Choose Your Co-Working Space: The Best Non-Office Offices to Get Work Done
It’s the perfect setup. You’ve got your finances and ideas ready, you’ve got your big idea. You’re ready to devote a little more time on growing your passion and turning that hobby into something profitable. Most people call it a side hustle, or a passion project, but to you, it’s much more than that. You want to earn, and you’re sure you can do it if you just follow through on your Big Idea.
But the question is, where are you supposed to work? Where does your sock-puppet, fair trade coffee, or floral service empire begin to grow? Home isn’t going to cut it, because, let’s face it, the second you sit down and try to work, you think of a million other things you should be doing or thinking. All the other youths are already holed up in your local coffee chain taking up the wifi and sockets.
Let us introduce to you the magic of a co-working space. Think of it as your temporary studio or office, providing you with a clean, well-lit place to work without the interruption of parking, having to order food or competing for space with the other millennials hustling for their dreams. It’s your office, but only for as long as you need it. Choose the space that feels most comfortable to you, and the work is sure to follow.
O2 Space Makati
The aesthetic: rustic and homey, with a lot of natural light
You’re pretty handy with a paintbrush or calligraphy pen, and your classmates, relatives and friends are always asking you to calligraph something for them, or paint/design their invites. You may even be looking to supply craft stores with products bearing your paintings. O2 Space is the perfect place for a budding artist/entrepreneur to grow. The Makati spot’s signature arch window brings in a lot of natural light to the space, and if you don’t mind having other people working around you, then this could double as your temporary studio. And with the Amorsolo Street address, it’s far enough from the main thoroughfare that it doesn’t feel crowded. Take advantage of their virtual office services to receive samples or products from suppliers, or even register your office address there.
Unit 330 Milelong Building, Amorsolo Street, Makati City; tel. no. (02) 317 6677; (Instagram) @o2spacesolutions
The Office Project
The aesthetic: Quirky and energetic, but still a place to get your work done
The cool thing about The Office Project is that it just looks like a fun place to work—so much that the yellow, green and wood interiors may be the constant subject of your new business’ future Instagram posts. Choose this place if you’re the kind of person who’s starting to work on a freelance basis online, like copywriting or as a virtual assistant to corporations in and out of the country. The fun interiors make the dull work a little less dull, and with the Narrative Coffee Company giving a steady caffeine supply, co-working at the Office Project feels less like a project and more like a field trip.
G/F Alpha Salcedo Condominum, Bautista Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City; e-mail [email protected]
Warehouse Eight
The aesthetic: Pinterested, industrial chic
If you choose to work here, it’s impossible not to see the potential events that you can hold in this place. You appreciate the cool mix of simple interiors with a large warehouse. Warehouse Eight looks like a great place to hold events for larger groups, like company workshops, small bazaars or even small productions. It’s a great place to grow your events ideas. Their actual single-person office spaces and virtual services are not that bad either.
Warehouse 8-A, La Fuerza Plaza, 2241 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City; e-mail [email protected]; (Instagram) @warehouseeight
Diligence Café
The aesthetic: Your college org room
Of course, not all passion projects are business-related. If you lean towards more academic pursuits, then you may be more suited to take your work to Diligence Café on Katipunan Avenue. Where coffee shops would have closed on you when you cram for a deadline, Diligence takes a different approach. It’s basically everything a student needs to finish that project, to write that paper or achieve their dreams. Use their nap services to schedule your sleep time or their showers when you urgently need it. It’s work, but it’s graded work, which can be just as stressful.
Elizabeth Hall, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City; (Instagram) @diligencecafe
Launchpad Coworking
The aesthetic: Chill and industrial, with a special love for murals
So your idea still needs some work and research. But you do know that you need a place outside your house to focus and bring that idea to reality. You’re going to need more than a usual space to work—there’s printing, faxing, scanning and copying, a secretarial service to handle your inquiries and the help of an accountant and a lawyer. Launchpad looks like the kind of office you could mesh perfectly with your lifestyle—with proximity to shopping centers and fitness centers and a convenience store for those late nights.
Unit 214-215, 2/F Commercenter, Commerce Avenue corner Filinvest Alabang and East Asia Drive, Filinvest Avenue, Muntinlupa City; e-mail [email protected]
_Studio
Your aesthetic: Modern minimalist, and a huge fan of Helvetica
Calling all freelance web designers, digital graphic designers and type artists, we’ve found the co-working space for you! A Space’s newest offering _Studio at the Fort delivers on an open minimalist aesthetic, with a lot of natural light so that you don’t feel the glare of your computer screen as much. It’s a great place to build a digital empire. When you find yourself buried in work, you can take a quick walk out to the balcony/zen garden to re-center yourself.
Fort Strip corner 20th Street and 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; (02) 846-0856; (Instagram) @aspacemanila
A Space Makati + Cebu
The aesthetic: Classy and creative but still professional
This is it. You’ve got your big idea, you’ve got your registrations, suppliers and everything in order. All you need is an actual office to work in. A Space’s compact offices are a great place to set-up home base, if you haven’t got the budget to take in a full space right away. You’re sure to be in good company with the other startups working next door, and the mall-adjacent address makes you accessible, and your business right in the thick of it. When you feel stressed and overwhelmed, take a moment to lounge on a swing or play a little foosball. Starting your own empire has never been this much fun.
110 Legazpi Street, Makati City; tel. no. (02) 846-856; (Instagram) @aspacemanila
