This philosophy is exactly what inspired the creation of FEM coliving – a place that connects all those who want to explore and create their paths with others; all those who realized that success is much deeper than an accomplished monthly target.

Surrounded by nature and simplicity, colivers in FEM can find their inner peace and growth by sharing thoughts, skills, experiences, and stories with others. Nature is both simple and complex, and being surrounded by it can inspire us to find the same balance within ourselves.

We spoke to FEM’s founders, Joan and Elena, about their story and the creation of FEM, their beginnings, and where they take inspiration from. We hope you’ll enjoy the interview!

If you missed the previous interviews that we did, you can check them out.

How it all started

“The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself”

-Mark Caine

1. Could you tell us a bit more about you and your partner and the journey that led you to FEM Coliving?

– FEM was born from having believed the story that success is professional success and, despite having achieved some goals, realising that we were still exactly at the same point from a personal point of view.

Then, there comes a time when you realise that, perhaps, you were looking outside or in the professional field for things that are actually much deeper and are much more linked to the impact that we generate on other people, the environment, the relationships we establish…

We can say that FEM is a search for coherence and integration between our professional interests and concerns and what impact we want to generate in our environment.

We are Joan and Elena, common people with an obsession of uniting innovation and quality of life. In this sense, FEM is not just a coliving and coworking space in a rural place, but a way of doing things; more leisurely, more from the soul, with good intentions. FEM materialises in a coliving, but it could be anything that seeks to generate a positive impact on society and the environment, anything that seeks viability close to nature, respecting the rural world and supporting it whenever possible.

Joan Massó is a branding consultant and service designer born in Barcelona. He has been working as a freelancer for many years and now he is having the opportunity to do it from FEM Coliving while pushing the project forward with Elena.

Elena de Arana, also a native of Barcelona, ​​comes from the world of advertising and public relations. She is also a ski instructor, which she loves because it allows her to work in contact with both nature and people. She also had the opportunity to work on the FEM project, that they took on two years ago, with great enthusiasm.

2. When and why did you decide to open FEM Coliving? Can you tell us a bit more about the history of your place?

– FEM Coliving was born during the lockdown. Although obviously, it was already in our minds from before.

During the lockdown, we realised that changes were coming and there were two ways of taking it: in a proactive way and deciding how we wanted to live it or resigning ourselves and waiting for everything to return to normal. We decided to act.

3. Have you ever stayed in some other similar accommodation before you decided to open your own? Did you take inspiration from some places?

– When we developed the idea of FEM, we didn’t know about the concept of coliving. We realised after some weeks of working on FEM Coliving that there were similar projects that were called coliving.

4. Do you remember what was the most challenging for you when you started as a coliving?

– The biggest challenge was finding a farmhouse that met all the requirements we had. We were searching for an inspiring place, well connected and with excellent internet connection. We searched a lot and were very lucky to find La Folcrà, a beautiful farmhouse from the 14th century, surrounded by nature and, in turn, very well connected with different towns.

In addition, we share the outdoor space with Xevi, Gemma, and their little cow farm. They are one of the reasons why we decided to start the project in this location. Living close to them allows us and our colivers to learn from them. Sharing the day-to-day with them allows us and the colivers to better understand the primary sector, the culture, and the lifestyle of those who live in this rural area.

5. Have you had the opportunity to visit some other coliving places since you opened FEM Coliving?

– We haven’t visited any other coliving yet, still we are in touch with the main rural colivings in Spain, it always helps to exchange opinions and ideas with similar dreams and situations.

6. What is the story behind you choosing Spain for opening your coliving space there?

– We are from Barcelona (Spain) and we were already living in the Pyrenees!

FEM is a space where professional development is at the service of quality of life and not the other way around. We were living in this area loving the lifestyle and the fact of being in contact with nature, so we always imagined FEM being part of this beautiful place in the Pyrenees.

7. What are some advantages and disadvantages of having a coliving in a rural place?

– It’s hard to find a downside. This area gives us a lot, we have friends, beautiful mountains where we can walk, ski, ride a bike, rivers during summer, and, in addition, FEM allows us to share it with restless, creative, and open-minded people.

Plus, we are not far from Barcelona, just 1h30 by car and we also enjoy going to the city from time to time.

8. What is your relationship with other colivings in Spain?

– We have a good relationship with other rural colivings.

Management

“We have an infinite amount to learn both from nature and from each other.“

-John Glenn

9. How much are you involved in the community and daily activities at FEM Coliving? Do you consider yourself an equal part of the community?

– As we live in the same house and share the common spaces with the other colivers, we are a part of the community and have a very close and friendly relationship with everybody. After two years we can say that one of the most beautiful things that FEM gives us are all these new friendships.

10. What additional activities are included for people who stay at your place? And what approach do you practice when organizing those events?

– FEM Coliving is a space where we all learn from each other, there is a lot of knowledge exchange. An interesting activity are the workshops that the colivers organise for the other colivers.

Also, we do a lot of activities in nature like mountain biking, skiing, trekking for two or three days along the Pyrenees where we camp in the mountains, barbecues, paellas, community dinners…

Community

“Nature is the purest portal to inner-peace.“

-Angie Weiland Crosby

11. What is the profile of people who are most likely to stay at FEM Coliving?

– We have a big mix of people who work in different sectors. It is interesting because people with different skills get in touch, live together, and learn from each other. That makes FEM a place with a lot of knowledge exchange and synergies arise.

12. What is the motivation behind people choosing FEM Coliving?

– People who come to FEM Coliving are remote workers, freelancers, or entrepreneurs who want to do so from a calmer environment, surrounded by nature and other creative and innovative people who are in a similar moment in life.

In addition, a high percentage of colivers come to FEM since they are considering leaving the city and going to live in a rural area permanently, FEM is for them a bridge between the city and the countryside, a place to try living in the mountains and to get to know the area and make networks in order to settle here in the future.

13. What is the average age of people who are visiting your accommodation?

– Between 25 and 40 mostly.

14. How long do people usually stay at your place and do your visitors tend to return to your place?

– We are convinced that living and working in contact with nature improves the quality of life and, therefore, the result of our projects and the way they impact the community and the environment.

For this reason, we offer stays between 1 and 3 months of accommodation and coworking in an emblematic farmhouse in the Catalan Pyrenees with people of similar interests in a slow, creative and innovative environment.

Most of our colivers end up staying with us for 3 months and this year, our second year, we are happy to start seeing people returning to FEM.

15. Is there some trend where people from specific countries come to your place?

– Most of the people who come to FEM are locals, they come from Barcelona and other places in Spain since we address people who are considering leaving the city and settling permanently in a rural zone.

That does not mean that on many occasions we also have foreign colivers who find us and are interested in living an immersive experience in the culture and way of doing things in the area.

Although our official language is Spanish and Catalan, both Joan and I speak English and our colivers too.

16. Do you have some special offers? (For start-ups, longer stays or group bookings, etc.)

– We are committed to slow experiences, for this reason, the minimum stay time is one month and depending on the time of the year we do special offers for the people who want to stay 2 or 3 months because we believe that it is the way to truly get to know, understand and enjoy the area, the people and nature.

About the Coliving Movement

”Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is a success.”

-Henry Ford

17. Do you think that coliving is only dedicated to a specific group of people such as freelancers, digital nomads, and remote workers, or do you think there is a possibility to gain popularity beyond that group of people?

– We address people who are entrepreneurs, remote workers, and freelancers since we believe that it is important that the people who come to live together are in a similar personal situation and share certain habits so that everyone can be comfortable.

Anyways, lately, we’ve seen other ideas around coliving such as spaces for elders which we think is a nice alternative to residences, where their autonomy gets compromised.

18. Do you think coworking is a crucial component of coliving?

– Yes. Even knowing that coliving is a way of cohabiting and that there are many different options, we believe that the coworking space is an identity sign of colivings because it ensures synergies and a creative landscape.

19. One of the main selling points of colivings is the possibility to meet new people, share experiences and maybe even develop new partnerships. Is that also the situation in FEM Coliving?

– Yes, it’s very frequent that this happens. In FEM we have seen some partnerships and collaborations built up and, naturally, this happens if we take into account that very valid people with similar interests and different knowledge live together, share time and become close friends.

Obviously, if you are developing a project and you need other professionals, if you are living with one of them, you will tend to count on these professionals rather than going “outside” to search for one.

An example: some months ago we had with us Daniel, a South African coliver owning an outbound marketing company. At the same time, there was Jordi, an SEO magician, and Olga, who among other things is dedicated to copywriting. Things ended up developing in such a way that Daniel hired Jordi for the SEO of his company and Jordi ended up collaborating with Olga for the copywriting. This is what we call a circular economy, isn’t it?!

20. Do you have some examples where people who had the opportunity to meet at your place later managed to develop successful partnerships or relationships?

– For sure, a beautiful story is the one of Franco and Mariona, they met here, in FEM half a year ago, nowadays they are a beautiful couple living together in Sant Pau de Segúries, the town next to us. We are neighbors and good friends, the local Fem Coliving community grows which is one of the things we like the most.

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.

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links.  At no additional cost to you, we can earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Coliving movement

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

CoImpact Coliving – Community, ideas, and cityscaping in contemporary L’Eixample, Barcelona

• ByMarko
• June 30, 2022

The post FEM Coliving – The house of the Pyrenees, Community, and Personal Growth appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Imagine a city full of cultural wonders, international stories, rich history, and eclectic vibrations, and then having the opportunity to explore it from the famous L’ Eixample, surrounded by creatives, entrepreneurs, and people hungry for new experiences and connections.

Meet one of the founders, Gian Franco, who will tell you the story about his love for Barcelona, hosting, and their journey to creating the CoImpact Coliving space and community.

How it all started

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often”

-Winston Churchill

1. Could you tell us a bit more about you and your partner (the founders of CoImpact Coliving) and the journey that led you to Barcelona?

– We are both from abroad; I am from Perú and Gonzalo from Argentina. We met in Barcelona in Business School; we both had come here to study business.

I personally discovered my passion for hosting through Couchsurfing. Some friends and I used to host travelers from around the world in our homes in Barcelona.

We really enjoyed meeting and sharing with people from different parts of the world. It was an amazing experience.

From this experience, I realized I had the skills to be a host and do it properly. So, while still learning business skills, I decided to open a small bed and breakfast with a friend.

Later I was approached by Gonzalo, who was interested in what I was doing at my bed and breakfast and from there, we decided to get together and start Sweet Accommodations.

2. Can you tell us a bit more about the history of your place/concept? How has it changed through the years?

– We started with Sweet Accommodations, managing bed & breakfasts, private apartments, and hostels. We expanded through the years, adding units and also expanding to Seville.

During the lockdown of the pandemic, we were forced to close down our Youth Hostel in Barcelona. Instead of leaving it empty, we decided to collaborate with a local association and host homeless people. We hosted 19 people from 10 different countries from March 2020 to September 2020.

It was a great learning and grounding experience. Being able to learn about their stories and understand how any of us can find ourselves in such a situation at any moment in life. It was a tough situation for us as a company, having to stop all of our operations, but we are very glad that we were brave enough to decide to give our place free of use to people in need.

After this collaboration ended, we started thinking of ways to transform our space into something different. Tourism was still not picking up. Since we had to invest in refurnishing and refurbishing the whole space again, because the association left our hostel pretty much in ruins, we decided to convert it into a coliving.

So we can say that our place has had 3 lives: youth hostel, social hostel, and coliving.

3. Have you ever stayed in some other similar accommodation before you decided to open your own? Did you take inspiration from some places?

– I have never stayed in a coliving. I took inspiration by reading and researching colivings around the world. Particularly, I took a lot of inspiration from the Conscious Coliving Movement.

4. Do you remember what was the most difficult and challenging for you when you started as a coliving?

– When we started, in early 2021, we were coming from a very difficult year as a business focused on tourism.

At first, it was challenging to say no to tourists and travelers that wanted to stay with us but did not fit with the community we were trying to build as a coliving. It’s hard to make these types of decisions when you are not very well financially.

Looking back, I am glad we stayed true to what we wanted to build with the coliving and clearly differentiated our touristic spaces from our coliving space.

5. Is there something you wished you knew before you opened CoImpact Coliving?

– We have recently added a community manager for our space. A person in charge of building a sense of community within our guests.

In the beginning, we didn’t put so much emphasis on these tasks. Maybe I wish we would have started earlier but I also think that everything takes a natural course and we are doing very well so I cannot complain.

6. Have you had the opportunity to visit some other coliving places since you opened CoImpact Coliving?

– I have contacted a couple of coliving spaces in Barcelona since I am also trying to build relationships with them to see how we can all be stronger together. I am yet to visit their spaces.

7. If you could choose again, would you still choose Barcelona for your coliving? Why?

– Of course, I would.

First, because we already had our space in Barcelona and we know the city very well. But also because Barcelona is an amazing city for people from abroad.

It’s welcoming, multicultural, and diverse; it has beaches and mountains, and it’s an amazing city for anyone trying to live a remote work or digital nomad experience.

8. What is your relationship with other colivings in Spain?

– I am currently creating a small networking group with fellow coliving operators in Spain. We just started, so we’re a small group.

We are trying to build a collaborative relationship to strengthen the position of the whole ecosystem. Collaboration beats the competition.

Management

“The best managers figure out how to get great outcomes by setting the appropriate context, rather than by trying to control their people.“

-Reed Hastings

9. What type of management do you practice at CoImpact Coliving?

– We have extrapolated many things from our tourism experience into coliving. I would say our approach is very proactive and hands-on. We like to get to know as much about our guests as possible before they come so that we can help them enjoy their experience with us.

As managers, I would say we are very experienced and have learned how to deal with uncertain and volatile situations. The management of a coliving requires a bit less of our time than the management of our touristic accommodations.

We also give a lot of freedom to our team. We gather once a week, to put things together, gather online and offline feedback, talk about upcoming events, and so on. We deposit our trust in them and know they understand exactly the kind of experience we want to create for our guests. So in our day-to-day, we give them space and the tools and power to make decisions to solve any issues that may arise.

10. Do you think managing a coliving differs from managing other types of accommodation (like hotels, hostels, etc.)? In what way?

– Coliving guests are more conscious and respectful of the space and travel destination than most tourists (most, not all). Therefore for us, managing a coliving brings fewer worries and issues than when we were in a hostel for example.

In terms of reservations, coliving guests reserve much more in advance which is also a good thing when creating budgets and planning for the upcoming months.

My advice for any new coliving owners would be to be very thoughtful of the space design. We want to make sure people feel at home.

They will be staying with us for longer periods and mostly also working from the space. Our space has to be designed in a way that feels warm, welcoming, inspiring, and comfortable.

11. How much are you (and your staff) involved in the community and daily activities at CoImpact Coliving? Do you consider yourself an equal part of the community?

– We have staff that is an equal part of the community. Part of our staff lives at our coliving spaces, receive our guests, and make sure the space feels like home at any time given. They are our guest experience team.

Then on a second layer, we have our community manager. She is full-time taking care of events and collaborations, speaking to our guests, and organizing our guest experience team.

Then on a third layer is the management team. We are looking more into the business and strategy-related tasks.

12. What additional activities are included for people who stay at your place? And what approach do you practice when organizing these events?

– We organize 2 events a week. One focused on professional development and one with a social feel.

We try to collaborate with local entrepreneurs, spaces, and event organizers. Our events are a great opportunity to connect our guests with the local community.

We also try to search for activities that have a positive social or environmental impact, allowing our guests to give back to Barcelona and leave a positive footprint. This makes everyone feel good and positive, and we love it.

13. You have a lot of partners that offer discounts and other benefits to your colivers. Do your colivers often use these opportunities?

– Yes. Not as much as we thought they would. The collaborations are a living system. So we are always talking to guests, seeing what they do in the city, and trying to bring collaborators that bring them value.

Community

“A ship in a harbor is safe, but it is not what ships are built for.“

-John A. Shedd

14. What is the profile of people most likely to stay at CoImpact Coliving? Also, since you have two places/locations, is there any difference in the profile of people who choose Bruc and Mallorca?

– We receive mostly remote workers and digital nomads from Europe or who already reside in Europe. I would say that’s about 80%-85% of our guests at the moment.

The main difference between our 2 coliving spaces is that Bruc is shared dormitories and Mallorca private dormitories.

Also in Mallorca, the stay is a minimum of one month. The people in both spaces are very much alike. Maybe it’s a budget or preference thing that differs the most.

15. What is some common motivation behind people choosing CoImpact Coliving?

– I would say our location and our great reviews are what attract people the most.

We are in the best neighborhood in Barcelona, the Eixample, surrounded by amazing modernist architecture, it is so inspiring.

Most people who come are doing remote working or workation.

16. What is the average age of people visiting your accommodation? Again, is the average age difference between Bruc and Mallorca?

– The average age is between 25-33.

17. How long do people usually stay at CoImpact Coliving and do your visitors tend to return to your place?

– Thankfully, we have many guests returning. For being in business for less than 2 years, it’s amazing how many guests have returned and/or extended their stays with us.

The length of stay varies a lot. We have people who have stayed with us for more than 6 months and people who have stayed with us for 7 days.

18. Is there some trend where people from specific countries come to your place?

– We don’t see a particular trend. They are mostly people living in Europe but we think it’s because of the current macroeconomic and social context.

About the Coliving Movement

”Being engaged in some way for the good of the community, whatever that community, is a factor in a meaningful life.”

-Patricia Churchland

19. Do you think that coliving is only dedicated to a specific group of people such as freelancers, digital nomads, and remote workers, or do you think there is a possibility to gain popularity beyond that group of people?

– I believe we will be seeing coliving spaces dedicated to several groups of people: divorced adults; young single people, artists, social entrepreneurs, and retired adults.

Coliving is about living as a community. I believe as a society we will be turning more into community living and community sharing. Globalization is great but we want to feel belonging to a tight-knit community.

20. Do you think coworking is a crucial component of coliving?

– It’s important for sure. I don’t know how crucial. Our working spaces are very comfortable. I even work with them sometimes.

Yet for people that are in the city for less than a month, I see that they want to work in different spaces. They usually try out cafeterias and coworking spaces also to meet other people and communities. That is why we collaborate we 2 coworking spaces as well. People like to try different things.

Of course, you cannot be a coliving if you do not offer a proper working space.

21. One of the main selling points of colivings is the possibility to meet new people, share experiences, and maybe even develop new partnerships. Is that also the situation in CoImpact Coliving?

– Our events and activities are where the meeting and sharing happen. We also have a WhatsApp group where anyone that stays with us can join and look for people to join them in their own activities around the city. This works very well, people always find someone to join them on a new adventure.

I personally do not know of many partnerships that have happened at our coliving. I know some people have collaborated and worked on things together, specific tasks and collaborations. I do not know of any long-term partnerships.

22. Do you have some examples where people who had the opportunity to meet at your place later managed to develop successful partnerships or relationships?

– I know people who have met in our space and then traveled together to another destination.

I also know of people who have collaborated on a project, someone, for example, working on the design for someone else, or a person giving consultancy to another guest.

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.

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links.  At no additional cost to you, we can earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Coliving movement

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Alh’Patio – From the heart of Andalusia to the hearts of digital nomads

• ByMarko
• June 20, 2022

The post CoImpact Coliving – Community, ideas, and cityscaping in contemporary L’Eixample, Barcelona appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Be a part of an inspiring urban community located in the gorgeous Catalonian countryside, just 50 minutes distance from Barcelona. Discover nature and wilderness while growing in the vibrant society of the Valley of Montseny.

Before you book your stay, read more about the idea behind it in our interview with Roger, one of Kalart’s coliving’s founders.

How it all started

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.”

–Herman Melville

1. When and why did you decide to open a coliving space of your own?

– It was 2019, and it was more like a personal/lifestyle decision than a business-orientated one. Three partners and I wanted to live community-style in a rural area.

Therefore, we were thinking about how to make a feasible community lifestyle without it being community management, where it’s more horizontal and has much more challenges regarding any other issues.

We found out that this formula can work out pretty well.

2. Have you ever stayed in some other coliving space or any shared accommodation before you decided to open your own?

– Definitely, but not a proper coliving, although we have visited but not stayed. Two of my business partners and I were traveling around the world for two years.

We started a previous project, a retreat place that worked as a kind of rural hotel/hostel, and were hosting people who wanted to come for yoga, detox, meditation, etc.

We are very familiar with shared accommodation and the hospitality sector.

3. Do you remember beginnings and what was the most difficult for you when you started your coliving?

– Definitely. For us, the biggest challenge was to get some clients; the type of clients that we wanted and to have the capacity to filter them.

It wasn’t quite easy since we didn’t invest in marketing and promoting coliving in the first phase. Therefore, we didn’t have enough clients to filter them and decide who could stay in our place and who could not.

As I will explain later, this was a hybrid formula of coliving. Something between a coliving and a community. We wanted to know who is joining the project, even if it was only for a short period of time.

Not having enough capacity to filter and interview the people who would stay in our coliving was a little bit of a challenge.

4. Is there something that you wished you knew when you started with coliving?

– I wished we knew that we needed to do a marketing effort. We are in a rural setting that is not one of the top ten desired destinations. We are based in the rural area of Barcelona.

The market is not mature enough for this type of project. Especially, without marketing effort on PR, on media, on social networks, etc.

5. Have you had the opportunity to visit other coliving places since you opened yours?

– Not to stay, but we visited some of them, especially those on the Canary Islands.

6. What is the story behind you choosing Spain as the location for opening your coliving space?

– Well, we were born here. We are from this area, more or less.

We choose this area because it is a natural park. It is fifty minutes away from Barcelona and it already has a vibrant international community.

This place is close to a village that was receiving a lot of intellectuals in the ’80s; people from creative and cultural industries.

So it is a good location for our project.

7. What are the advantages of having coliving at a remote rural place, and are there any disadvantages?

– For us, it is all advantages.

We are interested in a type of lifestyle, that’s why we chose to open the coliving in this valley. This means we are surrounded by nature. We are in a natural park.

It is definitely very different from living in a city, for many features that change, regarding the quality of life, but we still have access to the city in fifty minutes (highway, train, or bus).

The good thing is also that we are not in a remote village. It is a special type of village, and there are only two or three like this in this whole area (Catalonian Region), and maybe ten places like this in whole Spain.

This place is a village, a sized village, but still, there are maybe 2000 inhabitants of which half of them are related to tourism and creative industries, culture industries, holistic industries. It is full of therapists, yoga teachers, artists, musicians, painters, creators, etc.

This is a very conceptual situation. It is like a hub or small cluster, and that is why we chose this particular place. Although it was difficult to set up and to find the place, it’s very competitive regarding accommodation.

Kalart community

“The artist is not a different kind of person, but every person is a different kind of artist.”

–Eric Gill

8. What is the profile of people who are most likely to stay at your place?

– We try to filter people from creative industries. We are not very interested in pure digital nomads that work eight hours in front of screens. Kalart is something between artist residency, coliving, and community.

Nowadays, we can filter people that can stay with us. They need to be aligned with our values, our vision, and a little bit of our lifestyle.

9. What is the average age of people who are visiting your accommodation?

– Between 27 and 40 years old.

10. How long do people usually stay at your place?

– We have two types of visits/accommodation.

Shorter (one to three months). Here at Kalart, we don’t host anyone less than a month, since we don’t think you can meet someone in that short period.

We are not focused on making money. We are focused on enriching ourselves, especially inner enrichment.

Growing together, meeting new people that do different stuff, learn from them, share different experiences, live this communal life. We found out that less than a month is impossible to open up, connect and make bondings.

The long term (on average from 7 to 9 months long). Some people have even stayed for a year and a half, which is the maximum.

They come here, they are in this urban exodus, mostly people who want to do a shift in their lifestyle. Try to live as entrepreneurs, a new type of career orientation. They do not want to be in this rat race anymore, 9 – 5, and they don’t want to be in a city.

We are useful to them as a platform, to try what it’s like to live in a rural area, what it is like to live in a kind of community lifestyle with plenty of activities that we do.

11. Do your visitors have the tendency to return back to your place?

– Not really. Once they come here and they like it, after some months, they usually decide to stay and move to this area.

We have what we called Kalartians, ex-visitors from Kalart, that moved to the same valley and became part of our community as well.

12. Is there some trend where people from specific countries come to your place?

– Not really. We have more national people (from Spain) than international.

13. What additional activities are included for people who stay at your coliving?

– We have many!

We do men’s circles, contact improvisations, static dance, singing circles, plenty of concerts, exhibitions, etc. Of course, we have bicycles you can take, plenty of hikes, plenty of rivers.

There are also other activities we do with the big community. As I said before, there is a big community of people of culture, of creative industries in the village, so there is always something happening.

About the Coliving Movement

”The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.”

-Dean Ornish

14. Do you think that coliving is only dedicated to a specific group of people such as freelancers, digital nomads, and startups, or do you think there is a possibility to gain popularity beyond that group of people?

– Even though we are open to freelancers and digital nomads, we are not very much focused on these profiles.

It’s a mixture, we have hosted a couple of art teachers who don’t believe in public education systems and want to change and rethink their careers and they come for that.

15. Do you think that coliving cannot exist without coworking?

– It can exist, but you need to have coworking nearby. It can be as a part of coliving or as a separate coworking that is in a partnership with the coliving.

Actually, I believe that it is even better to have coworking outside of coliving, but close and easily accessible.

16. One of the main selling points for coliving is the possibility to meet new people, share experiences and maybe even develop new partnerships. Is that really the situation?

– Yes, definitely.

To me, it is the meaning of coliving, finding like-minded people. That is why we take so much care of the process of selection. We invest a lot of time in personal interviews, questionnaires, and other selection processes.

17. Do you have some examples where people who had the opportunity to meet at your place later managed to develop successful partnerships or relationships?

– Yes, there are small projects that have grown here.

Also, we have exhibitions that have happened. Events that we have hosted just because some of the members came across.

This is even more possible if you stay longer. When you have these people for 6-9 months, there are more chances to have a bigger impact on the place where you are at.

It is not for people who are looking for a cheap place to stay and work, have fun, drink, meet other people, flirt, etc. Our colivers have a different mindset. They look for different things.

Definitely, what they look for, they can find here. They can also impact the local community through involvement in projects with town councils and other organizations nearby.

One of the interesting points of coming across different people and exchanging points of view is ending up exchanging projects and even sometimes co-funding businesses.

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 are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links.  At no additional cost for you, we can earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Coliving movement

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

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• November 18, 2021

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

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The post Kalart: a holistic coliving experience to awaken your inner creative self appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

This is in comparison if you just rent a 1-bedroom apartment with a sala, dining area, and fully functional kitchen. And nope, that does not include the expenses for your utility bills like WIFI, electricity, and gas.

Hence, coliving spaces in Barcelona are becoming more and more popular between digital nomads, students, and expats.

In this article, we’ll show you how much money you can save by choosing a coliving instead of the traditional way of living in Europe’s capital of culture.

Barcelona: An Overview

Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia and one of the largest and most populated cities in Spain.

It boasts beautiful architecture, lively parties, good food, and long beaches. People who travel and live in Barcelona also enjoy great weather all year round.

Besides all of the things mentioned above, one of the main reasons nomads like to stay long-term in Barcelona is the culture and community that can be found there.

The only downside we see here is that that kind of lifestyle can be pretty expensive. That is why it is so important to look for good deals while searching for your accommodation around the place, without compromising the quality of the living experience.

Cost of Living in Barcelona

Before we dive deep into how much you’ll save by coliving in Barcelona, let’s figure out first how much it costs to live comfortably in the city.

We will talk over different expenses you will encounter during your long-term stay.

Rent

Let’s start with rent since that is the largest expense and the one you cannot go around.

In Barcelona, you can get a nice 1-bedroom apartment from €700 to €900 per month depending on which part of the city you rent.

Barcelona is a big city, so location is an important factor. Cheaper options probably mean more need for public transportation, thus more money to get to important locations in the city.

Also, the above price range is something you will find if you know where to look. Most websites show a range of €625 for an 18 sqm studio apartment to €1700 for a 50 sqm 1-bedroom apartment. And for most of the listings, the basic utility bills are not included in these prices.

Utilities

When it comes to basic utilities such as electricity, heating, and water, be prepared to spend around €125 and €250. The cost depends on the square footage of the apartment, as well as on how much you spend.

Wifi

In today’s world, having internet access is super important. If you are a digital nomad or a remote worker, wifi will be one of the most important things to sort out.

With most rentals, the wifi is not included in the price, and it costs another €40 – €50 a month. If you are lucky, the apartment will have the wifi already installed, and you will only pay the monthly fee.

We say this because, oftentimes, if you are looking for longer stays, you will have to be the one responsible for contracting with the internet provider and setting up the wifi. This can be especially tricky since most contracts are written for 12 months.

Total

Keeping all the above in mind, the average total monthly cost of living in Barcelona would range from €865 to €1200 only for rent and utilities.

Of course, if you’re looking for longer stays, you will probably look to invest in more than just the basics.

First, if you’re working remotely, you will need a solid working area that might not be available at your accommodation. In that case, you will need to book a place in a co-working or rent an office that will add at least a few hundred euros more to your monthly costs.

Also, if you’re looking to participate in sport and leisure activities, you will have the costs of monthly memberships.

All these additional expenses that are necessary for a healthy and productive life can come up to €2500 monthly.

Having all these needs of a digital nomad in mind, the idea of the co-living concept was born. With this concept, you now have access to much more than only basics for much less money.

Coliving Barcelona

Coliving is a modern concept of renting that allows you to share a space with a community without the usual stress in renting – utility expenses, daily cleaning, furnishing the space, dividing bills, etc.

Furthermore, most coliving spaces in Barcelona give you the option to share a space with people who share the same drive, passion, and career path as you.

Since the main topic of this article is how much you would save by coliving in Barcelona, we will solely concentrate on that segment of coliving. 

If you’re interested in reading more about the benefits of coliving other than saving money, we are preparing an article that will come out in February, so be sure to leave us your email so we can let you know when it does. 

But for now, let’s focus on this, how much money can you save when you choose coliving spaces in Barcelona instead of renting the whole apartment to yourself?

Rent

Once again, we will start with renting. When you rent a private bedroom in coliving spaces in Barcelona, it will cost you a range from €600 to €1200 per month. You can go even lower if you go with a bed in a shared room.

At first glance, this may not seem any less than standard renting. However, the main difference is that renting a room in a coliving includes all those extra expenses in the price. Focused on the modern working people, the room price almost always includes other necessities for your life and work.

Let’s break those extras down.

Wifi

First, you do not have to worry about the internet since that is included in every coliving space.

Coliving spaces are primarily for digital nomads, remote workers, students, etc., all groups that need a steady internet connection in their daily lives.

As we already mentioned, in regular renting, you would have to add an extra €40 – €50 a month, were in colivings, this is already calculated into your room price.

Let’s see what else comes into this price.

Utilities

The same goes for utility costs that are already included in the price, so you do not have to think about that either.

When renting an apartment, the utility costs differ depending not only on the size of your place but also on how much you spend. In colivings, you pay your rent upfront, and there is no additional payment when the utility bills come in. It’s exactly what you paid, and you do not have to worry about it.

Cleaning Service

Cleaning service is something that you will get only in hotels or luxury apartments. If you are trying to save money, you will probably not be hiring a cleaning person for your place.

However, coliving has this service included in your price. Even if this is not necessary, it is a premium extra that adds value to the price of your room.

Working Space/Office

Furthermore, if you’re a student, freelancer, or digital nomad, you’ll most likely need a space where you can focus on your work. This place needs to have a fast internet connection, a healthy working environment, and be conducive and work-focused.

In most cases, when you are renting a regular apartment, something like this isn’t included.

Do we usually work when we’re in a hotel or small apartment, on a small desk with no one around? Most often than not, we don’t. People love working in spacious areas where they can be motivated and inspired to work. To afford something like that, you would need to rent a desk or pay for office space.

The prices for renting a desk in regular coworking spaces go from €99 to €380 on monthly basis, whereas having a private office is way more expensive and can go anywhere from €800.

Luckily, coliving spaces in Barcelona provide you with this amenity included in your monthly rent.

Having in mind that most people must work to afford traveling or nomadism, coliving spaces almost always have designated working areas with fast internet connections, office chairs, desks, and sometimes even more.

Having an office space sorted out is a huge plus, and it is worth the costs even if you rent the most expensive coliving option.

Other Amenities

Another thing to take note of is that when you live in Barcelona for more than a month, there are activities you would want to stay consistent with. You will probably want to engage in some social or sports and leisure activities so you would feel healthy and balanced.

Most traditional apartments do not have any activities or amenities included in the rental price. If you rent a place in a luxurious building complex, you might have access to their pool or a gym. However, the rent in those kinds of complexes is really high.

The above is another great example of how you can save money and make the most of your stay by choosing coliving in Barcelona instead of renting an apartment. Most places offer some additional coliving activities for their visitors. If not activities, many of them have a pool area, a gym, or a space where you can work out undisturbed. Some colivings offer free yoga classes, some offer free wine tasting classes, etc.

For example, Kalart has vegetarian meals included, yoga, and workout programs into their price. CoImpact coliving offers seminars and skills sharing activities, and Coasis has a gym and beach access included in the price, and many more activities to choose from.

Let’s take a better look by doing another round of comparisons. The average monthly membership in a gym is €35 per month, while yoga is €50 per month. Note that these memberships usually have the most basic inclusions.

With coliving, in some cases, you do not have to pay for any of that, since it is included in the price. And even if some programs or activities cost extra, as a coliver you will get special offers.

For easier perception, we created a table, where we broke down all these costs.

Coliving Options in Barcelona

This co-living lifestyle is not new to Barcelona, even the whole of Spain. You’ll see tens of options to enjoy your stay in the country.

In fact, we even wrote an article about why Spain should be your first coliving experience. It’s a booming movement in Spain since most people can find a place for themselves where their lifestyle fits and thrives.

Whether you’re a creative entrepreneur, fitness guru, or striving student, you’ll find a community in Barcelona where you can blend in. It is more than just renting. They say it gives you a sense of community where you’re inspired to be your best self.

There are even more amenities included with coliving in Barcelona apart from what we listed above. Most coliving spaces in Barcelona provide an edge that will fit your personality – gatherings, networking, seminars, memberships, and more.

It’s best to look out for a space where your personality fits the most.

Your coliving in Barcelona will not only save you time and money but also make your stay worthwhile.

Conclusion

Coliving Barcelona gives you the best of both worlds.

We showed you that you could save money by choosing coliving compared to traditional renting in Spain – even up to 60% off the usual renting expenses.

Not just that, you also get to experience more when you are coliving in Barcelona, like less stress and hassle in cleaning your whole apartment, easily meeting new friends, learning new things.

Coliving spaces have so many extra features that you would only get in luxurious stays, but for much less money and in a much friendlier and more people-focused environment.

We hope this article helped you! If you want more tips from us, you can subscribe to our newsletter. We usually post new tips about coliving in Spain every other week. 🙂

Besides that, we just recently started a new segment on our website dedicated to coliving. We are interviewing coliving owners all across Spain so you could find out more about the whole concept.

Looking forward to your next adventure!

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

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, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links.  At no additional cost for you, we can earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Coliving in Spain

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

• • Coliving Movement

List of most unique activities that coliving places in Spain offer

• ByMarko
• April 13, 2022

The post How much can you save by coliving in Barcelona appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Spain is not lacking in this either. In fact, it is one of the most progressive countries when it comes to the coliving movement.

That lets us wonder, what is the reason behind this? Why Spain is one of the pioneers in this field?

To explain that, first we need to take a deeper look into the Spanish culture.

Let’s dive in!

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links.  At no additional cost to you, we can earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Coliving culture in Spain

The first thing you realize when you come to Spain is that the flats are very big. It is common for apartments in Spain to be over 1000 square feet (or 100m²) with a lot of rooms and spacious shared areas.

The reason behind that is probably that traditionally in Spain big families used to live together under the same roof. It was not uncommon to see multiple generations living together in those big apartments. So it is not hard to understand why the coliving way of lifestyle fits into the Spanish culture.

How popular is coliving in Spain?

As we already mentioned, Spain is one of the most popular countries when it comes to coliving.

First, we have remote workers and digital nomads from Spain and other countries who are most likely to stay in this type of co-living accommodation during their nomadic journeys. They are usually looking for places to meet and hang out with people with similar mindsets.

Secondly, Spain is one of the most popular countries for all kinds of student exchanges. Many students from all across the world come to Spain to study every year. Even though in the start coliving places were leaning more towards travelers and young adults, now more and more students are choosing this as a solution for their accommodation during their schooling days in Spain.

Which cities in Spain are the most popular for coliving?

It is hard to choose just one specific part of Spain as a center of coliving because it is so popular throughout the whole country. Spain is a big and colorful country with many different regions and places that each one carries different experiences.

Some offer that crazy big-city party vibe, some act like retreats with surfing, beaches, and yoga classes, and some focus on nature and simple raw experiences. That’s why we’ll cover a couple of those that could proudly hold the title of centers of coliving in Spain.

Coliving Barcelona

Barcelona has always been one of the biggest cultural centers in the whole of Europe.

In addition to that, with its strong presence of hostels, it has already been established as one of the leaders when it comes to accommodation for working travelers.

With many people choosing Barcelona as a go-to place to spend their 20s and 30s, it is no wonder why there are so many coliving places in this Catalonian capital.

Barcelona is a vibrant and exciting city. It’s perfect to meet new people, try out new experiences and live your best life. Surrounded by cultural events, concerts, ambitious people, and a city that never sleeps, it can be a perfect next destination.

If you think you would thrive in Barcelona check our article on how you can experience it to the fullest while saving money, only by choosing coliving.

Coliving Canary Islands

A remote Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa is one of the most exotic locations in the world.

It attracts millions of tourists each year, according to statista.com, so it is a no-brainer why it is one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads all across the world. Its remote nature and beautiful beaches perfectly follow the idea of coliving.

For example, Tenerife gives you that small community vibe and an opportunity to reconnect with yourself. It’s great to slow your pace, and truly be a hedonist and enjoy every second of your day.

If this seems interesting to you and like a place you’d choose for your stay, feel free to check our newest article on why the Canary Islands are the most popular place for coliving and see if it truly matches your vibe.

Coliving in Valencia

In general, Valencia is one of the most modern cities in the whole Spain. It is filled with tons of opportunities for all groups of people.

On top of that, Valencia is one of the pioneers in the coliving movement in Spain. It is perfect for those who want to try out something new and experience coliving/coworking culture.

There are numerous coliving and coworking options all across the city, especially in Russafa and Eixample neighborhoods. Because of that, many people have already chosen Valencia as their new home.

And to be honest, we are also one of those people – or at least we are planning to be. During our last trip to Valencia, we decided to try out some of the coworking places. We wanted to see if they would be suitable for our lifestyle.

One of them, CoWorkup, stroke as a great place to work and to build community. That is especially important if you’re just moving to the city. The staff was super welcoming and invited us to their Friday hangouts. Sadly, we couldn’t go, but it was a nice thing of them. They were particularly open about wanting to make a community and connect.

Coliving in other parts of Spain

Besides Barcelona, the Canary Islands, and Valencia there are a few more coliving centers in Spain. Most of them are concentrated around larger cities like Seville and Madrid.

On top of that, there are also a lot of independent coliving places all across the country in rural locations.

Digital nomads often choose rural places because they offer an escape from everyday chaos in bigger cities. In addition, those places let them connect more with nature. Working on a laptop is often very tiring so a quiet environment provides a necessary balance to a healthy life.

The average price of coliving spaces in Spain

One of the main pillars of the coliving movement is to solve the problem of overpriced hotels and help travelers stay on their budget.

When it comes to Spain, it is hard to specify the exact price of coliving arrangements. The main reason for that is because it is a big country and standards vary from city to city.

However, based on our research and depending on the type of rooms you are looking for, prices of coliving spaces in Spain can be divided into two groups.  Coliving spaces mostly consist of dorms of 4-10 bunk beds, but also have a few private rooms. So, usually, you will have the option to choose between sharing a room with other people or going with the more private option.

Based on that, you can expect the following:

• Bed in a shared dormitory: Between $600 and $1200 per month
• Private (single) room: Between $1200 and $2500 per month

Even though these prices do not seem like a cheaper option at first glance, they often come with a lot more than just a place to sleep. So, to really put it all on paper, you need to take into consideration everything else that is included.

What else is included in that price?

The purpose of coliving is not just to provide cheaper accommodation, it is much more beyond that. This concept was built from the idea to deliver a space where visitors can meet other travelers, hang out and share ideas.

On top of that, these accommodation provide their visitors with a working space, which is another big thing that differentiates them from regular hostels. It is hard to imagine coliving without coworking.

That is why one of the first things that a coliving place needs to provide is an environment suitable for work.

Some of the amenities that can be found in many co-living accommodations in Spain are fast WiFi, meeting rooms, Skype rooms, projectors, etc. Everything that is necessary for digital nomads to continue their jobs without any problems.

Secondly, a coliving provides you a place to relax from your work, and not to feel like you are stuck in a cubical. That is why there are usually a lot of chill-out areas and outdoor spaces that can help you with that. Again, these features come from the needs of digital workers, and a need for that healthy balance between the digital and the real world is a top priority.

Finally, coliving places usually try to retain the authentic local feel by providing visitors with an opportunity to try some local food at reasonable prices.

Additional features you can get depending on coliving space

Coliving spaces can have only the basics like sleeping areas, workspaces, and shared areas to cook, relax and hang out. But often they can have extra options that bring even more value.

In fact, it’s a well-established practice for these places to provide extra activities included in the price. Usually, it is some kind of physical recreation that you can practice while staying there, such as yoga, swimming, biking, surfing, etc.

On the other hand, some try to go one step further by organizing some unusual and unique coliving activities that you can experience while staying there.

Coliving places in Spain that we’re planning to visit in 2023

Coliving Valencia – WayCo (Valencia)

The Coliving Valencia provides you with a 2-in-1 solution. Their offer includes both coliving and coworking options. During our most recent stay in Spain, we had an opportunity to experience working in one of their two coworking spaces (Wayco Abastos).

Their space was fully equipped with everything necessary for remote work, from isolated Skype rooms, different sizes of meeting rooms, fast internet, and lots of desks. You can choose between a flexible and fixed desk, as you can in most coworking spaces. On top of everything, it is really quiet and people respect that, which can be important for most people.

They also have a kitchen and a dining room where you can leave your food and share a meal with others. They also have free coffee, tea, and water for every visitor.

Besides that, they provide you with accommodation. To be more precise, boutique apartments, in some of the best neighborhoods in Valencia. Since we are planning to return to Valencia by the end of this year, we are definitely going to check their coliving spaces, too.

Sun and Co. (Xabia)

Located in Xàbia, a small coastal town in the province of Alicante, Valencia, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Sun and Co. is one of the first coliving places in this part of Europe.

It is a 19th-century house renovated with the purpose of creating space for digital nomads and other travelers alike to gather, hang out, and share ideas with people that nurture similar values.

Nine Coliving (Tenerife)

Nine Coliving is one of the many co-living spaces in beautiful Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. Based in the historic center of La Orotava, surrounded by the astonishing nature of this touristic paradise, it provides an oasis for digital workers.

Once again, it is situated in an old house restored to satisfy the needs of modern travelers. It is a perfect place for digital nomads who are looking to meet people with similar backgrounds, learn some new things, and charge their batteries in Tenerife.

Sende (Senderiz)

Sende is a countryside coworking and coliving space in northern Spain. Stationed in a small village Senderiz in the Galicia region with less than 20 inhabitants.

Protected by a range of mountains from all stresses that can be created by city life. This place consists of a few old Galician houses transformed into functional areas for coliving and coworking.

This place provides a feeling of community and gives you the opportunity to reconnect with yourself, nature, and others like yourself.

How to find coliving places in Spain?

Booking platforms for co-living spaces are definitely the easiest way to start searching, especially if you are new to this. They provide you with numerous options all in one place. Two places to start this search are Coliving.com and Anyplace.

What is the best platform for finding coliving spaces?

There are a couple of places online where you can discover places for your next trip. We would recommend Coliving.com. It is the most popular platform for finding coliving spaces online. On top of that, they have the biggest base of coliving accommodation in the world.

Why should you use Coliving.com to find a coliving place for your next trip?

First of all, each listing on the Coliving.com website is rich with all necessary information describing every single aspect of accommodation.

In addition to that, there is also information about the neighborhood and tips for local opportunities for each place listed. It is convenient to have all the information in one place because it can help you with your decision.

If you are new to this and are just looking where to start your search, we think Coliving.com is definitely the best place online to book your coliving accommodation. Because of that, we decided to partner up with Coliving.com and to offer you a 2.5% discount on your first month’s booking if you decide to book through our link.

We hope that will help you start your new adventure!

In addition, as affiliate partners, we will receive a small commission for any purchases made through our link.

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• SafetyWing – The best travel insurance for digital nomads and remote workers. It is perfect for all people who want to experience a coliving way of lifestyle.
• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

The story behind Anceu Coliving – a rural escape with strong community

• ByMarko
• January 6, 2022

• • Coliving Movement

List of most unique activities that coliving places in Spain offer

• ByMarko
• April 13, 2022

The post Why Spain should be your first coliving experience? appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.