“We were working together, apart”: Shifting fundamentals of pandemic disrupted coworking environments

Abstract

This paper investigates the alterations of the coworking space model due to the disruptive nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on changes in users' well-being, productivity, and engagement in community-driven activities. Employing in-depth interviews, participant observations, and autoethnographic self-observations, the study explores the transition from a community-based work environment reliant on users' proximity to a hybrid workspace, where digitalised interactions complement users' physical presence. The findings reveal that although the digitalisation of coworking processes does not necessarily yield positive outcomes for users, implementing effective virtual environments can provide greater flexibility, maintain the interplay between well-being and productivity, and connect entrepreneurial ecosystems across regional and national boundaries. The paper’s main contribution is thus the exploration of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on coworking space dynamics and the transition towards a hybrid model that combines digital and physical presence to sustain community-oriented atmospheres and further support users' well-being and productivity.