The history of Coworking

Coworking Spaces' History Revealed: Linking Its Origins to a World Revolution

Did you know that the coworking movement had its beginnings in a shared hackerspace in Berlin in the middle of the 1990s? Since the sector grew by an impressive 30% between 2013 and 2018, the term "coworking" has come to represent a modern and inventive method of working. The fact that coworking spaces are expected to treble globally by 2025 and maybe make up 30% of all office space in the US by the end of the decade is even more astounding.

The origins of coworking date back to the middle of the 1990s.

Unexpectedly, Berlin, Germany, is where coworking spaces first appeared in 1995. At C-Base, which was established as a "hackerspace" by 17 computer specialists, the first indications of coworking first appeared. This location acted as a nonprofit hub for computer enthusiasts, providing facilities, gear, chances for collaboration, and information sharing.

In 1999, the phrase "coworking" was first used.

The word "coworking" was first used in 1999 by American game designer and "joy theorist" Bernard DeKoven. At first, he spoke about a way of functioning rather than a specific place. He unwittingly created the foundation for contemporary coworking with his desire to promote collaboration and do away with hierarchy in professional organisations.

In 2002, the first specific coworking space opened.

The "mother of coworking spaces," as it is sometimes referred to, was founded in 2002 by two Austrian businessmen. The Schraubenfabrik, is a shared workspace for architects, startups, PR consultants, and freelancers in an abandoned factory in Vienna. Later, the creators of Schraubenfabrik also started Rochuspark

In 2005, a coworking space opened in San Francisco.

Brad Neuberg unveiled the San Francisco Coworking Location in the city's Mission District on August 9, 2005. The goal of this area was to combine the autonomy of solitary work with the organisation and sense of community found in collaborative settings. Even though there were no visitors during the first month, Ray Baxter ultimately joined, ushering in a brand-new idea. The Hat Factory replaced the previous location after a year.

Impact of the Twitter Hashtag Creator in 2006

Chris Messina, who invented the Twitter hashtag, introduced The Coworking Wiki in 2006 as an open-source web tool. This project linked employees all around the world, assisting them in finding new coworking spaces and raising awareness of these places. This signalled the start of the global coworking explosion.

The number of coworking spaces and members roughly doubled during the next seven years. Many of the biggest businesses in the world got their start in coworking environments as businesses started to embrace these shared spaces. The number of coworking spaces worldwide has surpassed 19,000 just in the last few years, and this trend shows no indications of slowing down.

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(Mishra, No Broker, 2023)