Comments on: What do you want from a coworking space?

By: Antonio

Antonio — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:49:10 +0000

@Peter C Ashton (since when was there a “C”?!)
Well, aside from actually having a place to go I want there to be some kind of activity there. It’s all well and good that you’ll bounce ideas off other people but are there any actual projects that people can take part of whilst there? Sorta like an afterschool club?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:40:57 +0000

I’d think even bigger: co-working spaces on one level of a building but with a good canteen-style restaurant on another (think Wagamam or Hoxton Grille but also serving coffee and snacks during the day), with a bar (possibly member only?) on another. I’d love to see changing art exhibtions built into the brief (pair up with http://www.visualforbusiness.co.uk ?)and perhaps a library too. Free wifi is a must.

Most importantly, I’d want to see parts of this used by the business community too, even if only the restaurant – getting creativity into their lives by stealth! This could be the coolest place to hang out in Birmingham and would introduce not only an additional income stream but also encourage some real interation and debate across different sectors of our city.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:42:27 +0000

Interesting thoughts here http://tinyurl.com/4ddz5r

By: Si

Si — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:26:38 +0000

A place to work, connect and chill.

Specifically, I’d like somewhere not at home where I can go and put in a good few hours coding. When I need breaks I can kick back from the laptop and have a water-cooler style chat with like-minded sorts. I’d be able to nip to the loo without packing up my laptop, drink coffee without going broke or developing a caffeine addiction, put up the odd postcard or flyer, and maybe leave some books lying around for communal perusual.

I guess the model I’m thinking of is some kind of cheap-and-dirty Googleplex for freelancers.

By: Anthony Herron

Anthony Herron — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:14:46 +0000

How about CF take out a double unit, charge for the desk per week?

I’m moving into an office at CF because I want to be around other creative companies.

It saves travelling for meetings, it’s a nice environment, you can meet people you don’t know and even have the chance to create better relationships.

It would be great (and make sense) to make CF the creative hub.

By: Jon Bounds

Jon Bounds — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:07:26 +0000

I’d like it to be as open and welcoming as possible, within reason.

The incentive is all about the other people – I can find quiet office space in my house ;) – casual events and an atmosphere of friendly industry is the real plus.

By: Pete Ashton

Pete Ashton — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:59:17 +0000

@Antonio Which is why I’m asking! What incentive would you need?

@Charlotte The exclusivity thing is an interesting conundrum regarding security, etc. If it’s open to the public then you’d need it to be staffed not to mention h&s issues, etc. If it’s members only plus guests then it’s easier to manage. Possibly. I think it’s a case of finding the balance (open to all on Fridays for example?)

By: dp

dp — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:54:41 +0000

In the future there will be mobile options. On the No. 11 bus? Well, maybe it wouldn’t have coffee… so it’s more likely to be a temporary installatio under an arch, a disused shop or home, a soon-to-be renovated factory. Just as art has been used to bring the punters to urban redevelopment sites, it won’t be long til Urban Dash set up free web-working sites in and around development projects.

By: Charlotte Carey

Charlotte Carey — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:46:53 +0000

Really good coffee/cafe, library area, a bunch of different environments e.g.: meeting rooms/quiet space/ideas lab and a slightly open to public feel – otherwise I think it would be in danger of getting a little exclusive. But yep agree with Ana ongoing exhibitions(but not KGC style).

By: Antonio

Antonio — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:45:56 +0000

Free hat!

Srsly though, I think what is most needed is an incentive to be there.

By: Dave Harte

Dave Harte — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:34:01 +0000

Interesting link to feed into your thoughts. Here’s how they’re doing it in Ireland:

http://www.coworking.ie/

Scroll down to a map of spaces in Dublin and an interesting mapping of US co-working spaces.

Dave

By: Ana MB

Ana MB — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:34:00 +0000

You’ve already mentioned the main things, free would obviously be good, but the main thing is for there to be something that will motivate people to keep coming back.

Events seem a good idea, natural place for blogmeets, perhaps small art and video events too (I’d be up for [co?]curating stuff – could have simple exhibitions too)

Something that would be really useful would be the opportunity for people to share expertise: design, booklearnin, tech skillz, PR, other kinds of advice etc.

maybe barter it! intell-ebay… brain-cycle…