Coworking has become so fashionable in Spain that many companies are beginning to rent out spare desks under the coworking label. How to combat this faux-coworking movement? How to harness the power of the movement to overcome the Spanish economic crisis? How can a global movement have a local impact?
The first day of the conference addressed these questions, as well as more tangible ones, including how best to design a flexible, open workspace, with professors of architecture and the winner of an architectural competition invited to share their knowledge.
The energy of the attendees was palpable, with a high level of interaction between the audience and panelists. Ideas and definitions were challenged at every point, signalling a true strength of the Spanish scene.
During the breaks, too, coworking space operators and enthusiasts rubbed shoulders and made ties, ensuring connection and relationships long after the first day came to a close.
As the movement grows, such events serve as the glue which binds followers of the movement and lends strength to its trajectory.
'The Coworking Spain Conference is about learning. Learning and sharing. We have to create more communities where we can continue to learn and share, and coworking spaces are those places. But we also have to practice what we preach. If we (coworking space operators) ask our members to be open and unafraid of collaboration, we have to do the same,” said Max Olivia, co-founder of the Hub Madrid.
'Coworking is quite new as a concept and we're still learning about it. (This event) serves as a space where we can continually evolve it.'
As the first day of the conference came to a close, notebooks were heavy with new ideas and experiences shared, only to be added to tomorrow.
