Guest editorial: Co-working spaces after COVID-19. The differences between sharing office spaces in urban cores and peripheral locations

Born in the mid-2000s, the concept of co-working was originally presented as a solution for saving space, time, and money. Co-working spaces are a product of the sharing economy, one in which self-employed, freelancers, start-uppers, or more recently even companies can optimise shared and innovative working spaces. It is more than a simple economic solution; it is a vision that perceives the working area as a place to get in touch with different realities and recreate a small ecosystem where skills and talents can converge. The initial concept of co-working entailed the possibility to interact and create new synergies with other co-workers, and to avoid the isolation caused by working from home.

Co-working spaces also usually offer a series of other services like adequately equipped meeting and conference rooms, reception, coffee shops or a shared kitchen, and events, in larger and more complex places, they might even include gyms and other different types of spaces for relaxation or services.