The concept of coliving has gained traction in recent years, particularly among urban dwellers and digital nomads seeking a sense of community and flexibility in their living arrangements (Osborne, 2018). Coliving spaces offer a ready-made community, promoting social connection and reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation (Chevtaeva, 2020). This trend aligns with the emergence of a sharing culture, where the sharing of space and resources leads to a reduction in the cost of living and traveling. Additionally, coliving spaces operate on a “space as a service” business model, providing furnished spaces with staff responsible for cleaning, organizing events, and offering general assistance to residents.
The integration of coliving with coworking spaces has also become an attractive option for digital nomads, offering a sense of belonging in disconnected locations and reflecting the new meaning of home as a co-productive and co-emergent practice. This has led to the establishment of coliving spaces in inspiring destinations, targeting digital nomads and offering multiple short-term tenancies across the globe.
Understanding Coliving
Coliving, as a modern living arrangement, involves shared meals, chores, and living spaces, promoting a collaborative housing environment that supports a sharing lifestyle (Osborne, 2018). This concept gained traction around 2015, coinciding with the rise of coliving facilities, particularly in urban areas like New York City. These facilities typically offer individual leases for private rooms within shared houses, promising a more cost-effective alternative to traditional apartments. Notable developments in the evolution of coliving include the failure of the company Campus in San Francisco in 2015 due to economic challenges, as well as the subsequent rise of more sustainable practices and larger communities such as WeLive in New York and Old Oak in London in 2016, which offer micro-apartments and amenity spaces.
Definition and Concept
Coliving, as described in the literature, encompasses a modern approach to communal living where residents share not only living spaces but also meals, chores, and discussions (Osborne, 2018). This concept has gained traction in urban areas, particularly among digital nomads and remote workers, as it offers a sense of community and belonging in disconnected locations (Chevtaeva, 2020). The primary characteristics of coliving include private rooms with shared baths, kitchens, and living spaces, akin to the original boarding house model, but with a focus on creating collaborative and affordable housing options.
Furthermore, coliving spaces have been marketed as a means to reduce the cost of living and traveling, reflecting the shift in the conventional meaning of home from a private and long-term residence to a co-productive, social, and mobile space. This redefinition of home aligns with the proposition of providing a ready-made community within coliving spaces, catering to the wellbeing of digital nomads and offering them a sense of community and flexibility.
Evolution and Growth
The concept of coliving has experienced significant evolution and growth in recent years. In 2013, coliving gained popularity in San Francisco, with over 20 communal living estates in the Bay Area, emphasizing collaborative housing and a sharing lifestyle (Osborne, 2018). This trend continued to expand, with an increase in coliving facilities in New York City, leading to a rise in Google searches for the term “Coliving” beginning in 2015. Companies like Common began offering individual leases in shared houses, providing more affordable housing options compared to traditional apartments.
Furthermore, the failure of Campus in San Francisco in 2015 highlighted the volatility in cost operations, posing challenges to current developers. Despite this, larger marketed communities like WeLive in New York opened in 2016, offering micro-apartments or full studio apartments supplemented with amenity spaces. This evolution reflects the growing demand for coliving spaces, particularly among digital nomads, who seek a sense of community, belonging, and cost-effective living arrangements (Chevtaeva, 2020). The development of coliving spaces has thus responded to the changing labor conditions and redefined the conventional meaning of home, making it a co-productive and co-emergent practice.
Benefits of Coliving in Travel
Community Building
Community building is at the core of coliving experiences, as it creates a sense of belonging and facilitates connections among travelers. Coliving spaces, such as those offered by Common and WeLive, aim to foster collaborative and sharing lifestyles, providing individual leases in shared houses with access to community amenities. The culture of sharing within these communities not only reduces the cost of living and traveling but also contributes to the wellbeing of digital nomads by providing a ready-made community and easy access to meeting people and events (Osborne, 2018).
Moreover, the rise of coliving facilities in popular destinations like San Francisco and New York reflects the growing appeal of this model, despite past challenges faced by some companies. The establishment of coliving spaces has been a market response to the labor conditions crisis, offering a new meaning of home through multiple short-term tenancies across the globe, home-as-work, and home as a social network (Chevtaeva, 2020). This emphasis on community building in coliving spaces significantly influences the travel experiences of individuals, shaping their interactions and overall sense of fulfillment during their stays.
Cost Efficiency
Cost efficiency is a key advantage of coliving in the context of travel experiences. Coliving spaces offer shared resources, amenities, and accommodation arrangements, contributing to reduced travel expenditure. For instance, companies like Common provide individual leases in shared houses, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional apartments. Additionally, the culture of sharing within coliving communities leads to a reduction in the overall cost of living and traveling, making it an attractive option for digital nomads and travelers. This financial advantage aligns with the market response to the labor conditions crisis, where coliving spaces aim to provide a productive, social, and mobile living environment, ultimately impacting the conventional meaning of home (Chevtaeva, 2020).
Moreover, the history of coliving has seen both successful and unsuccessful ventures, indicating volatility in the cost of operations of this model. While some larger scale communities like WeLive in New York and Old Oak in London have opened with micro-apartments or studio apartments supplemented with amenity spaces, challenges related to the economic viability of coliving businesses have also been observed (Osborne, 2018). These insights underline the complex interplay of cost efficiency, shared resources, and economic sustainability within the coliving model, particularly in the context of travel experiences.
Cultural Immersion
Cultural immersion is a key component of coliving that enhances travelers’ experiences by allowing them to engage with local cultures, traditions, and lifestyles. This immersive encounter enables travelers to develop a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences between cultures, leading to a realization that fundamental human needs, such as joy, peace, and happiness, are universal. According to Onosu (2021) (Onosu, 2021), participants in cultural immersion experiences often undergo a transformation process, learning to let go of preconceived expectations and embracing unexpected situations, which ultimately leads to a greater appreciation of diverse cultures and a sense of shared humanity. Additionally, Chevtaeva (2020) (Chevtaeva, 2020) highlights the importance of the first impression and the energy of a place, particularly in coworking and coliving spaces, as it significantly influences the digital nomad experience. This underscores the value of offline impressions in evaluating the people and atmosphere of a coliving space during travel, ultimately contributing to the overall cultural immersion and travel experience.
Future Trends and Implications
In considering the future trends and implications of coliving on travel, it is important to note the evolving nature of the digital nomad community and their distinct travel experiences. Research by (Chevtaeva, 2020) highlights the significance of the first impression and the community vibe in coliving spaces, emphasizing the value placed on offline impressions and the influence of the community on the travel experience. Moreover, the study identifies the importance of coworking and coliving spaces in providing local tips and information, serving as unique tourism information centers, thus potentially becoming attractions for destinations. Additionally, (Ivanova, 2017) emphasizes the need for the tourism industry to identify unutilized capacity related to tourists or destinations and to create unique experiences for consumers. This aligns with the potential for coliving to offer new forms of collaborative consumption and extend conventional supply and demand methods in tourism, reflecting the evolving landscape of travel experiences.
In conclusion, the impact of coliving on travel experiences is significant, particularly for digital nomads and individuals seeking a sense of community in urban spaces. The emergence of coliving spaces addresses the widespread feeling of loneliness and isolation by providing a ready-made community and a sense of belonging in densely populated areas (Osborne, 2018). Additionally, the sharing of space in coliving facilities fosters a sharing culture and encourages social connection, which is highly valued by digital nomads during their travel experiences (Chevtaeva, 2020). The convenience, community sense, and local tips provided by coliving spaces contribute to their attractiveness as destinations and serve as unique tourism information centers, further highlighting their impact on travel experiences.
Overall, the trend of coliving is influenced by the increasing costs of living and the need for social connection, making it an important consideration for individuals seeking affordable, community-oriented living arrangements, especially in urban areas. As coliving continues to gain traction, understanding its impact on travel experiences becomes increasingly significant for both travelers and the tourism industry.