Corporate cubicle to cool cafe

Co-working spaces live up to all the hype thanks to the sense of freedom they offer

August 23, 2016 06:19 pm | Updated October 18, 2016 12:51 pm IST - Bangalore

Bhive workspace

Bhive workspace

Not a lot of people may admit it, but more than one job application has been influenced by the kind of work environment a particular establishment offers. Often overlooked in favour of other factors such as compensation and benefits, the physical characteristics of the place we spend the better part of our days in is too important to ignore. With flexible work schedules and freedom to work on the go, more people are opting to visit co-working spaces to get their jobs done.

Nestled in a cosy little lane with a café on one side and a park on the other, is the Indiranagar branch of the Bhive co-working space. Located on Double Road near the ESI hospital, the small building does not draw much attention to itself beyond the small sign the proclaims its existence.

Enter through a small door on the side of the building and the space opens up. A comfortable sofa greets visitors, doors lead off into private workspaces, meeting rooms and a pantry, and some desks and chairs occupy the remaining area. A few of these are occupied by solitary figured engrossed in their work.

Settle down at one of the hot desks strewn around the building, and it is not that different from any other office. The environment is quiet, save for some idle chatter from the common areas and the occasional clack from a foosball game in progress in the basement below. These individual spaces can be had for daily use for a small fee (a weekend offer had the rates down to Rs. 100), and offers full access to the facilities, including WiFi and the pantry, which stocks tea and coffee.

The advantage of this system is the freedom from being rooted to one spot. When bored of staring at the artwork of a tree that adorns the entryway to the space, grab a cup of tea and head upstairs to occupy the sofa under the watchful eye of Steve Jobs and his inspirational quote, or move over to the rooftop for some calm and quiet.

“Those who require a specific workspace can take a membership and have a desk allotted to them, and for larger teams, there are cabins that can be rented. The workspace can accommodate over 120 people,” says Nikhil Bhauwala, community manager at Bhive. Apart from the affordable facilities and the plug-and-play nature of the workspace, it is the networking opportunity they present that attracts people to co-working spaces. “You get to meet people from different company cultures and interact with them and learn from them. The exposure to different work styles beyond that of just a single office is a huge advantage,” says Thilak Alva, senior project manager for a media company.

The very definition of the workspace is now up for interpretation. Many entrepreneurs work from the comfort of home or turn up at their favourite café every morning, and cafés themselves are adapting to this trend. The recently-opened Dialogues café in Koramangala tries to strike a balance between the two, allowing patrons free access to the food and facilities in return for time-based charges. It is a place where people sit or sprawl over chairs and beanbags, sipping coffee and munching on snacks as they go about their work. The addition of a library means there is always plenty of light reading to occupy the time during a break from work.

The one takeaway from the co-working experience is that technology has freed most industries from the confines a cubicle. The pace at which such alternate workspaces have been embraced signal that the future is here and the keyword is freedom.

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