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With a long track record in other countries, the residential model in which leisure spaces are shared and ‘networking’ is encouraged between residents, the “Coliving”, attracts foreign companies that want to expand in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

The interest for C0living, grows among young people in their 30s, many of them entrepreneurs or linked to creative professions. Coliving is a new style of living that attracts a tenant profile who seeks the privacy of a room with a bathroom but, at the same time, shares spaces with other residents of the building. 

  • In the gym, living rooms, and dining room you can enjoy moments of leisure and can forge friendly relationships.
  • In the workspaces collaborations, contacts, and new business projects are favored.

Projects in other countries such as England and the United States are popular, and now, coliving is gaining momentum in Spain, where this residential formula, in which you pay a monthly rent with the right to use your private space and access to common services, is becoming well-known. Coliving can be something similar to a university dorm, but with more facilities and addressed to professionals who are looking for a different lifestyle.

Madrid and Barcelona are the main cities, in which coliving companies, which have important expansion plans in Spain, land. One of them is Urban Campus, founded in Paris by Jonh Van Oost in 2016, an entrepreneur with years of experience in the real estate sector and investing in start-ups. A few weeks ago the company closed a financing round for seven million euros, a capital that will reinforce its growth in Europe. Madrid was the first European city where Urban Campus began its operations. Urban Camps already manages two complete buildings (120 units), located in the Argüelles and Malasaña neighborhoods. The spaces stand out for their colorful, functional, and optimized design, with monthly prices ranging between 700 and 1,600 euros. These rates include a room with its own bathroom, studio or apartments, WiFi, Netflix, cleaning service, and access to common spaces such as kitchen, dining room, terrace, and gym…  In a few minutes, the new tenant can formalize the renting process through their in-house developed platform, and move into their new residence for the desired period.

Professional diversity

The head of operations of the company in Spain, Ana Martínez, explains that “the tenant profile is between 27 and 40 years old and they are self-employed, employed by large corporations or professionals with experience who are studying an executive master’s degree ”. This professional diversity is sought after. “We not only want to offer them a different experience on a personal level, but we also care about their personal development. We encourage networking among our clients which, on occasions, leads to new entrepreneurial projects ”, explains the manager. As a result of these professional relationships during the confinement, five projects arose. One of them, Martínez explains, is Copper Dating, a quick video dating app, launched by two residents of the Urban Campus. The company is already looking for new locations in other cities, such as Barcelona and Valencia, to reach 2,500 beds in two years.

Urban Campus Coliving in Expansión

 

Detachment from property

New lifestyles, the rise of remote work by so-called digital nomads, and especially detachment from property among young people are the main reasons that Damien Harburguer sees in the growing demand for this residential model. This entrepreneur, of Argentine origin, launched Flipco last year, together with his partner Gabriel Honoré. “We are heading towards a new housing paradigm, especially among the younger generations. They feel very comfortable prioritizing use over property, ”argues the entrepreneur. If the coliving sector matures in the coming years, Harburguer sees a future in which changing homes or cities will be easier and more flexible, “without investment in furniture, or high guarantees, deposits or complex contracts” , defends. The firm already has several apartments available in the Madrid neighborhood of Tetuán, with rents ranging between 400 and 830 euros, which give the right to services such as cleaning, gym, WiFi, and a workspace. Some buildings have roof terraces to relax at the end of the day. The company will gradually add new locations in the capital thanks to the agreement reached with the Israeli fund Argis. “Our partner has invested 50 million euros in acquiring, renovating, and equipping new properties that we will take care of managing,” explains Harburguer. The new offer will be located in Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands.

Urban Campus Malasaña Madrid Coliving lounge

Urban Campus Malasaña Coliving Lounge

Buy to grow

For Habyt, a firm born in Berlin in 2017, the Spanish market is also strategic. The injection of two million euros received in February helped it to acquire the Madrid-based coliving operator Erasmo’s Room, an operation with which it now has 500 beds, carried out months after its first purchase in the capital last year. The flats are located in different buildings, all of them located in central areas of the city such as Gran Vía, La Latina, Chueca, or Malasaña. Habyt has more than 1,000 units in Europe. “Southern Europe is a huge opportunity for us and this is where we want to continue studying new purchases to compete in this sector ”, highlights Edoard Archetti, the company’s marketing director.

On the other side of the Atlantic

Starcity is another of the foreign players making their way in Spain. Created in San Francisco, the cradle of global entrepreneurship, the company has raised more than 70 million dollars in financing (58 million euros). He landed in Barcelona in early 2020 at the hands of Esteve Almirall. After spending a few years in the US and seeing the possibilities of this residential model, he assembled the Starcity team for the expansion of the company in Spain, which currently has 150 beds in three buildings in Barcelona. “In May we will open the first building in Madrid in the Tetuán neighborhood, an area that we see with great possibilities because it offers quality housing at reasonable prices, within the M30”, says Almirall, director of Starcity for Spain. The company offers prices between 500 and 900 euros per month with services included. “One of our values ​​is that we buy and manage the buildings. This is how we control the entire process of work, with a very careful design and furniture ”, he explains.

What about the future?

Almirall sees a future residential panorama where these shared homes will have more and more weight, “being a business where large real estate companies will enter”. A scenario shared by Juan Manuel Pardo, director of the residential sector of the consulting firm JLL, who once again recalls the impossibility of the majority of young people to access a home that they own and as this shared option “adapts very well to their demands ”. Labor mobility is, according to Pardo, another factor that will favor the rise of coliving. “The INE assures that 12% of Spanish workers have changed municipalities in recent years, another indicator that reflects the opportunities of this formula as an option for a temporary residence until the place is achieved. suitable for the definitive one ”. And, like most emerging businesses, regulation takes longer to arrive. The JLL manager believes that a law that regulates coliving is essential, “since it would speed up the implementation of the model and its better adaptation to the needs that society demands today,” he argues.

You can read the full article in Spanish here.

An aeroponic garden project by our Community

UPDATE: Read El Confidencial Digital new article about Mizuku as a new startup created from the collaborative synergies among our coliving residents.

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What makes Urban Campus special is definitely our community of professional and restless minds looking to grow and collaborate with one another, working together to create new projects and launch new initiatives. 

Today, we want to talk about “Mizuku”, a project that has been evolving since the COVID quarantine in our second Coliving space, Malasaña Madrid Coliving

Yukari Isawa, and  Max Wolter, came together to develop this project with the aim of growing plants through aeroponic & hydroponic techniques, which enable the plants to grow faster and stronger. Yukari & Max have been developing this project in our Malasaña Madrid Coliving space’s common areas.
Their ultimate business goal is to launch a subscription service to rent aeroponic devices and a mobile app to control these so users – who won’t need to have previous botanic knowledge or skills- can grow plants in their own living rooms. We wanted to know more about this admirable and visionary project, to show how easy it is to plant and grow vegetables for your own consumption using a sustainable & smart method. Keep reading to discover how you can avoid buying products that don’t specify traceability or growing practices!

What is your project about?

Mizuku is about the creation of a device and a mobile App that gives anyone the power to grow their own organic, healthy & fresh food at home, right in their kitchen. Many people are not aware that even food that is labelled ‘bio’ in the EU can be contaminated by dozens of chemical products. Our vision is a future where plants can be grown naturally by anyone, without prior knowledge thanks to our high tech integrations. 

What does ‘Mizuku’ mean?

It comes from the Japanese words Mizu(水) which means ‘water’ & Ku (Kuu)(空) which stands for ‘Air/Sky’ or ‘emptiness’ in the Zen concept.

Can you explain what ‘Hydroponics & ’‘Aeroponics’ mean?

Aeroponics derives from aquaponics, where the word for ‘water’ (aqua) is replaced with the word ‘air’ (aero). Aquaponics is a method where plants grow their roots directly in the water, thus, eliminating the need to grow them in soil. It’s quite a simple & reliable way to grow plants, and provides similar results to normal cultures. As the name implies, for aeroponics, the roots will be hanging directly in the air. Plants are able to absorb nutrients through a fine mist that is sprayed into the air regularly to keep the environment moist. 

Due to the sophisticated nature of the technology, a lot can go wrong. Nevertheless, once you get it right, you are rewarded with plants that grow twice as fast and almost twice as big, the food will be twice as nutrient-rich as well.

How was this project created?

One of our fellow colivers put up a water-mist device on the balcony during some of the hottest days of last summer. This reminded me (Max) of the research I put into the topic a few years ago. As I was between projects and wanted to relax for a few months before jumping into the next venture, I thought it would be a nice hobby project to spend my time on. It also struck me as an interesting time to start the project; in cities, it’s difficult to know where your food comes from and whether it is really healthy. With the increased focus on local communities due to the pandemic, it seemed like a good way to provide people with a healthy alternative to supermarkets.

How has Urban Campus helped you develop this project?

First of all, we wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for Urban Campus and also the coliving concept makes it easier to collaborate and start a project together. We also had the chance to grow our plants in the common spaces, which was really helpful for us, we could immediately start the project. 

Furthermore, this is not only about space. The corner of the office gave us a showroom to exhibit our project, a few colivers have supported our project by adding their own ideas from various professional perspectives and experiences, such as working as an electronic engineer and growing plants as a hobby.  If we had just grown these plants in our own place, we would not have been able to count on the kind of support we needed to keep developing the project in the right direction.

What else can Urban Campus do to help this project?

Urban Campus not only has space, but also a great community consisting of people from different professions, cultures & backgrounds. It would be great to expose our project to the whole community to get more advice from different perspectives.

Where do you see Mizuku in 1 year?

I imagine we will at least have a big hydroponic/aeroponic garden somewhere, that provides plenty for us and our friends. We would also like to offer our garden to the Urban Campus coworking & coliving community.  Ideally, we will also have sufficient knowledge to have a prototype that is on the right track for commercialization.

If you are interested in nature, sustainability and looking to be part of a fantastic international community of professionals, don’t wait another minute, apply to our coliving & coworking spaces in Madrid.

Mejores restaurantes “tropicales” de Madrid - Houdinis

“A good restaurant is like a vacation; it transports you, and it becomes a lot more than just about the food.– Philip Rosenthal

If you’ve ever walked the streets of Madrid, you know they’re known for their unmistakable, vibrant energy.

A city in constant motion. There’s a bar or restaurant for anyone’s taste. Plazas and parks full of wandering visitors (don’t forget about the opportunistic pigeons!). Vintage shops with throwback sweatshirts and eye-catching prices. Trendy cafés with eclectic decorations. Beautiful buildings with charming balconies. Museums with some of the best art in the world. Street artists, book shops, jaw-dropping historical monuments, each with its own story to tell. All of this, under a deep blue sky in a sun-drenched capital city.

Madrid definitively has a magnetic force, pulling you in with its welcoming arms and cradling truly wonderful memories. Read on to hear what the Urban Campus Community has to say about their favourite bars and restaurants in the city that has us all mesmerized.

1. Pez Tortilla (Calle Pez 36)

To kick off our list, we must mention one of our favourite spots in Madrid: Pez Tortilla

Located in the heart of the trendy Malasaña neighbourhood and 5 minutes away from our Urban Campus Malasaña Madrid Coliving, Pez Tortilla is one of our community’s favourite tortilla bars. It guarantees a great variety of Spanish potato tortillas & fresh craft beer.   

Our Community’s top tortilla recommendations are Parmesan with dry tomato and Arugula tortilla or the Classic with Onions. 

We recommend you get there early as this well-known spot tends to fill up quickly!

Pez Tortilla is also located in Sol and La Latina neighbourhoods.

TOP 12 Madrid Restaurants

 

2. Graciana Empanadas Argentinas (Calle Noviciado 9)

If you are ever looking for some typical Argentinean empanadas, then Graciana is definitely the place you are looking for. 

As a recommendation from a few of our Jerónimo Madrid Coworking members, this empanadas place is a few meters away from our Malasaña Coliving and offers a wide range of both vegetarian and meat options. 

Our community’s pick? The Spinach & Ricotta empanada.

An ideal option for nostalgic Argentineans.

TOP 12 Madrid Restaurants

 

3. Tiki Taco (Calle Guzmán el Bueno 69)  

As our community states: “What’s not to love? Really tasty tacos and quesadillas, good service and fantastic value for money.” 

Tiki Taco is a delicious Mexican restaurant located right next to our Urban Campus Mellado Coliving and going for lunch there has become a weekly tradition for our community. You can count on finding members from our coliving space there every Tuesday chowing down on spicy tacos and cheesy quesadillas.

Their top picks: tacos suadero, carnitas & chilorio, and a quesadillas al pastor.

TIKI TAKO - Guzman el Bueno | SrPerro, la guía para animales urbanos.

 

4. Yatai Market (Calle del Dr Cortezo, 10)

For those of you who love Asian food in all its glory, then Yatai Market is your go-to

A small yet trendy market in the center of Madrid where you’ll be able to satisfy your foodie cravings with sushi, ramen, woks, rice bowls and drinks. 

The market is made up of 12 food stalls, each offering a more mouth-watering option than the next.

Our community highly recommends this place because it’s “delicious and cheap” and because of its “nice vibe during evenings and nights”.

TOP 12 Madrid Restaurants

 

5. Alcaravea (Calle Cea Bermúdez 38)

If what you’re looking for is a more local food alternative, dinner at Alcaravea will undoubtedly satisfy your whim for some authentic Spanish cuisine.

Located just around the corner from our Urban Campus Mellado Coliving, they offer amazing food for moderate prices and great service. 

The menu includes a wide variety of dishes from different areas of Spain. From the classic “Huevos Rotos” to delicious“Grilled Octopus with Mashed Potatoes”. 

Alcaravea is a franchise with 3 other restaurants in Chamberí, Salamanca & Alcalá de Henares.

Día de la Madre: Poneos las botas en Alcaravea | Lifestyle | EL MUNDO

 
6. Cafetería HD (Calle de Guzmán el Bueno, 67, 28015 Madrid)

Any burger lovers out there? This is for you!

Cafetería HD is a popular spot that pays tribute to Madrid’s history by preserving its original design while adding a bit of some cosmopolitan flair.

Located in the Chamberí neighbourhood, it’s just one block away from our Urban Campus Mellado Coliving.

According to a few community members, you will find the BEST burgers in Madrid. What they can do between two black beer bread buns and 180 grams of beef is truly magical. Our community’s pick: The Grandburger.

They also offer great breakfast and brunch options for early birds and veggie options too!

Cafetería HD is part of Grupo LaMusa who also run a few other great restaurants around town like Ojalá or La Musa which just happen to be two of our favourites too!

TOP 12 des bars et restaurants de Madrid - Par la communauté Urban Campus 8

7. Zielou (Ático de la Estación de Chamartín)

If what you are looking for is more than just the usual restaurant experience, then Zielou is quite probably what you’re looking for!

In the North of Madrid, at the top of the Chamartin metro station, this restaurant offers a ‘sense-challenging’ experience to customers with flashy, gourmet-like dishes that will blow your mind… and your taste buds. 

Zielou also offers magic shows and dancing performances over dinner to add some spice to the whole experience.

One of our Coliving residents even mentioned that he asked for table decorations when he booked. 

This place is definitively worth the trip.

TOP 12 des bars et restaurants de Madrid - Par la communauté Urban Campus 9

8. Massart (Calle de Isaac Peral 2)

Who doesn’t love pizza? But wait, what about Belgian Pizza?

Massart is rated by some of our community members as ‘The Best Pizza in Town’ and at a very affordable price.

One of them describes it as: perfect ratio of crust-cheese-tomato sauce, a rich and flavourful tomato sauce, and some incredible toppings combinations make this restaurant a ‘must’ for Italian pizza lovers. 

Massart, with its modern brick wall design, is located in the Moncloa district.

Our Community’s pick? The Spianata Special Pizza with spicy sausage and Grana Padano cheese. Even Italians (or Belgians?) would be jealous of a slice of this pizza!

TOP 12 Madrid Restaurants

 

9. Dim Sum Market (Calle del Príncipe 19)

If Asian food holds a place in your heart, this is another must.

Dim Sum Market is very near to our Urban Campus Jerónimo Coworking in the centre of Madrid and is the perfect place to stop in and have a cheap, delicious oriental snack.

Discovered by a few of our Coworking members, this restaurant is a great option for an easy lunch when walking around the city center

Our top choice: Pork Dumplings and finish with the Duck Pad Thai. Your appetite will be more than satisfied, we guarantee it!

TOP 12 Madrid Restaurants

 

10. Mazál Bagels (Calle Alonso Cano 30)

We all know New York is known worldwide for its Bagel mastery and tradition, but we just happen to know of a place that is putting Madrid on the Bagel lovers’ radar.

Mazál Bagels offers delicious New York-style bagels. These are not your average bagels, Mazál boils and bakes them after a 12h fermentation period to give them their unique softness and unmistakable flavour. 

They offer the usual bagel flavours like plain or Onion, and also added in some special flavours like Cinnamon Brown Sugar, Garlic Herb or Four Cheese. 

Feeling like a bagel sandwich? You can also order a Salmon bagel, Avocado Bagel, or go for our community’s favourite: The NY Style Pastrami Bagel.

This Bagel joint is just 20 minutes away from our Urban Campus Mellado Coliving and our residents love to go there on the weekend for Sunday brunch.

TOP 12 Madrid Restaurants

 

11. Chinaski Lavapiés (Calle Salitre 38) 

Is beer your jam? Don’t miss out on Chinaski!

They serve high-quality barrel craft beer for all palates and preferences. 

Their beer catalogue rotates to offer beers from top local brands. And, it doesn’t stop there, they’re also constantly changing their menu to include beer from the rest of the world too, like Belgium, Germany, Great Britain or the USA, to mention a few.

Located in the alternative and multicultural centric neighbourhood of Lavapiés, Chinaski is hosted in a building from 1890’s and is decorated with wall & ceiling paintings by artist Mariano Durante.

Definitely, a great after-work place to meet up with friends and enjoy some fresh and cold beer.

TOP 12 Madrid Restaurants

 
12. Panoramic RIU Hotel Rooftop (Calle Gran Vía 84)

In Madrid, there is a famous saying: “De Madrid al Cielo” (From Madrid to heaven). Well, we could say this rooftop flips the phrase to “Del Cielo a Madrid” (From heaven to Madrid) with its incredible 360 panoramic views in the centre of Madrid. Make the climb to the top and admire the entire city from one of the tallest buildings in Madrid, 100m to be precise!

This RIU Hotel rooftop also has a bar that offers some amazing cocktails to enjoy while taking in the breathtaking views.

We recommend you take a look at Fever’s experience packages to take advantage of great prices.

For the daredevils out there, this rooftop also has a unique glass bridge in which you can see straight down… to the bottom Definitely not for those afraid of heights!

 

So, which of these restaurants and bars have you visited already?

Join our community and discover what other hidden gems Madrid has in store for you.

 

Pic Sources:

  • https://madriddiferente.com/plan-d/mas-que-tortillas-pez-tortilla-latina/
  • https://madriddiferente.com/tiendas/conde-duque-tiendas/graciana-empanadas-muy-argentinas/
  • https://www.srperro.com/tiki-tako-guzman-el-bueno/
  • https://conelmorrofino.com/yatai-market-madrid/
  • https://www.elmundo.es/album/yodona/lifestyle/2019/04/30/5cc1af7621efa0c05f8b462d_11.html
  • https://grupolamusa.com/cafeteria-hd/
  • https://modernoycastizo.es/zielou-restaurante-estacion-chamartin/
  • https://www.privateaser.es/local/11936-massart-pizza-moncloa
  • https://madriddiferente.com/restaurantes/centro/dim-sum-market-comida-callejera-cantonesa-en-pleno-centro/
  • https://www.traveler.es/gastronomia/articulos/mazal-bagels-pasteleria-madrid/17551
  • https://www.salir.com/chinaski-lavapies-madrid-neg-128720.html
  • https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/viajar/nos-gusta/terraza-panoramica-del-hotel-riu-plaza-espana-con-vistas-madrid/
  • https://www.atrapalo.com/houdinis/mejores-restaurantes-tropicales-de-madrid/

Press Release: Urban Campus raises €7M From Nexity and Batipart to accelerate its development

  • Urban Campus designs and manages coliving and multifamily residences in Europe on behalf of institutional investors. 
  • The company announces that it completed a €7M funding round with Nexity and Batipart to expand into new markets.

Paris 8 April 2021,

Urban Campus,  which designs and manages coliving and multifamily residences in Europe on behalf of institutional investors, announces that it completed a €7M funding round with Nexity and Batipart to accelerate its development.

Urban Campus manages 2 residences in Madrid and has a robust pipeline of more than 30 projects in key European cities. The company developed its proprietary technology platform, Dunbar, which is at the core of its operations. Dunbar has a resident-centric interface, optimizes all key residential processes, and enables community management applications.

John van Oost, Urban Campus’ CEO said «We wish to warmly thank Nexity and Batipart for their confidence and support. Both organizations understand the attractiveness of the booming build-to-rent (BTR) sector and the uniqueness of our technology platform. They share our ambition and objective to deliver an enriched residential experience to tenants whilst optimizing the financial returns for institutional investors.»

«Nexity continues to support Urban Campus with whom we collaborate on a number of large coliving and BTR projects in France, Italy, and Germany,»  said Fabrice Aubert, Nexity’s Secretary-General. «We strongly believe in the development of the residential rental market and its value proposition, both for the residents and for investors, with access to common spaces and high-quality services as well as, positive social interactions.»

«Batipart is delighted to participate in Urban Campus’ funding round. We were impressed by the experience that Urban Campus gained in Madrid for the last 3 years and its unique technology platform. We want to support Urban Campus as it accelerates its growth», said Louis Bayon, Batipart’s Managing Director.

Urban Campus was advised by Laurent Camilli at Clearwater International and Pierre-Alexandre Kahn at Weil Gotshal & Menges.

About Nexity

With more than 11,000 employees and €4.9 billion in revenue in 2020, Nexity is France’s leading integrated real estate group, with a nationwide presence and business operations in all areas of real estate development and services for individuals, companies, and local authorities.

Our services platform is designed to serve all our clients as their real estate needs evolve. Firmly committed to focusing on people and how they are connected with each other, their cities, and the environment, Nexity was named the number-one low-carbon project owner in France among real estate developers ranked by BBCA in 2020, is a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI) and obtained Great Place to Work certification in 2020.

Nexity is listed on the SRD, Euronext’s Compartment A, and the SBF 120.

About Batipart

Family group founded by Charles Ruggieri in 1988, Batipart invests in and develops projects in the real estate, hotel, and tourism sectors in Europe, Africa, and North America.

In Europe, the Batipart group is active in 7 countries – Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, and Luxembourg – through its offices based in Luxembourg, Paris, Toulouse, Madrid, and Milan. Its European assets represent €4 billion under management.

In Africa, Batipart is a hotel operator and investor, with more than 20 hotels owned and managed, representing over 700 employees in more than 15 countries.

In North America, Batipart is a real estate investor and operator in Canada and the United States, in partnership and through Cogir Immobilier. With nearly €5 billion in assets under management, COGIR owns 700,000m² of commercial, industrial, and office properties, as well as retirement homes, and employs 3,500 people in Canada and the United States.

Press mentions:

 

 

Urban Campus contributed to the newest edition of “Coliving Insights, Co-Tech: Innovating Coliving with Technology” , magazine.

Our article explains how we have created a differential rental experience through Dunbar, our in-house developed digital platform. We also explore why we believe Coliving Operators should invest in technology.

This edition includes 140+ pages of insights from 25+ contributors that dive deep into the significance of technology solutions that we find within the real estate industry, and explore how to integrate them to innovate and enhance your coliving space, experience, operations, profitability, and sustainability.Urban campus Coliving insights Dunbar

 

Our article, written by our Product Manager, Hélène Maria, explores why companies should invest in Proptech as a Coliving Operator, and presents Dunbar, our own digital platform to facilitate operational management, leverage data, and enable growth and scalability to fulfill Urban Campus’ expansion ambitions and enable us to focus on what matters the most; our clients.

To download the Coliving Insights publication, click here.

Urban Campus is a finalist in the first-ever edition of the Coliving Awards.

We have been nominated in 2 categories!

Coliving Awards is the first award show dedicated to highlighting key innovators, actors, and ideas that are shaping the coliving industry, and contribute to the development of this asset class transforming the future of living.

 

Urban Campus Coliving awards

 

The 2021 awards ceremony will take place on May, 6th, after a final vote, which you can participate in by clicking the following links.

You can also head out to the Coliving Awards website for a description of each nominated project.

Thanks to the Coliving Awards team for nominating us and to our great community! We could not be prouder.
We would also like to congratulate the other nominees for their great work and ambition to make the coliving industry flourish.