Just a bit before our collaboration during our second Coliving Spain project initiative in the late fall of 2022, Pitaya Coliving had just opened its doors. We had the opportunity to be one of the first groups to ever experience this vibrant community in the capital of Lanzarote, so we were more than excited to come back after almost 4 years and see how it evolved.
With the interview below, we hope to show you how collaborative, honest, and intentional Pitaya’s community has grown to be (as it has been from the beginning, actually), as a direct mirror of its operator, Laura.
Being here for the second time, observing, but also listening to the story of Pitaya’s journey so far makes questioning what makes a good coliving silly – it’s the intention, the art of the community, and the love for what is being created – and Pitaya has it all.
Four years later – new stories with the same vision
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”
-Bob Marley
1. Last month, Pitaya Coliving marked its 4th anniversary. Can you tell us a bit more about
how you celebrated it??
Laura: It was actually amazing. We felt this milestone was a really important one, so we decided to celebrate it with a big party.
We also used the opportunity of our 4th anniversary to launch Pitaya merchandise for the first time. We invited an amazing artist to the coliving and worked together on a design for different pieces, including T-shirts, jumpers, hats, and tote bags. We presented the merchandise during the party, which made the celebration feel even more special.
We also had a DJ, and many friends came along to celebrate with us. The colivers who were staying at Pitaya at the time were very involved, too. They helped with the organization, made cocktails on the day, and celebrated with us.
For us, it was not just about celebrating four years of Pitaya. It was about celebrating everything that has happened here during that time: the people, the community, the friendships, and the feeling that Pitaya has become something much bigger than we first imagined.
2. What achievements, big or small, brought you the most joy in these 4 years?
Laura: I would say the biggest achievement, and the thing that brings me the most joy from running Pitaya Coliving, is the possibility of bringing something meaningful to people’s lives.
For me, it is about being able to make people happy and to create a place where they can come and feel safe, calm, and supported. A place where they can find new friendships, discover a new culture, experience a different way of living, and simply be in a peaceful environment.
Over the years, we have welcomed people who were going through very different stages in life. Some came to Pitaya after a breakup, some during a difficult moment, some while changing jobs, and others at a time when they were still figuring themselves out. Being able to support them through those moments, even in a small way, is what gives me the most joy.
Creating a space where people feel happier, more connected, and more at home is definitely what makes me proudest.
3. As an operator, do you have a specific day that you will never forget (good or bad) – perhaps a hard day that taught you a lesson, or an extraordinary, unexpected, or delightful situation in the coliving that will be forever engraved into your memories?
Laura: There are a few things that come to mind when I read this question.
The first one is not one specific day, but a moment that has happened many times over the years: when someone who has been really special to Pitaya leaves. Some people become part of the place in a way that is hard to describe. When they leave, I always have this double feeling.
On one hand, I feel very lucky that we had that person at Pitaya, and I know that their contribution will stay with us forever. On the other hand, it is also very sad, because they are leaving and you never really know when, or if, you will see them again. It is a very happy and sad moment at the same time.
What is funny is that, even after four years, this feeling has not changed. It is not something you simply get used to. You still miss people a lot when they leave.
And then, of course, the opposite feeling happens when people come back. That is honestly one of the most beautiful things. When someone returns to Pitaya, you know they are coming back because they really enjoyed the experience and because they know what to expect. It makes me incredibly happy.
But if I had to choose one very specific moment that I will never forget, it would be connected to my family, because my husband and my children are also part of this project in their own way.
When I was about to give birth to my second child, my son Diego, I was actually working at Pitaya. I was having a meeting with Ale, our community and house manager. We were sitting together in the coworking space, having a catch-up, when suddenly my water broke, and I realized that labour had started.
So my son Diego basically decided to start coming into the world while I was at Pitaya. Ale and I will never forget that moment, when I suddenly had to leave the meeting and go to the hospital because my son was about to be born.
It was unexpected, funny, intense, and very special. Definitely a Pitaya memory that will stay with me forever.
4. With the experience you have today, what piece of advice would you give to someone who is opening a coliving for the first time today?
Laura: I would say: go for it, enjoy the experience, and let others help you create the space.
When I opened Pitaya, I thought I would have to do everything on my own. But very quickly, I realized that people were extremely happy to co-create and help develop the project. Even today, after four years of running the coliving, I still co-create with our guests.
Whenever I want to do something new, I ask them for their ideas, their help, and their participation. And I always get the same reaction: people are happy to help. They are happy to be part of it, to contribute, and to collaborate.
At the end of the day, they are the ones enjoying the facilities, the community, and the activities, so it makes sense that they want to be part of shaping the experience too.
So my advice would be to allow your guests, your friends, and the people around you to help you. Coliving is a very collaborative sector and a very collaborative business, and I think we should make the most of that.
When you are building a project like this, it can feel very big if you think you are doing it alone. But you are never really on your own — you are always surrounded by a community.
5. In the coliving space, the most important question seems to be what makes a coliving successful. In your 4 years of operations, what would you say was the most important thing for Pitaya (e.g. the space, the community, the activities, something else)?
Laura: The community, 100%. No question. For me, that is the most important thing in a coliving.
Of course, the space matters. The activities matter. The surroundings matter, and so do the opportunities that the city or town around you can offer. The group of people who happen to be there at the same time also plays a big role.
But the most important thing is to create a strong, committed, and happy community. That is the key to a good coliving.
It requires a lot of work and intention. You need to actively manage the community, take care of people, encourage them to look after each other, and make sure residents feel involved and part of something. It is important to have a programme, a structure, and a well-thought-out approach to community building.
At the same time, it is just as important to give residents the space to create and enhance that community themselves. The community should not only come from the operator; it should also grow naturally from the people who are living the experience.
Over the years, what I have learned from our residents and colivers is that the people they meet are what they remember the most. More than the room, the activities, or even the island, what stays with them is the group, the friendships, and the feeling of belonging they experienced at Pitaya.
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