Studies of Proximity in Coworking Spaces: the Basic Conceptual Challenges

Abstract

The article aims to identify main research challenges in studying coworking spaces (CSs) within the field of economic geography. It combines the perspective of proximity economics with the growing body of papers about spatial aspects of the operations of CSs and their role in stimulating collaboration. Based on a review of literature, the author identified the characteristic features of CSs and the corresponding proximity dimensions. He further assessed the significance of various dimensions of proximity in CSs. The article reveals how various proximities differ between CSs. It also distinguished the research strands referring to the spatialities of CSs. Next, it discusses the conceptualisation and operationalisation of proximity. Then, it applied it in the micro-scalar context of coworking spaces. The paper sheds a new light on ‘real CSs’ as physical spaces of strong institutional, cognitive and social proximities. It has been argued that even if organisational proximity in CSs is taken for granted, there is a heterogeneity amongst their users.

Fostering wellbeing and satisfaction for micro-entrepreneurs: the role of coworking spaces

“…CWS are open-plan workplaces where individuals or teams of individuals can benefit from spatial resources and mediation mechanisms that support the opportunity to knit social ties (Sutherland et al, 2020), build supportive networks and ensure social support (Bianchi et al, 2018). These spaces are characterized by strong institutional, cognitive and social proximities (Micek, 2020) and contribute to knowledge creation (Bouncken et al, 2023). The CWS facilitate productivity (Sutherland et al, 2020) and individual work satisfaction through agility, knowledge and social configurations (Bouncken et al, 2020).…”

“…, 2018). These spaces are characterized by strong institutional, cognitive and social proximities (Micek, 2020) and contribute to knowledge creation (Bouncken et al. , 2023).…”

Ewolucja modelu coworkingów a struktura przestrzenna miasta na przykładzie Warszawy

“…Należy też zwrócić uwagę, że analiza czynników lokalizacji coworkingów może być uzupełniana i rozszerzana przy wykorzystaniu bezpośrednich badań ankietowych administratorów powierzchni coworkingowej . Ponadto w obliczu zidentyfikowania braku istotnego wpływu coworkingów na strukturę przestrzenną miasta w Warszawie, choć przy pewnej tendencji do wzmacniania przez nie modelu miasta monocentrycznego, można rekomendować -poza analizami porównującymi Warszawę z miastami o bardziej dojrzałym rynku nieruchomości (Mariotti, 2017;Ortega i in ., 2022) -podjęcie studiów nad relacją coworkingów z ich najbliższym otoczeniem, a także przemianami przestrzeni miejskiej w ich otoczeniu, w tym w kontekście różnych wymiarów bliskości (Micek, 2020) .…”

What Do We Know about Co-Working Spaces? Trends and Challenges Ahead

“…These three journals fall in the domain of economic geography. Consequently, in the articles published here the authors look at location patterns and the effect in the urban sphere (e.g., [14,39,40]). Somewhat in the middle are Sustainability-publishing papers that look at the business model of CWSs, are in search for sustainable practices for small and your firms, or focus their attention on the user's perspectives (co-workers) and the drivers for moving to a co-working space (e.g., [41,42])-and the Journal of Corporate Real Estate-with a preference for papers that examine the characteristics of the workspace, especially the physical and operational characteristics and how they serve the ultimate purpose of CWSs (e.g., [43]).…”