Prototyping a Peripheral Coworking Space in the Post-Covid Era: Proposal for an Architectural Competition

Coworking spaces (CSs) have been demonstrating their ability to act as multifunctional, safe, and healthy hubs. Over the last decade, there has been a boom all over the world, especially in developed countries. On the contrary, developing countries still lag behind in implementing such spaces. However, coworking spaces may significantly contribute to the economic and social progress of developing countries that have been challenging several issues resulting from rapid urbanization and difficult living and working conditions, mainly in peripheral areas. The main aim of the study is to explore how coworking spaces can contribute to solving these problems in the peripheries, which can attract people after the pandemic, considering the move out of the biggest cities and the increase in employees and freelancers working remotely. Firstly, the study presents a general overview of coworking spaces in both Western Europe and Eastern Europe, including Norway, Italy, Russia, and Albania. Then, the study discusses possible scenarios for the expansion of coworking spaces in urban peripheries and peripheral areas that would be beneficial for the local communities and economy, and it would fill a void in the current provision of these service spaces throughout the territory. The study suggests designing a prototype for an educational and coworking hub that can be quickly installed in the urban peripheries. The prototype for coworking will be based on standardized construction, be easy to build in multiple locations, and include all necessary infrastructures. In order to design such a project, it would be necessary to conduct a step-by-step process of analysis of case studies, including construction methods such as containers and prefabricated elements that respond to community needs and would make the construction possible in a short time. Thus, the idea would be to create a coworking unit, or “hub”, that can be replicated in various peripheries. These types of hubs can also combine coworking and coliving functions. As a conclusion, these prototypes of “plug-in coworking spaces” could be scalable in multiple marginal areas and disadvantaged neighborhoods after the pandemic. Being spread in peripheral areas and small towns, these centers may become social catalysts and create multiple activities that can be beneficial for large groups of populations and may change living, working, and mobility patterns after the pandemic.