Whether you’ve got a mobile office or flexible hours, co-working spaces are convenient and ideal for small teams and professionals who need somewhere other than cafes to get serious work done. Admit it, even working from the comfort of home can sometimes feel like a chore (and leave you craving human interaction).
From modest nooks to sophisticated shop houses, check out our suggestions below.
This one’s for all the geeks, nerds, inventors and entrepreneurs out there. Feel at home in this hacker community, where you’ll hang out with peeps who share your interests. Founded in 2009, the space caters to the tech crowd and plays host to events, meet-ups, presentations, workshops and movie nights.
For a resident status with a reserved desk, the monthly fee is $512. Regular members who wish to use the space for its desks, sofas and workbenches have to fork out $128, while students or start-ups with no money to their name get the reduced ‘broke member’ rate of $64.
344B King George’s Ave.
Taking over four cosy storeys in three converted shop houses, this new addition to the local co-working scene offers a naturally-lit open plan design, with custom-made furniture crafted from natural wood. Located just opposite Clarke Quay MRT, the Hive has desks, private offices and five meeting rooms, as well as pantry areas on each level and a rooftop cafe. Also, here’s a plus for frequent flyers – once you’re part of the Hive family, you get free access to any of the other facilities in Bangkok or Hong Kong.
Membership here is flexible, and they’ve got special rates for start-ups, writers, social enterprises and young entrepreneurs. Otherwise, it’s $30 per day, $500 for a one-month all-hours access, and $600 per month for more comfort and perks.
59 New Bridge Rd, 6532-2119.
All kinds of start-ups are welcome here, where you’ll be part of a community of almost 500 entrepreneurs, creatives and techies, with resources like Hub mentoring programmes, access to funding, networking events, fundraising workshops, consultants, and a whole lot more. Meeting rooms take four to eight people, and event spaces like The Lab holds 20 to 30, while The Townhall can host up to 150. Other facilities include a café, a pantry, a nap room and a shower area. Plus, for those who prefer a location in town, The Hub will soon be expanding to Cuppage Terrace in Orchard.
A starter plan comes with a monthly price tag of $85, unlimited access costs $695, and a permanent desk with all the benefits sets you back $770. As a member, you’ll even get perks like free flow Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and discounts at places like The Yoga Co and Red House Seafood.
#01-01, 128 Prinsep St.
If it’s always been your dream to work in a gorgeous shop house, this is the place for you. The multi-concept building is home to an elegant, minimalistic space that provides permanent workdesks, flexible workspots, meeting rooms, private phone booths, offices for small teams, an events space, a pantry full of goodies, printing and mailing facilities, a beer garden, a cafe, showers and changing rooms. Plus, you pretty much get unlimited access all day, everyday. Really, what more could you want?
Workspaces are available at $2,300 per month for teams of two to eight, and workdesks go for a monthly rate of $872.05. Workspots are a little more flexible, and start from $53.50 per day.
1 Keong Saik Rd, 6805-4050.
If you’re a new parent and you can’t bear the thought of leaving your chubby-cheeked cherub to go back to work, Trehaus Cowork has you covered. As the country’s first kid-friendly co-working space with childcare and learning facilities, it offers private offices, meeting rooms, dedicated desks and communal tables in the ‘adults-only zone’. For young ones, there’s the ‘play atelier’, as well as professional programs for kids of different ages to learn and play. These come at an additional cost ($15-$30), and advance bookings are required for the various time slots. Also available are indoor and outdoor event spaces, and networking opportunities with other individuals in the group.
A day pass goes for $50, while the flexi co-work starts at a monthly rate of $350, and goes up to $3,600 for a dedicated office space.
#03-01 Claymore Connect, 442 Orchard Rd.
An all-female co-working space inspired by Virginia Woolf. Dang, that sounds cool already. Don’t worry, there’s no feminist agenda here – just women business owners, freelancers, flexi-workers and professionals who want a quiet place to work in. As the first co-working space in South-East Asia dedicated solely to women, the two-storey shop house in Joo Chiat holds about 40 people, with communal worktables, permanent desks, a lounge and a meeting area.
Membership here is flexible, based on your needs and your busy schedules. Everyone gets access to fast Wi-Fi, free printing and scanning, kitchen facilities, and complimentary coffee and tea. As for price packages, a community member’s monthly fee is $50, but that can go all the way up to $600 for dedicated residents.
#02-01, 176 Joo Chiat Rd, 9002-3724.
Tucked away in a shop house in Little India, this space gives off cool Brooklyn vibes with its industrial chic design. It’s aimed at start-ups and small businesses, with an open layout offering offices, meeting rooms, conference rooms, a full pantry, customisable work areas with storage, 24/7 secure access, fiber optic Internet and an outdoor terrace. Plans for each individual per month range from $300 to $450 with varying benefits, and the day rate is $40 for limited access that includes a workstation.
60 Upper Weld Rd, 6291-2650.
