In the era of rising globalization, technological advancements (e.g., ICT), and the aftermath of the 2008 global economic crisis, working is becoming less dependent on distance, time, and space. With the increasing number of freelance and independent workers, more flexible working styles are emerging. The present paper aims to study the effect of coworking spaces (CSs) on coworkers’ (CWs) level of well-being and life satisfaction; in other words, to explore the factors that may affect their well-being at such flexible, collaborative workplaces. To conduct an empirical study, we sent an online questionnaire to the CWs working in 549 CSs in Italy; 324 coworkers responded to the survey (as of January 2018). By means of descriptive statistics and econometric analyses, the paper discusses some of the main factors affecting CWs’ perceived well-being: social proximity and sense of community (trust and new friendship), organizational proximity, and the positive effects of CSs on the urban context; on the other hand, gender, educational level, age and revenues growth do not show any impact. The paper concludes by suggesting possible policy implications and introducing further research lines.

This paper investigates the changes in neighbourhood attractiveness during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020) compared to the year before in 2019 in the city of Milan. Central neighbourhoods recorded a drop in users from -63% to -47%, while the peripheral areas showed a relatively steady presence during the day. Indeed, remote working and the fear of public transport led to rethinking commuting and re-value working close to home. Semi-peripheral and peripheral neighbourhoods have gained a renewed role in attracting remote workers, and coworking spaces represent a valuable alternative for those willing to improve work-life balance through near working. Within this context, the paper aims to:(i) measure the presence of remote workers at the neighbourhood level; (ii) explore the accessibility to coworking spaces within 15 minutes of walking and cycling distance; (iii) focus on three peripheral neighbourhoods which show the lowest number of city users loss, do not host CSs, and present different levels of essential services and access to subway stations. The three cases are explored to understand whether they are considered feasible locations for hosting a neighbourhood coworking space. The change of the city users' presence in the Milan neighbourhoods in 2019-2020 is analysed using «TIM Big Data – Data Visual Insight», which includes the presence and mobility of the TIM mobile network’s users.

Coworking space is predominantly an urban phenomenon. Nevertheless, in the last few years, peripheral and rural areas are becoming attractive for this typology of new working spaces, but the literature on this topic is scant. The current paper aims to fill this gap by reviewing the studies on this issue and discussing the renewed role of coworking spaces in peripheral and rural areas during the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on Italy. Moreover, a detailed and updated picture of the increasing number of coworking spaces in 2018-2020 in the Italian Inner Areas and rural areas is provided. Finally, some case studies of peripheral and rural coworking spaces are presented, followed by conclusions and further research.

Shares the first outcomes of international and multidisciplinary research projects on innovative workplaces
Introduces an original investigative methodology
Presents multiple informative case studies
Discusses policy and planning tools to address challenges

With a rising globalization of the economy and society, the digital transformation, and the economic downturn started in 2008, working is becoming less dependent on distance, location, and time. These are some of the reasons that have fostered the development and diffusion of new working spaces like coworking spaces. The paper aims at exploring the location determinants of coworking spaces, an issue that has been less developed by the literature up to now. By focusing on the 549 coworking spaces located in Italy at the year 2018, the paper investigates the location factors of such workplaces, and the attractiveness of large cities as well as peripheral areas. The results of the descriptive statistics and the econometric analysis (a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial model is applied) confirm that coworking is mainly an urban phenomenon, since coworking spaces tend to be knowledge-intensive places for creative people. Specifically, the municipalities showing higher innovation and entrepreneurial environment (i.e. major cities) are preferred locations. Besides, it is discussed whether coworking spaces may contribute to fostering the development of peripheral and inner areas in Italy, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic where the share of teleworkers outside metropolitan areas has massively increased.

This introduction chapter briefly discusses the main focus of the book on the phenomenon of new workplaces (also known as “third places,” “flexible spaces,” and “collaborative spaces”), with a focus on coworking spaces and maker spaces, which is defined as permanent or temporary spaces for working. At the same time, they enable collaboration, mutual learning, knowledge sharing, as well as social and spatial relationships among users. It then highlights the importance of the book in sharing the findings of several international and multidisciplinary research projects concerning coworking spaces and maker spaces as paradigmatic of a shift in the new geography of working and making. Furthermore, this chapter outlines the structure of this edited book in four main parts: (i) Phenomena; (ii) Actors; (iii) Places; and (iv) Agenda. It then underlines that this book is designed for an international audience; it is useful not only for the academic world (in Urban Planning, Urban and Regional Economics, Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, Architectural and Urban Design) but also for policymakers, civil and entrepreneurial associations, and business operators.

The present chapter explores the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the several typologies of coworking spaces considering the existing business models (profit and non-profit making); besides a discussion is developed about whether and how the “nature” of these working spaces has been undermined by the pandemic, and which measures have been undertaken by the coworking managers to confront the during and after the pandemic situations. The paper reports the description of three webinar interviews with coworking managers and policy makers and argues the possibilities of re-thinking the during- and post-pandemic coworking spaces. In addition, future trends for the coworking business model and its location dynamics are discussed, and policy implications aiming to face the rise of remote working are put forward.

Coworking space is an urban phenomenon, but it is interesting to explore their potential diffusion in non-core areas because of the positive direct and indirect effects that it can produce (direct effects on the coworkers and indirect effects on the urban environment and planning). This chapter aims to fill the gap in the literature on the effects of coworking spaces (CSs). By conducting an empirical study, the “indirect” effects of CSs on the urban context in Italy are explored, with a focus on pole and non-pole areas, as defined in Italy by the National Strategy for Inner Areas (Strategia Nazionale per le Aree Interne—SNAI). The empirical study is based on an online survey addressed to coworkers (CWs) of the 549 CSs located in Italy (as of January 2018): 326 CWs from 118 CSs have responded. The data are then elaborated by means of descriptive statistics and econometric analysis (propensity score matching/counterfactual). This geographical focus will allow us to understand whether and how CSs may be beneficial also to non-pole areas by promoting: entrepreneurial milieu; knowledge creation by retaining knowledge workers; and the creative class, social inclusion, and spatial regeneration. The findings suggest implications for policymakers and opens new avenues for further research.

The concluding chapter outlines the main findings of the book concerning the analysis and discussion of new workplaces, specifically, CSs and MSs, in different geographical contexts, by: (i) providing definitions, exploring their typologies, users, and location factors; (ii) investigating the effects on the local context; (iii) exploring urban planning and policies. Several case studies in Europe (Italy, UK, and France) and in the USA have been explored. The results show that the phenomenon is mainly urban, but even suburban and peripheral areas are becoming attractive to new working spaces. Although the book is concerned about the period before the Covid-19 pandemic, this chapter opens the discourse towards the immediate and future effects of the pandemic on the geography of work and new working spaces and suggests new avenues for future research.

The Globalization and World City Research Network classifies global cities according to their connectivity through advanced producer service activities. Recent studies have suggested there is scope to develop a new classification of cities based on advanced logistics services. Within this framework, the aim of this paper is twofold: (i) to develop an interlocking Logistics Global Network for advanced logistics in Europe and measure the Logistics Global Network Connectivity (LGNC) of the host cities; (ii) to explore the variables explaining each the cities' score on the LGNC. The aim is achieved by means of a mixed methodological approach based on Taylor's Interlocking Network Model and via econometric analysis through Ordinary Least Square regression (OLS).

This chapter investigates the relationship between port cities and world cities. On the basis of an interlocking network for advanced logistics at European level, the study investigates: a) the attractiveness of cities/regions with a seaport to the location of the largest global third-party logistics (3PL) providers; and b) the correlation between the logistics connectivity (LGNC) of port cities and the physical distance between these port cities and nearby world cities. The econometric analysis highlights that in the case of port cities located very far from world cities they can concentrate advanced logistics function thanks to the impact of variable specialized knowledge centres (transport hubs). In contrast, if there is a world city nearby, it tends to ‘suck up’ the advanced logistics functions. The results suggest that in the case of port cities where advanced logistics has been sucked up by nearby world cities, a collaborative strategy can allow preferential access to skills not directly present, with positive effects for the core activities of both types of city.

Since the mid-2000s, the rising phenomenon of coworking spaces (CSs) has provided a flexible and mainly affordable solution for freelancers, entrepreneurs, small firms and start-ups, which may had experienced the issues of isolation when working from home, to work in a shared workplace, interact, socialize and share knowledge. This article explores the phenomenon of CSs within the theoretical framework of proximity measures a là Boschma (2005) - cognitive, organisational, social and institutional - that underpin the aspects of innovation, interaction and knowledge exchange. Though some studies on CSs have indirectly studied the different aspects of proximity, only a few of them focused on the importance of proximity measures at the workspace. With the aim to fill the gap in the literature, an empirical study was applied to Italy with 549 active CSs in 2018. The data was collected through an on-line questionnaire, addressed to a sample of 326 coworkers, focusing mainly on the set of questions devoted to understanding whether coworkers have exploited the proximity typologies in their CSs, have experienced increases in their revenues and well-being. The results are critically discussed, and some insights on policy implications are proposed.

The late 2000s witnessed a wide diffusion of innovative workplaces, named coworking spaces, designed to host creative people and entrepreneurs: the coworkers. Sharing the same space may provide a collaborative community to those kinds of workers who otherwise would not enjoy the relational component associated with a traditional corporate office. Coworking spaces can bring several benefits to freelancers and independent workers, such as knowledge transfer, informal exchange, cooperation, and forms of horizontal interaction with others, as well as business opportunities. Moreover, additional effects may concern the urban context: from community building, with the subsequent creation of social streets, and the improvement of the surrounding public space, to a wider urban revitalization, both from an economic and spatial point of view. These “indirect” effects are neglected by the literature, which mainly focuses on the positive impact on the workers’ performance. The present paper aimed to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the effects of coworking spaces in Italy on the local context, devoting particular attention to the relation with social streets. To reach this goal, the answers (236) to an on-line questionnaire addressed to coworkers were analysed. The results showed that three quarters of the coworkers reported a positive impact of coworking on the urban and local context, where 10 out of 100 coworking spaces developed and/or participated in social streets located in Italian cities, but also in the suburban and peripheral areas.

The phenomenon of coworking spaces has drawn particular attention by scholars only since the mid 2010s, and little is known about its effects on the urban context and more specifically on its role in fostering local communities. Within this context, the present paper provides an insight into coworking spaces in Italy, exploring their role in promoting local communities. To reach this goal, the results of a survey addressed to coworkers - those working in the coworking spaces - are presented and it is explored whether the proximity measures a là Boschma, which coworkers have experienced inside the coworking, play a role in improving both the local context and the development/ strengthening of local communities, and the working context through fostering the 'sense of community'.