Today, we had the pleasure of chatting with Corinna, the co-founder of the newly established Co Co Coliving in Costa Blanca.
In our conversation, we delved into her journey, exploring the origins of Co Co Coliving and why Denia was chosen as its home base.
Discover what inspired this unique venture and the diverse community it’s attracting.
Enjoy the read!
Beginnings
“Work, love, and play are the great balance wheels of man’s being.”
-Orison Swett Marden
1. Could you share more about yourself and the journey that led to the opening of Co-Co Coliving?
Corinna: I no longer wanted to live in Germany, I used to travel a lot (before my dog Bosse came to live with us) and loved seeing new people and countries. I also don’t want to grow old in a cold country with lots of gray weather.
Of course, I also like to meet new people and interact with like-minded people. In addition, I worked in gastronomy for a long time, so I’m no stranger to hospitality. I like the idea of opening up and sharing a place that offers so much space and is in such a beautiful location for others to enjoy themselves.
My cousin – with whom I bought the house and founded the company – and I are both self-employed and digitally active. He is a programmer and I am a designer and conceptioner. This is why the idea of a co-working & co-living space wasn’t far off.
Now, after a year of renovations and a soft-opening phase, we are finally ready to open our doors to everyone in December 2023.
2. While developing Co-Co Coliving, were there specific influences or inspirations that shaped your approach and led to the creation of the space and experience you offer today?
Corinna: I always had a vision of our co-living space: it should be cozy, clean, and inviting.
You should feel right at home here and be able to let yourself go. There should always be enough corners that offer space for relaxation and creativity so that you can also be productive without being disturbed.
We have combined the influences of our house, which was built in the 80s, with modern elements. The Spanish style is complemented by a touch of Scandic.
We have created a space that invites you to relax but also to socialize.
3. What is the story behind you choosing Denia as the location of Co-Co Coliving?
Corinna: Not much of a story. Dénia has found us.
We flew to Barcelona with a list of places, rented a car, and drove down the coast to Valencia to see all the places that interested us. By chance, we ended up south in Dénia to meet friends of Marco (my cousin). We liked Dénia straight away.
Plus, it met all our criteria: Lively in winter, open supermarkets & restaurants (over 300 restaurants), etc., sea & mountains, no high-rise buildings, beautiful nature, hiking opportunities and excursion destinations nearby, 2 airports (Alicante & Valencia), lots of sun, the opportunity to do sports, nightlife,…
I could go on and on. The people here are also very friendly.
4. What sets Co-Co Coliving apart from other coliving places in Spain? What would you consider your signature or unique offering?
Corinna: Difficult to answer. But I think we offer a lot of privacy. Even if 10-12 people live here, there is enough space on the property to retreat if you want to.
We are not directly in the center (10 minutes), so we have a lot of nature and peace. The house is like a retreat with the option of action. We also only have private rooms and no dorms, and the rooms and bathrooms are very modern and new. The quality and feel-good factor is very important to us.
Management
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.”
-Thomas Merton
5. What is the management style or approach you follow at Co-Co Coliving?
Corinna: We go through an onboarding process with every new resident so that everyone lives by the same values and has all the information they need. It is important to us that you show consideration and care for your fellow residents and life together.
6. To what extent are you involved in the community and day-to-day activities at Co-Co Coliving?
Corinna: I live in the co-living space, so of course I’m also involved in the community and the activities.
However, there are no compulsory activities, we like to organize them individually with the current flatmates. We all have different daily routines, which is why a fixed schedule doesn’t fit from our point of view.
However, we offer many things and share events, markets, hikes, sports, and other activities with everyone.
7. What types of activities are offered to colivers during their stay at your coliving space, and what’s your approach to organizing them?
Corinna: We go to markets, parties, meals, bars, hiking, and sports together.
We also offer Spanish courses with a neighboring language school. In summer, we also organize diving courses and boat trips together.
We offer everything and do it together or help with the organization.
Visitors
“A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.”
-Sundar Pichai
8. What is the typical coliver profile in Co-Co Coliving (age, occupation, etc.)?
Corinna: As we are still very new to the market, this is difficult to answer.
At the moment, most of them are in their late 20s to mid-40s. The sectors are very mixed, but everyone can work remotely. Many have previously worked in marketing or an agency.
Most are active in sports (hiking, cycling, gym) and enjoy eating out.
But all of them also love to have their peace and privacy in between without any obligations.
9. What is the most common motivation for people choosing to stay at your coliving space?
Corinna: The peace and nature. And still having the option of many different activities without being in the middle of it all.
And a big point: the grey, cold, rainy weather in other places.
10. What do you think is the ideal length of stay to fully emerge in the community and experience at your place?
Corinna: From our point of view it makes sense to stay at least 2-3 weeks. More is always better. But you need a certain amount of time to arrive and Dénia and its surroundings have so much to offer that you should give yourself enough time without rushing.
11. Do you offer some special offers/discounts?
Corinna: We have a general discount for a stay of 2 weeks and extra savings for 4 weeks and longer. In addition, the 2nd person in the room only costs a small surcharge per night.
We also have theme weeks from time to time, such as nutrition coaching or stress management, which is then included in this target room. There are also yoga and fitness courses that residents can take part in from time to time.
Oh yes, and not forgetting our great outdoor kitchen with a big BBQ and bar. As we come from a catering background, we also have an extensive bar menu and bar service.
About Coliving Movement & Future
“We are all one family in the world. Building a community that empowers everyone to attain their full potential through each of us respecting each other’s dignity, rights and responsibilities makes the world a better place to live.“
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-Pope John Paul II
12. Do you believe coliving is exclusively tailored for certain groups like freelancers, digital nomads, and remote workers, or do you see it expanding to a broader audience?
Corinna: I think coliving is something for many groups apart from digital nomads/remote workers. As long as you find your perfect place with like-minded people, coliving is always a good fit.
For us, we focus on people who are also coworkers and want to enjoy the sweet life at the same time
13. What is your opinion about coworking being a crucial component of coliving?
Corinna: It doesn’t have to be, but it is an issue for us. In addition to coliving, we also offer pure coworking space. And this daily, weekly, or monthly (of course, also annually).
We also like to involve locals in our community, which makes it possible.
14. One of the main selling points of colivings is the possibility to meet new people, share experiences, and maybe even develop new partnerships. Is this something you also had in mind when opening your place?
Corinna: Yes, the exchange and getting to know each other is a big factor. If you’re not interested in other people, you can also go to a hotel or Airbnb. For us, this includes being open and respectful towards each other. Care for each other.
15. Lastly, how do you see Co-Co Coliving developing in the next few years? Do you have a vision of what it will grow into or some aspirations and goals that you’ve set for it?
Corinna: We wish for many wonderful moments, guests who come back because they feel comfortable, a community that stays in contact even outside of Co-Co. Valuable contacts in a private and professional context. So that when you think about your time here, you realize how valuable it was.
Kudos for the amazing photos used in this interview go to Mirjam Kilter for capturing these incredible moments! 📸
Secure yourself the best coliving experience
- italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that! You will find more than 3500 native speakers waiting to help you with your Spanish.
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