The Rise of Shared Work Spaces: A Disruption to Urban Planning Policy?

Abstract

New models of shared work spaces have the potential to disrupt traditional employment spaces. The full implications of these new employment spaces for urban policy and planning are unclear.Drawing on a pilot study of Greater Perth and regional Western Australia, current planning policies that facilitate, or create barriers to, the success of shared work spaces are examined. Interviews with a sample of managers and users of shared work spaces are reported.Shared work spaces are emerging in regulatory voids left by outdated policy frameworks. They escape adverse policy settings by relying on the forward thinking of local regulators seeking to revitalise urban centres. The success of innovative repurposing of space brings into question the efficacy and purpose of more prescriptive land use regulations and policies.

A phenomenon in urban disruption: the emergence of Coworking Spaces in Bandung

“…Several literatures have seen the emergence of new forms of office space in accordance with the latest working styles, which are seen as ideal places to work as well as a source of social support for individual practitioners and collective group innovations as physical entitie ( Brown, 2017 ; Moriset, 2013 ; Orel and Dvouletý, 2020 ; Reichenberger, 2018 ; Schürmann, 2013 ; Thompson, 2019 ). Coworking spaces growth is a symptom of disruption to technology, markets (responsive to demand), and established regulatory mechanisms that is caused by technical developments or structural changes in periods of turmoil ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Davies et al., 2017 ; Martin, 2016 ). Apart from disrupting the market, planners and regulators are often confused about adapting to the dynamics that occur ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Nakano et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Coworking spaces growth is a symptom of disruption to technology, markets (responsive to demand), and established regulatory mechanisms that is caused by technical developments or structural changes in periods of turmoil ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Davies et al., 2017 ; Martin, 2016 ). Apart from disrupting the market, planners and regulators are often confused about adapting to the dynamics that occur ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Nakano et al., 2020 ). Therefore, most municipal policies and land use legislation have not adapted to the Coworking Spaces phenomenon that can bring legal confusion and impede initiatives ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Nakano et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Apart from disrupting the market, planners and regulators are often confused about adapting to the dynamics that occur ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Nakano et al., 2020 ). Therefore, most municipal policies and land use legislation have not adapted to the Coworking Spaces phenomenon that can bring legal confusion and impede initiatives ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Nakano et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Coworking Spaces can support job creation, wealth and increase technology transfer and innovation so that it can be recommended and integrated in public policy ( Babb et al., 2018 ; Buksh and Mouat, 2015 ; Hicks and Faulk, 2018 ; Schmidt et al., 2014 ; Schmidt and Brinks, 2017 ). However, their contribution has not been verified because the current empirical evidence is not strong yet, due to the rare regulations and unclear implementation ( Avdikos and Merkel, 2020 ; Babb et al., 2018 ; Nakano et al., 2020 ). Urban planners and regulators have usually interfered by means of zoning instruments.…”

Coworking Spaces as a Driver of the Post-Fordist City: a Tool for Building a Creative Ecosystem

“…Coworking spaces combine the CCI with places that have cultural and social settings that develop a "local buzz" that is essential for non-standardised production in terms of styles and trends (DeFillippi, 2015). Nevertheless, a local buzz and non-standardised production that is specific for coworking spaces represent a local source that might contribute to global knowledge through global pipelines (Bathelt et al ., 2004). Hence, the paper is build on the previously-mentioned empirical contributions and aims to address a research gap regarding coworking spaces as permanent and temporary work settings in boosting entrepreneurship in the sense of competitiveness (Capdevila, 2013;Suire, 2018).…”