Purpose
The coworking spatial model has evolved from predominantly metropolitan settings to include more nuanced, fewer core sites in recent years. CSs have emerged in peripheral areas that enjoy privileges in terms of housing and office markets. However, there is still limited insight into the location factors driving the popularity of CSs in peripheral areas. Hence, the study aims to investigate location determinants of coworking spaces in peripheral areas with emphasis on the significance of living conditions, real market characteristics and tourism development.

Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, an urban hierarchy perspective is applied to statistically test the potential demographic, economic, infrastructural, tourism-related and real estate market factors influencing the presence of coworking spaces (CSs).

Findings
The results reveal that areas with CSs demonstrate higher housing prices, a higher influx of tourists and lower living area per inhabitant. The authors argue that CSs are attracted by a vibrant tourism sector and housing market and vice versa. Moreover, it is argued that the location factors for rural CSs partly differ from urban CSs.

Originality/value
The research has practical implications for the location decisions of corporates and operators and enhances theoretical understanding of CSs in non-urban areas and their location patterns.

The global COVID-19 pandemic fostered the relocation of remote workers and freelancers from metropolitan to non-urban areas. During the first waves of the pandemic, regional migration flows affected the local demand for flexible working spaces in non-urban regions and attracted the interest of the local stakeholders. As a result, a growing number of coworking spaces (CSs) were established in non-urban areas. Yet the scientific discussion on what determines the location of non-urban CSs remains fragmented and has not been analyzed systematically. This chapter presents a systematic literature review (PRISMA) of recent evidence (2010–2022 publication period) on the topic of location factors of CSs in non-urban (rural) areas, and it outlines the main characteristics of CSs’ locations. Analysis is performed on the macro, meso, and micro spatial scales and, in addition, the COVID-19 factor is taken into account. The results of our study indicate that since 2010, the most frequently and continuously analyzed location factors have been those at the regional (meso) level. Secondly, the micro and macro levels of analysis have increasingly gained scientific interest since 2020 but have remained under-researched. Finally, our results show a gradually increasing frequency of occurrences of the COVID-19 factor, which since 2021 has been the most discussed location factor.

The chapter deals with the changes occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic in the coworking sector. We have collected data and information from primary and secondary sources. The latter include in-depth interviews, covert participant observations and computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). We analysed the changes of the number of coworking spaces (CSs) and main mechanisms behind them. The findings reveal the relatively limited scale of decrease in the number of coworking spaces and illustrate how the pandemic outbreak influenced the effects of CS operations, especially on the real estate market. It is argued that independently-run CSs suffered the most, whereas corporate CSs with a stable core of corporate clients, central location and limited competition have been more resilient. With regard to the changes generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the most significant transformations are seen in the decreasing number of non-virtual events organised by CSs, whereas the scale of the other impacts of CSs on the local milieu decreased slightly.

Coworking spaces (CSs) have become increasingly popular as a mode and place of work, particularly in urban areas and among digital nomads. However, these spaces are also expanding in remote and attractive locations. Despite this trend, little is known about how tourism can influence the emergence of CSs. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the accommodation industry (hotels and other short-term and medium-term lodging options) and the presence of CSs in peripheral districts of Germany. By analysing both panel and longitudinal data at the district level, we found that the impact of the accommodation industry on the emergence of CSs was moderate. Using a design-thinking perspective and the breakthrough model, the study demonstrated that concepts related to work and leisure have broad applications for hotels, CSs in peripheral areas, and regional policymakers. Therefore, these stakeholders should consider making changes to their business strategies to adapt to structural changes and take advantage of the growing market potential for a resilient business.

Purpose
The study was designed to investigate the bidirectional causation between the real estate market characteristics (residential property prices/rents (including PTR), office rents) and the rise of coworking spaces (CSs) in the peripheral areas of Germany.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on the desk research, the authors constructed their own database of 1,201 CSs. The authors gathered data on the residential and office prices and rents on a district level. To identify real market differences between districts with and without CSs, the authors applied the t-test for independent samples.

Findings
The second-highest number of CSs were found to operate in the office market peripheries. This phenomenon should be explained by a search for lower office rents, which CSs seek. Most CSs in the peripheral areas of Germany were only recently established in tourist-oriented regions in the south and north of Germany. In this paper, the authors confirmed that the strength of peripheral CSs lies in the hybridity of their operations: for the majority of CSs, running a CS is a non-core business. The authors argue that the role of CSs is rather limited in attracting real estate investors and boosting the real estate market in the peripheral areas of Germany.

Practical implications
The research shows that peripheral locations are attracting CSs to significant extent. The study shows that CSs can be part of corporate real estate or workplace strategies. As the majority of peripheral CSs are located in tourism areas, the subletting of vacant spaces could be a lucrative business model for hotels, particularly in the times of pandemics. Therefore, further research should focus on the role of tourist areas in the implementation of CSs model.

Originality/value
The focus of this study (CSs in peripheral areas) is original. Additionally, applying the real estate perspective to study the location of CSs is novel as well.

The number of Coworking Spaces is growing steadily in Germany and went up from 300 in 2018 to 1.268 in May 2020. According to a study by Savills, almost 90% of all hybrid Spaces and ¾ of all Business centers were located in the seven biggest cities of Germany. The recent developments in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic have shown a significantly increasing demand for more flexible and New Working Spaces in peripheral areas.

This work investigates the structures of Coworking Spaces in Germany. Therefore, 1.121 Coworking Spaces were identified through desk research and assigned to 258 congregations with their demographic and economic data to deduct the geographical distribution of Coworking Spaces in Germany apart from the big 7 cities. To identify Coworking Spaces in peripheral areas, the data was evaluated based on statistical data. In terms of a transdisciplinary approach, the cities and congregations of the dataset were assigned regarding predefined city categories of the real estate and urbanism sector and compared with each other.

Results show that the biggest and most relevant cities for the national and international real estate office market are leading the number of Coworking Spaces in Germany. However, smaller big cities with low importance for the real estate sector are also showing a high number and seem to be attractive for Coworking Spaces. Findings indicate that Coworking Spaces are existing in peripheral areas.