by GUI PERDRIX · Sep 23, 2019
After weeks of deep thinking, interviewing and traveling during my US coliving tour, it's time for a new version of the Cocktail. The focus will now lie on more personal sharings and thoughts (I want you to tap into my brain) and more ways to engage with ongoing coliving initiatives or topics.
The main newsletter will be sent twice a month - but no worries, the other week will be the opportunity to share one (and one only!) surprise element.
Enjoy the slurp 😋
- Gui
New JLL Report - The study shows how the total investment in multifamily rose by over 40% to €56 billion in 2018. This is just another sign of how investment is opening up in the wider co-living market. (JLL)
A Critical Coliving Analysis - Here is the Guardian's thought: “Co-housing in its purest form is about communities being in control of their housing." How can co-living led by developers be a radical alternative if it lacks the social intent of collective living? Would love your opinion. (The Guardian)
Coliving Bedly Shuts Down - 600 tenants were in shock when the NYC company closed its doors. While the leases have now been taken over by Outpost Club, the shutdown also revealed how Bedly used SROs (single room occupancy) leases, which are illegal in New York. My assumption: we will see more and more mergers and take-overs over the next years, especially for medium-sized coliving companies. (TheRealDeal)
How To Reduce The Density Feeling - From a design perspective, the challenge with coliving is how to make people feel spaciously at home while reducing individual space. Leveraging curved geometry is one way: "To be able to have high actual density but low perceived density, you need those kinds of complex, double-curve shapes." See how architects are trying to solve that challenge. (Arch Daily)
Coliving Space for Awards - One of Beijing's new concepts, the Grinding Factory 5Lmeet, made an entry in the 2019 WAN Awards. I can't wait for design-led coliving spaces to push the boundaries of inner architecture and be rewarded for it. (World Architecture News)
Facebook Opens Café - The internet giant opened a few coffee shops in the UK. The model: you get a free drink in exchange for a privacy checkup. The interesting part is how Facebook is expanding its reach into new areas. From a coliving perspective, spaces like Venn already invest in neighborhood activities - and the question is: how will coliving become part of the branded city of the future? (FastCompany)
Amazon Sells Tiny Homes - For around $30k, you are now able to buy tiny homes on Amazon. The company launched several models (guest houses, two-story homes) and is entering the real estate market. As a side-note, a new study showed how tiny houses reduce carbon footprint by up to 45% (dwell). I'm curious to see what the next step will be - modular design? Let's see whether Amazon will want to enter the Ikea market. (Business Insider)
Measuring Well-Being In Urbanism - Manchester-based landscape architect Owen Byrom launched Urban Mind, an app that lets users rate their emotional well-being within urban cities. The goal: to create feedback loops to understand what makes people feel safe, secure, and well. In other words, promoting a well-being driven urbanist approach. (Place NorthWest)
Coliving = Living Selfishly? - In this critical piece, the main argument is the following: "The co-living model creates the conditions for collective apathy to emerge. If you’re not hashing out communal responsibilities with cohabitors, you’re not doing the work required to live in a community." One principle I always share is the responsibilization of residents. Without it, community can't emerge fully. How are you dealing with it in your space? (CityMetric)
HubHaus Underwent Eviction - The coliving company, which manages 1,300 rooms in the Bay Area, had to face eviction and let its tenants go. The problem: their leases didn't end, and hence the company struggled to find them a new space. How can coliving spaces cover their downside? (SF Chronicle)
Inside The Assemblage - When in NYC, I visited The Assemblage, and was blown away by their level of intentionality. You come in, smell incense, see greens on walls, and instead of alcohol, you have the choice of 50 different elixirs. This article gives you a look inside the space. (Forbes)
An Attempt To Change NYC Rent Laws - Itkowitz wrote a piece on how and why to change rental regulations in NYC. (Itkowitz Publishing)
Future of Real Estate Report - In this publication, Cecilia Lundborg and Julie Ehrmann analyze real estate trends, from rent burden to investment opportunities, to draw conclusions on the future of housing. (Self-published)
Millenials Don't Have Friends? - According to a new Vox study, 22% of millennials say they have "no friends" and that 30% feel lonely. (Vox)
Student Housing Report - Savills published its latest report on the growth of student housing. This niche has become its own asset class, as will coliving be too. Knowing that coliving can become a graduation from student housing, the trend indicates only positive trends for the former. (Savills)
Coliving For Homeless - A new initiative, the Kansas House, is turning a motel into a coliving space for the homeless with rights for co-ownership. Other initiatives, such as Second Home in San Francisco, are trying to open up coliving spaces for recently released inmates. How can coliving be used for social integration? (The Modesto Bee)
WeWork Invests Into Casa One - The startup focusses on renting furniture to coliving and coworking brands. Why? Because one of the major pain points of growth is having the flexibility to furnish locations quickly without having the liability for furniture assets. In my opinion, initiatives such as Casa One will be a major leverage point for coliving companies' growth. (Wall Street Journal)
And One Note On WeWork - There are many articles out there on what's going to happen (or not happen) with WeWork. While I'm very critical of their survival, the question should be beyond WeWork: even if the company fails, how does it affect the coworking sector? Read this piece to find out. (Curbed)
What if the coliving experience meant so much for people they start personally identifying with your brand? In this article, I'm challenging coliving operators to think about their brand as a lifestyle brand.
(Read the whole article on Coliving Diaries)
Let me know if you're at those events,
as I'll be (among others) in London, Belgrade, Berlin & NYC!
#colivingmeetup London
Sep 24th, London (RSVP here)
#colivingmeetup Lisbon
Sep 25th, Lisbon (RSVP here)
Coliving 101 Webinar
Sep 25, online (register)
#colivingmeetup Berlin
Sep 26th, Berlin (RSVP here)
Reinventing Innovation Hubs
Oct 8, Berlin (register)
Coworking & Coliving Conference
Oct 9-11, Belgrade (register*)
Class of 2020 Conference
Nov 6-7, Berlin (register)
MIPIM Proptech
Nov 12-13, NYC (tickets)
*For the CCCSEE conference, use EARLYCODE to receive a 200€ discount.
Six months after being interviewed on Christine 's show, it was my turn to give her the favor back: enjoy an interview that Christine & I did in Los Angeles.
The last five weeks were the most inspiring, teaching, and transformational. From visiting more than 40 coliving spaces in the US to structuring the knowledge I acquired, here is what happened:
• Interviewed 95% of all major coliving spaces in the US
• Hosted NYC’s coliving gathering with all operators present
• Gave a 3-day workshop on community building (applying my learnings)
• Onboarded 7 new ambassadors for Co-Liv to host ongoing local events
• Finalized a major coliving publication (launch date: November)
• Interviewed Christine McDannell on her Coliving Code show
• Attended several events, among others the Class of 2020 NYC summit
• And learned from 10 different San Fran communes on self-organization
After a bit of silence from social media, I’m now back in Europe, hosting several events in London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, and speaking at several other ones (CCCSEE, MIPIM, and potentially Unfinished).
The next month will be about finalizing all interviews for my upcoming book, Art of Coliving, to then start the writing process. Thank you to everyone who made the time, effort, and willingness to share. It meant a lot for me, and more importantly, for the entire coliving scene.
"When you come home and a stranger sits on the couch, you will interact because it's someone important to your roommate; in coliving spaces, people should have the same feeling of intimacy."
- Noad Adler, Community Lead at UP(st)ART, on building true community
Enjoyed those news? Would love if you could send it to ONE person that would enjoy it as well. Thanks for your support!
In coliving spirit.
- Gui
The Coliving Cocktail newsletter fills you twice a month with the latest updates from the coliving industry, major content pieces, upcoming industry events, and personal insights from our founder on how to improve your user experience.
