ABSTRACT
The present paper investigates the location pattern of co-working spaces in Delhi which is absent in the existing body of knowledge. Delhi is a political, administrative, educational, scientific and innovation capital that accommodates many co-working spaces in India. We developed Ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to understand the associations of co-working spaces of digital labourers with other urban socio-economic, services and lifestyle variables in Delhi using secondary data for 117 coworking locations in 280 municipal wards of NCT-Delhi. Model diagnostic suggested that the GWR model provides additional information regarding geographical distribution of coworking spaces, and density of bars, median house rent, fitness centres, metro train stations, restaurants, cinemas, cafés, and creative enterprises are statistically significant parameters to estimate them. The importance of coworking spaces has increased in the post-disaster period, so this study informs public policies to benefit people and companies who choose coworking routes, and recommends urban planners, developers, and real-estate professionals to consider the proximity of creative industries in planning and developing coworking spaces in the future. Also, in the post COVID-19 period, to increase local jobs and long-term place sustainability, a localised policy intervention for coworking spaces in Delhi is highly recommended.
ABSTRACT
With the shift of the workplace to the private home in the Covid-19-pandemic, the sphere of gainful employment has more or less abruptly invaded the private sphere and has not only led to necessary adaptations in houses and flats, but has also raised new questions about the attractiveness of residential locations. Based on the results of an online survey, this paper examines the influence of home office on housing and settlement structures. Considerations of co-working spaces, another form of mobile work, are also included in the analyses. The aim of the paper is to contribute to the discussion about the attractiveness of residential locations and the consequences of mobile working for housing behaviour. The results show: Contrary to what media discussions suggest, no clear effects on location preferences or a ‘new desire for the countryside' can be identified (so far). Furthermore, there is an increased willingness to move, especially in flats that are perceived as too small;dissatisfaction with the flat is higher among respondents with little space. Co-working Spaces do not yet play a role, but respondents with a preference for flexible forms of work are considering them. © 2022 Spellerberg;licensee oekom.
ABSTRACT
Coworking has been a largely urban phenomenon although new initiatives are emerging in rural areas. Rural coworking is partly a response to the growing need for ICT, which is unevenly provided across rural areas, and partly to the social needs of freelancers and home-workers. By combining technological and social functions, coworking spaces can play key roles in the progress of a Smart Countryside, supporting digital, knowledge-based and creative entrepreneurs within rural places, thus reducing the need for extensive commuting and out-migration, particularly among younger and higher-skilled workers. As working practices evolve in the aftermath of Covid-19, these new physical spaces are expected to facilitate new network connections. Castells' Network Society provides a valuable lens through which to investigate how coworking founders and managers promote a mix of internal and external networks that might create new, and superior, entrepreneurial opportunities. The research highlights strategies to promote collaboration as well as methods of adapting to meet new demands from rural workers in a range of rural settings. As an array of different rural coworking models evolve, we also reflect on the importance of inclusivity and identity in determining their relationship with other actors in the local economy. © 2023 The Authors
ABSTRACT
Digitally enabled neighbourhood telecommuting centres (NTCs) in residential areas may have the potential to reduce the environmental burdens of transport by shortening work trips and enabling modal shifts. This paper presents the results of a Living Lab where 67 participants were given access to an NTC. Through this Living Lab, this study identifies several conditions required for an NTC to substantially reduce commuting and overall have a positive impact on sustainable travel. The results indicate that while a small group of participants who lived very close to the NTC made significant lifestyle changes and adopted more sustainable travel practices, the overall changes in the sustainability aspects of travel for most participants were minimal. The majority of the participants merely exchanged a day spent working from home for a day at the NTC, as they were only allowed to be absent from the employer’s office one day per week. Further, some participants found it difficult to work remotely due to organisational roles and workplace norms. Another factor that limited the sustainability effect of the NTC was that most participants normally commuted by train, but in a few cases travelled to the NTC by car. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, most participants were required to work exclusively from home, which proved to have both positive and negative effects on the participants’ everyday lives and well-being. The participants reported a radical shift in attitudes towards remote working during this period, which they believed could lead to remote working becoming more common after the pandemic. In this case, NTCs could possibly play an important role in enabling this shift, by remedying some of the identified drawbacks of working from home. This could in turn enable a larger reduction in commuting. In areas where more people commute by car, sustainability effects would likely be greater.