working spaces here in Pattaya although the trend for having these spaces in condos doesn’t seem to have quite taken hold as yet. The rPod co-working space on Naklua Soi 16 is a prime example of how the trend is manifesting itself. This is a modern working environment that frequently attracts young entrepreneurs looking to work in a more relaxed environment.

Other spaces are available in the Magna Carta Building and then you have Anchor Co-working Space on Soi Chaiyaphruek in Jomtien.

 

by John Wiki