Pavel Bednář, Grzegorz Micek, Oliver Rafaj (p), Lukas Danko

Carles Méndez-Ortega

Coworking spaces are widely recognized as places with an increasing role for urban economics reflecting needs for flexible office spaces due to digital transformation in creative industries and other knowledge-intensive business services. Hence, the development of coworking spaces affected the urban space. However, previous studies on spatial location of coworking spaces cover cross-sectional analysis only. Therefore, our contribution’s aim is to use time series data for comparison of spatio-temporal dynamics of coworking spaces in Central European capital cities. The usage of emerging hot spot analysis in 2D and 3D dimension detect show hot spots of coworking spaces in CBDs with their diffusion on fringes of the CBD in the last five years supporting the idea of a polycentric city. The result of the study has highlighted the importance of spatio-temporal dynamics research for understanding the effect of coworking spaces on urban planning and location strategies of coworking spaces.

Amnon Frenkel (p), Tsipy Buchnik

Oliver Rafaj

In this study we examine three aspects that may have an influence on the attractiveness of coworking space for potential members : 1. The coworkers’ demographic characteristics, such as age, education, status, income, etc. 2. The cost of renting a space, as well as the variety and level of services that the coworking space provides to its members (i.e., office services, business services, and social services). 3. Characteristics of the urban environment near the coworking space (i.e., proximity to public transport, prevalence of cafés, restaurants, leisure centers, etc.,
The study was conducted in Tel Aviv, the economic and cultural capital of Israel, where there exists the largest concentration of coworking spaces in Israel. The study began shortly before the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic. 44 coworking spaces in the city that survived the pandemic period were mapped and a questionnaire was distributed among their coworkers.
Data on the characteristics of coworking spaces that referred to their location in the city, the level of the various services provided to their members and the social community activities were collected from websites that provide information about coworking spaces in Tel Aviv. Data on the features of the nearby urban environment for each of the coworking spaces, referring to the frequency of public transportation, the existence of parks, food services, restaurants, and pubs, were collected from the GIS database of the Tel Aviv Municipality. A survey carried out via an internet questionnaire was distributed to coworkers from 44 coworking spaces. 500 completed questionnaires were collected and provided data on coworker’s characteristics and their choice of the coworking spaces in which they work.
Preliminary findings show that most coworkers are young singles. Most live in Tel Aviv or in nearby cities. For most, it takes less than 30 minutes to commute to their workplace, and more than a third arrive on foot or bicycle. The workplace is a big part of their lives, so they look for the workplace to be cozy, comfortable, and a social alternative. Most coworkers are self-employed, company owners, employees, and entrepreneurs whose income is above the average wage, meaning that they are consumers with means, and they tend to consume during both leisure and work hours (restaurants, culture, fashion, etc.), and should therefore be treated as a significant purchasing power in the city.

Shifu Zhang, Carles Méndez-Ortega (p), Ilaria Mariotti

Amnon Frenkel

This paper aims to explore the location determinants of Coworking spaces (CSs) in the Chinese capital city of Beijing, by disentangling similarities and differences with the Western context. The study uses a count data model (CDM) and data from 2021 to answer three research questions: 1) Where are CSs located and what are the location determinants? 2) How does the urban structure of Beijing affect CSs' location determinants? 3) What role do (creative) specialization and variety play in CSs' location? The findings reveal that CSs in Beijing tend to be located in some specific areas, some of them promote by public authorities, and in areas with a high density of knowledge-intensive and creative industries. The urban structure of Beijing, characterized by a polycentric urban form, affects the location of CSs by creating localized hubs of activity. Furthermore, the study finds evidence that both specialization and variety are important factors in the location of CSs, with creative industries and related services having a particularly strong effect. Overall, the paper provides insights into the location determinants of CSs in Beijing and highlights the importance of understanding the particular context of the city when considering the location of CSs.