We have provided 3 things that you should consider to make 2023 a great year.

New Year, New Me – we have heard it all before, but what is it that you plan on doing to achieve this and truly feel the “new me” concept this year? Why is it that people wait until the new year to make those changes that they think about the other 11 months of the year? This is known as the “fresh start effect,” which suggests it is easier to adopt new habits and make the changes at natural transition points. This idea of a “new beginning” can be defined by several occasions such as the start of a new season, a birthday, or in the case of many a new year.

We want to get you on track for 2023 and have three recommendations that can help have an impact on you. 

It is officially January 5th, so we may be a little late, but it was the holidays, you had family and friends over at your new coliving, events in and out of the city, and lots of food to eat. So we know you are just starting to wrap your head around the idea of making changes to your life, and we wanted to give you some time to rest.

Be Smart 

We believe one of the most crucial things you should consider while making a goal for this year is to be smart. In a 1981 issue of a Management Review magazine, a writer explained that all goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-related). The purpose behind this is for each one of your goals to have meaning and weight. 

Specific: Your goal should be clear, you cannot vaguely state what you want because it won’t be enough. For example, saying “I want to lose weight this year” should be changed to “I want to lose 20kg by the beginning of March 2023”. 

Measurable: When it comes to losing weight, this may seem obvious because you would be seeing the numbers on the scale, however, this is also your opportunity to take it even further. Writing down your progress or taking pictures can reinforce your goal and your commitment to it. Another example may be, if you have a bad habit of biting your nails, take a picture every three days and track how you are doing. 

Achievable: We recommend that you make realistic goals. Why? We don’t want you to be frustrated or angry at yourself when you do not achieve them. Saying that you will save 700 euros per month when perhaps your salary is 1,200 may not be realistic as time passes. Perhaps you can start by saving 150 euros and if the goal becomes easier, slowly increase it. 

Relevant: Ensuring that this goal really matters to you is important. You should be making these changes because you know you will be happy about the outcome. 

Time-related: Your timeline towards achieving this goal or any you have set should be realistic as well. It’s all about the small wins, so set yourself up for success. 

Focus on Your Life Force 

Phil Stutz, is a well-known psychiatrist who speaks in-depth about this concept of your Life Force in his book “The Tools”. He says that when you constantly work on your life force, everything else will just fall into place.

Stutz recommends you think of your life force as a pyramid, with key relationships being formed: the base is the relationship you have with your body, the middle section is the relationship you have with people and the top section is the relationship you have with yourself. 

The Relationship with your Body
Sleep, exercise, and diet, we have heard it all before but the impact that this has on your day-to-day well-being is astonishing. As soon as you begin to have a positive relationship with your body and genuinely care for it, you will notice the mood change in you almost immediately. This portion of your life force has 85% control of your happiness and inner peace. 

The Relationship with People
Sometimes it is easier to stay home, escape from the world, and turn on Netflix, but human connection is important. Take the initiative to call your friends and family and make those plans happen. We learn so much from others, both good and bad, but the act of physically being with people and sharing experiences is such a critical element of having a happy life. Humans are social animals. 

The Relationship with Yourself
This relationship, for most, is the hardest. Stutz recommends in order to properly build a relationship with yourself you must get to know your unconscious, and the best way of doing that would be to write to yourself. By writing, you discover things you may not have realized you have been thinking about. This may be the most difficult because you need to dedicate the time to write. Perhaps it is not an everyday activity, especially when you are first getting started, but put yourself in the position to be open-minded about the process, it is said to be the most surprising out of the three. You owe it to yourself, to know who you are. 

Take Time to Meditate

Meditation is a discipline on its own. Some people find it extremely difficult to keep focused throughout the session or to even find the 5-15 minutes needed to do it. However, the benefits are huge.

Scientifically speaking, when you meditate you reduce stress, control anxiety, promote emotional health, enhance self-awareness, lengthen your attention span, reduce age-related memory loss, improve sleep, decrease blood pressure, and much more. 

Being mindful is something many struggle with, and meditation has a way of helping you stop, slow down, take it all in and be there. 

Some of our team members at Urban Campus use HeadSpace for their daily meditation needs. It is an app that offers meditation courses, daily meditation exercises, podcasts, sleep guides, and even some mini-movement workouts, all designed to help you feel better and more connected.

To get a two-week free trial to Headspace, and begin your meditation practices, click on this link.

We hope this article inspired you to begin this year off on the right foot, take control of your goals and work on being happier, because in the end that’s all we want. 

Happy 2023! 

Photo Credits:

• All photos used through the Canva Free Media License

Before the clock strikes midnight, countries around the world get ready and prepare their unique New Year’s Eve Traditions to ensure that the start of their new year is done right. 

We wanted to make sure this December 31, you not only are celebrating with family, friends and your new colivers but that you consider adding in an element that you may not have known even existed, just to give yourself some extra luck with 2023.

Here are some countless traditions that have been passed down through the generations across several countries on how to welcome in the New Year:

It is important to note that all the countries we will be sharing with you today, typically start off their last night of the year, at a party or some sort of get-together. They get dressed up, eat great food, have a few drinks, and enjoy each other’s company. However, prior to midnight people get ready for certain things to happen. 

In the USA and Canada, since 1907 the tradition has been to do the countdown while watching the ball drop (typically the one in Times Square). However, as part of English and German folklore, some people even kiss at midnight as a sign of good luck. 

In Scotland, there are many street parties that take place on New Year. Some areas may even have parades, fireworks, and torchlit processions. One of the most famous traditions done by the Scottish is known as “first footing,” where people go door-to-door to wish each other a happy new year and bring gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky.

In Spain, people eat 12 green grapes, with each sound of the bell representing each month of the year. We recommend you do this safely and try to get seed-less grapes. 

In Denmark, they do two things: the people believe it is critical to leave their aggression behind in order to move forward, so to achieve this they throw plates (they say the best would be china) at your friend’s and neighbour’s front doors. Once that task is completed, prior to the countdown the Danish hop up on chairs, couches maybe even tables, and once the clock strikes midnight they jump into the new year. 

In Italy, people eat cotechino, a type of sausage, and lentils, which are believed to bring good fortune. In some regions, the Italians also recommend you wear red underwear. 

In France, when the clock strikes 12 you must drink champagne, and as the night continues, you continue to drink champagne. 

In China, New Year’s Eve is known as “Chuxi” where the dragon dance is performed in order to scare away evil for the coming year. Dragons signify wisdom, power, and wealth and are believed to bring good luck. The dragon’s costumes come in various colors, all with different meanings. For example, green symbolizes a great harvest, yellow is respect for the empire, gold or silver is for prosperity and red represents excitement for a promising future.

In Costa Rica, in order to ensure you travel for the following year they recommend you take an empty suitcase and run around the block with it. This is also encouraged in other Latin countries. 

In Greece, they recommend you put onions outside your front door as it is the symbol of rebirth. The idea is that the onions will help people grow and experience a rebirth of their own in the upcoming year. 

In Brazil, they throw white flowers into the ocean as gifts to the Water Goddess Yemanja, for her to fulfill their New Year’s wishes and bring them luck. An extra tradition some Brazilians do prior to the countdown, is to have a folha de louro (bay leaf), also known as the Priest’s leaf, in their pocket. It is known as a very spiritual token and is said to sharpen your intuition. 

In Germany, an 18-minute-long video replays all day on New Year’s Eve called, “Dinner for One” on almost all channels of the tv. It is a tradition to consistently watch this show while preparing for the party, having dinner, and even just before midnight. 

In Portugal, they follow the tradition of putting money in your shoe as a sign of good fortune in the coming months.

We hope you discovered a few interesting traditions, that can easily be incorporated in your New Year’s Eve parties that may even bring you that extra luck next year you are hoping for. 

Happy New Years! 

We wanted to find the best ways to give back this holiday season, as this time of year is known for bringing people together and lending a hand. With the year ending, and everything winding down, you may feel as though you have a moment to catch your breath. Many take this period to reflect on all that they have accomplished in the last twelve months, and everything they have planned for the upcoming year. You may spend it with your family, from afar, or your friends in your coliving. 

We believe this season has a way of making everyone a little more kind, which think is wonderful. Many shop until they drop for their loved ones, but we asked our staff to do the opposite.

Last year at Urban Campus we donated books to Libros Melior. They sell second-hand and used books, donated by individuals as well as organisations, and give them a new life in solidarity. The funds raised are used to finance projects such as delivering textbooks and school supplies to families with limited financial resources.

This year in our Paris office our team came together and donated to Emmaüs, an international solidarity charity to help out this season. They are known for fighting against social exclusion and supporting the reinsertion of people in need by finding them a job in one of their various structures. The company regularly organizes big fund-raisers and resells all the donations they receive in their vintage clothes shops and furniture stores. The donation was made just last week to ensure the kids would have it in time for the holidays.

While in Madrid, we will have worked with our Head of Community to have a box donation set up inside each of our five colivings and our coworking for those who can and would like to donate canned goods and non-perishables to Foodie Angels. Their organization specifically helps families with economic difficulties by offering them surplus food. 

So as you know, Our coliving along with our coworking community and staff are getting ready for the season and love finding ways of doing these initiatives also throughout the year. If you have any recommendations or connections of more acts like these and how we can be a part of it, we invite you to get in contact with us and let us know. 

Happy Holidays! 

Looking for a new coworking space in Madrid? Urban Campus Jerónimo is the ideal location for entrepreneurs, startups, and growing companies. You will be immersed in an environment that offers everything you need, fast and reliable wifi, 24/7 access, daily cleaning, concierge service, security, discounted parking, bi-weekly community breakfasts, and more…we are also pet friendly! 

Not only do we offer office spaces, but a genuine community that continues to expand every passing year, since our opening in April 2017. Within our walls, you will be able to find the tools, contacts, and focus you need to expand your business and create new opportunities. 

Our coworking building is a mere 5-minute walk from Sol, 2-minute walk from Sevilla,  an 11-minute walk from the famous Plaza Mayor and a 7-minute walk from the beginning of the neighborhood “Los Jerónimos”. We are in the heart of Madrid and as you can imagine the rich area has a vast array of restaurants and cafes to choose from. This may get a little overwhelming when it comes down to choosing where to go for breakfast, lunch, or after-office drinks. Here is a guide of the best places to visit once you move into our Jerónimo coworking!

The Best Breakfast Spots:

Feliz Coffee

What better way to start your day than with a happy cup of coffee? Feliz Coffee is known for its delicious craft coffee and kind owner. Let the barista know how you like your coffee and they can recommend something just for you. If you are having doubts, many speak about the v60 being spectacular as it is with a great natural Rwanda coffee, full of light orange flavors. The shop is small, but they also have benches outside so you can enjoy the sun on your face. 

Location: C. de Lope de Vega, 2

La Rollerie 

Beautiful inside and out, La Rollerie is located on the same street as your new coworking. Their menu has a wide variety of pastries to enjoy from, made fresh everyday. Our coworkers recommend the breakfast andaluz, which is two very large pieces of bread that you can put olive oil and salt on, then add in the fresh tomato paste they provide for you – a typical Spanish breakfast. 

Location: Cra de S. Jerónimo, 26

La Mejor Tarta de Chocolate del Mundo

The name is a dead give away about their best product…cheesecake. Just joking, it is in fact a chocolate cake, described to be unusual, indulgent, light and the perfect amount of sweet. Will you be the judge of the best chocolate cake in the world?

Location: Calle de Cervantes, 9

Café Bar Hylogui

A family run cafe serving crispy bacon and eggs, known to be delicious. Café Bar Hylogui is where the locals go for nice cup of cafe con leche and their service. Located a whole one minute walk away from Urban Campus Jerónimo!

Location: C. de Ventura de la Vega, 3, Bajo Izquierda

The Best Lunch Spots:

El Chaparrito

Located 120 meters away from UC Jerónimo, El Chaparrito is one of the best Mexican restaurants around. Their menu includes great tacos, some even for only 1 euro. Their restaurant is decorated with beautiful colors and truly gives you the Mexico vibe. Some strong recommendations from the UC Jerónimo coworkers would be tacos al pastor and pollo chipotle if you are looking for a little more spice. We were also able to try their nachos and can confidently say they are well worth the price you are paying. If you are looking to take away, we recommend you call before as sometimes they can get busy during lunch hour! 

Location: C. de Ventura de la Vega, 11

Lamucca De Prado

Recognized in the neighbourhood for the amazing balance between quality/quantity and their prices. The freshness of the ingredients, attention to detail and overall atmosphere will surely draw you in. Unsure of what to order? The staff at Lamucca are extremely friendly and will ensure to provide you with the best service possible, you will not be disappointed.

Location: C. del Prado, 16

Revoltosa Prado

The atmosphere in Revoltosa Prado is electric and their decor is very trendy. Many recommend their cocktails as they have a long list to choose from. We cannot recommend a particular dish as every week their menu changes to keep things exciting, so be sure to give them a try!

Location: C. del Prado, 4

La Finca de Susana

A very classy restaurant with incredible service. However do not let this steer you away, at La Finca de Susana, they offer 12 euro menus of the day, which include first and second courses, one drink (water, pop, wine, beer) and desert (can vary everyday or coffee). It is a very large restaurant, however we do recommend you reserve a table as it is quite the popular spot in our neighborhood. 

Location: C. del Príncipe, 10

Chuka Ramen 

A Japanese restaurant located a mere 2-minute walk from our coworking, Chuka Ramen has been around since 2014 and has truly made a name for themselves. The bao buns starter are great, we recommend the fried chicken and tiger shrimp. If you are new to Jerónimo, it is imperative you order the beef gyozas as you will be dreaming with them for the weeks to come. 

Location: Calle de Echegaray, 9 

Macao Príncipe

 Located a 3-minute walk from Jerónimo coworking, Macao Príncipe offers asian inspired tapas at a great price. The staff are very helpful and provide great insight about the dishes. If you go for lunch, for 13.50 euros you can have their menu of the day which includes a drink, three dishes to choose from their 40+ tapas menu and a desert! 

Location: C. del Príncipe, 16

The Best After-Work Spots:

Salmon Gurú

From their interactive menu to the eccentric nature of the bar, and unique presentation of the drinks, the top rated cocktail bar in Madrid is quite the experience. Their bartender, Diego Cabrera is world renowned, and you will most likely see him there at the forefront of the bar. All who have visited before can do nothing but rave about how unique of a place Salmon Gurú is. So, if you are looking to take your colleagues somewhere different, you now know where to go!

Location: Calle de Echegaray, 21

Viva Madrid

With a variety of drinks to choose form, you will not be disappointed. Viva Madrid has a very classy feel to their surroundings. The main bar is spectacular, and if you are lucky enough to get a seat infront of the bartenders, be ready for a show. 

Location: C. de Manuel Fernández y González,7

Casa Gonzalez

Casa Gonzalez provides you with great portions of food and fantastic wine to pair it with. We cannot forget to mention the assortment of cheese they have to offer! Seats are limited, but the cozyness of the bar is what you will leave with. It is the perfect place to have a gourmet picinic-like experience. 

Location: C. del León, 12

Alimentación Quiroga

Dating from 1958, this quaint restaurant has incredible reviews, local dishes and a fantastic wine selection. At Alimentación Quiroga You are able to order different tapas sizes meaning even if you are wondering the streets of Madrid alone, this could be your next stop!

Location: C. de las Huertas, 19

The signing of a new coliving residence in Île-de-France took place between Urban Campus and in’li. They joined forces to acquire and manage 165 new studio apartments, offering young professionals long-term real estate alternatives in a tight rental market.

Paris, November 8, 2022, Urban Campus, a French player in coliving and Build To Rent (BTR), announces, in partnership with in’li, Linkcity, and Nexity, the signature of a new coliving residence under VEFA, i.e. 165 studios, in Ivry-sur-Seine (94). This project completes a portfolio of Urban Campus projects under development in France, notably in the Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France and Alsace regions, with the first delivery in Lille at the end of 2022.

Enabling young workers to access housing more easily 

While young professionals are the most affected by the shortage of rental units and rising rents, Urban Campus and in’li want to make it easier for this segment of the population to rent by offering 165 new studios in coliving with rents that are lower than those on the open rental market.

By offering housing at attractive rental prices, ideally located in relation to employment opportunities and public transportation, Urban Campus and in’li are helping to facilitate the residential and professional mobility of a whole segment of society that is just starting out in its working life. Newcomers, young people at the beginning of their careers, and working people on a mission for a few months are thus offered a new rental offer in line with their expectations and needs in very tense real estate markets.

In order to guarantee these innovative real estate solutions, the residence will be managed by Urban Campus as part of a long-term management mandate and the management strategy of in’li, a subsidiary of the Action Logement group. 

Urban Campus’ recognized experience in managing coliving residences ensures that the community of residents is supported in a way that encourages exchanges, sharing, and synergies. A whole program of activities and events promotes a sense of belonging to a community eager to move forward together on professional, associative, and local projects.

“We are very happy about this partnership with the in’li teams, with whom we share strong values: facilitating access to housing for young professionals, contributing to the creation of lively and attractive neighborhoods, and promoting professional mobility. – says Maxime Armand, co-founder of Urban Campus

“Finding innovative solutions for housing young professionals in the Paris region is in’li’s DNA. The partnership with Urban Campus and the implementation of coliving management fully meet this objective in areas of high tension. – said Damien Robert, Chairman of the Board of Directors of in’li.

A coliving residence anchored in the city 

In Ivry-sur-Seine, at the gateway to Paris, the residence of 165 individual and shared studios is designed to ensure the balance essential to coliving, between quality and connected individual spaces, cozy shared spaces (kitchen, lounges) and inspiring, functional and friendly common spaces (telecommuting space, gym, rooftop, event spaces, screening room, terraces). The residence will be completed by a coworking space reserved for local SMEs at the foot of the building.

As part of one of the largest urban, economic and social development projects in the Paris region, “ZAC Ivry Confluences”, the residence will benefit from the development of public transport (T Zen line), the creation of large open-air green spaces and the construction of new urban heating, water and electricity networks that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The Ivry-sur-Seine residence is certified NH Habitat HQE, a label that guarantees buildings with a reduced carbon footprint and lower energy consumption. 

Urban Campus is involved from start to finish in the VEFA program to build the coliving residence.

The company participated in the design of the buildings in partnership with Nexity and Linkcity. It is continuing to support the project through all stages of construction, right up to its opening in 2025.

Urban Campus is thus continuing to expand its influence in the coliving and French rental market sectors. Other residential projects are already under negotiation in several European cities.

About Urban Campus

Founded in Paris in 2016 by John van Oost, Maxime Armand and Ana Martinez, Urban Campus is one of the leaders in multi-format managed residential in Europe. The company accompanies coliving and Build-to-Rent real estate projects from their conception, and then operates them through long-term management mandates. Urban Campus develops its own smart building technologies and applications to offer tenants a 360° residential service.

The company operates 5 residences in France and Spain and plans to open 30 additional residences in Europe over the next 5 years, in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. 

For more information: https://urbancampus.com/

About in’li

In’li, a subsidiary of the Action Logement Group, is the leader in intermediate housing in the Paris region, with nearly 50,000 units under management throughout the region. In’li’s mission is to provide access to housing for middle-class employees and young professionals in order to promote the employment-housing link, facilitate professional mobility and help revitalize the region. 

More information on: inli.com 

Twitter: inli_official https://twitter.com/inli_officiel 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/in-li/ 

About Action Logement

For more than 60 years, Action Logement has been the leading player in social and intermediary housing in France, with more than one million units, and its mission is to facilitate access to housing to promote employment. Action Logement manages the Participation des Employeurs à l’Effort de Construction (PEEC) on a joint basis to promote employee housing, business performance and regional attractiveness. The group has 18,000 employees in France and in the French overseas territories.Website: groupe.actionlogement.fr/

Twitter : @ActionLogement https://twitter.com/ActionLogement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uesl—action-logement/

Shared living is more sustainable and beneficial for both colivers, investors, and the environment. 

Our dedicated team of architects has this as a leitmotif and says the key to success is in being part of all projects from the very beginning to enhance the value of the building and improve the user experience while minimizing the impact of the building. Read the 5 drivers of sustainable colivings. 

Spatial Optimization

Traditional residential buildings are obsolete and unoptimized, with large corridors, and apartment units that promote loneliness and replicate underused spaces . The average number of single-member or 2-person households is rising and the city’s portfolio is not prepared. Our team studies each building to get rid of unnecessary or obsolete spaces and seaks for optimized spaces that add value and promote large and comfortable shared spaces that reduce loneliness and promote social encounters between tenants.

Shared living is no longer about mini flats with 20-75sqm private space, but approximately 100-300sqm of extra shared amenities to enjoy on a daily basis. A coworking, gym, cinema room, lounge, common kitchen, and outdoor patios are no longer a luxury, but a mutualized space that adds value. These common areas are enablers of community, they make users feel at home and nourishes bonds. 

Each building has its unique character, therefore our architects give a special character to each of them tailored to the location and user needs. 

Passive actions, sustainability from the skin to the core of the building

The scope of interventions relies on the state of the projects, we study the buildings from the outside, aiming to reduce energy demand by improving insulation, windows, and overall envelope. In the case of greenfield projects, we design our buildings aiming at cutting energy consumption. The purpose is not only to minimize environmental impact and raise awareness but also to reduce operational costs. Once inside, our buildings are composed of natural materials, warm finishings, and some vernacular taste in the way furniture is designed and creates that “hygge” atmosphere. At Urban Campus we study each item, supplier, and brand we incorporate to promote a conscious design, together with the selection of colours, finishings and spaces is the “feel at home” atmosphere that characterizes our colivings.

Active Solutions (energy efficiency systems)

After reducing energy demand for climate comfort, Urban Campus strives for fully electrified buildings by reducing other sources of energy such as gas. Apart from demand, we also promote sustainable energy production or management like  solar panels and energy-efficient machines (HVAC and aerothermal systems). We work with sector experts to boost climate-proof buildings that are cutting edge within the real estate market.

In a coliving we share spaces, and appliances, reduce water from fixtures, reduce waste, and lower energy consumption per capita compared to traditional residential buildings, which also reduces cost. Overall, our buildings reduce emissions, and waste and are in general more sustainable compared to others in the residential or BTR sector. This facilitates the attainment of green certifications but also creates a huge added value for our residents providing them with a conscious and sustainable living, all while saving money. 

Seamless technology

The best technology is the one you do not see but that makes your life easier. We create smart buildings and connect them directly to our in-house designed platform, internally known as “Dunbar”. Our technology enables us to have a flagship residential building that lowers operational costs throughout its lifetime due to its capabilities. 

We offer seamless technology that works for our residents. One main example is our digital smart key locks, which are installed in all common areas and private units. They allow us to manage the building without having to be there, as we are able to modify the opening and closing times of specific areas. The data gathered, enables us to optimize the shared spaces, the maintenance (use time), and the energy efficiency of those spaces. We have optimized the usage of the space, while designing multipurpose spaces,  for example, common areas, that are used for coworking in the morning and for events in the evening.

Community, feel at home

Is at the core of everything we do. We co-create our spaces, with our residents, through co-creation sessions, consultations, and feedback sessions. . All decisions made, take our community needs into account, and we involve them in the whole design process so that they collaborate with us on achieving the sustainable impact we are striving for.

As coliving and coworking in France continue to rise Nexity wrote an article stating where these social ways of living are available to those who are searching for diversity.

To view the original article in French, please click here.

Coliving, and coworking are available in the city as well as in the countryside. These new living and working spaces are developing to allow for more social and intergenerational diversity and simply to meet the aspirations of the French to live together. 

Coliving, coworking. These two Anglo-Saxon terms have been confused for a while in France, but they are making their way into the minds of people and territories where new housing and workspace formats are developing. The number of coliving spaces rose to 8,300 in 20211 from 5,000 in 2019 and the number of coworking spaces reached 2,8002 from 1,700 two years earlier. For Maxime Armand, founder of the coliving company Urban Campus, it is above all “a new way of living together in cities”.

When coliving and coworking provide the solution

“Coliving and coworking are a response to the new expectations of young, mobile, ambitious workers who are open to meeting others,” says Maxime Armand. In short, they meet the aspirations of French people looking for social interaction, budget savings, and mobility. “In Europe’s major cities, more than 50% of households are composed of a single person. Lifestyles have changed, studies are longer, we get married later, have children later…the average household size keeps decreasing over time, so there is a need for smaller housing.”

As for coworking, many companies and employees have taken the plunge. There are lower real estate costs for companies and more freedom for employees to work remotely from anywhere in the world. The Urban Campus buildings also include coworking spaces where residents and outside workers meet, leading to “great encounters.”

Diversity as an asset

Shared living and working spaces would not exist without a desire to live together beyond the purely economic advantages. This is illustrated by the success of coworking spaces created in retirement homes, where workers and residents live together on a daily basis, as in Marseille at the Ehpad Les Jardins d’Haïti, part of the “Un tiers-lieu dans mon Ehpad” program launched by the Caisse nationale de solidarité pour l’autonomie in partnership with France tiers-lieux.

If these schemes are so successful, it is also because of the mutual benefits they bring. In coliving or shared housing, older people can provide services to those who are younger, such as the option of babysitting their children, while those who are younger could return the favor and sometimes do the grocery shopping for their elders. For example, in Le Havre, a former fire station had been renovated into intermediate rental housing, housing for home ownership, mainly for young workers and families, and housing for seniors with an art gallery open to the general public. In Le Havre, they combine social diversity, generational diversity, and diversity of use, “living together and intergenerational diversity were at the heart of the project,” says Éric Vialatel, president of Maisons de Marianne.

It also works in the rural areas

Who said that coworking and coliving were only urban phenomena? The rise of telecommuting has led thousands of city dwellers to go green, at least a few days a week. Some rather rural areas have carried out important seduction campaigns or should we say “marketing” campaigns to attract new active inhabitants, from thirty to fifty years old on average. In Saint-Didier-sur-Rochefort, a little more than 400 inhabitants in the Loire, a café-workshop was created to allow the newcomers to work together and to get a taste of this new life. Moreover, the large townhouse just across the street has been transformed into a shared space and allows families to move into “test” life in the country before settling down permanently. “Leaving the city raises fears, but being with people in the same situation, to live and work, allows us to overcome them together,” says Olivier, a former engineer in Grenoble who has been converted into the manager of these spaces.

In the city as well as in the country, coliving, and coworking, along with other formats of shared spaces are at the same time an economical solution to reduce the expenses of the occupants, an ecological solution to reinforce the intensity of use of the buildings. It is a great opportunity to rediscover the taste of life together, after all, man is a social animal.

1. Prospective study Coliving in France, a market that is accelerating; BNP Paribas Real Estate – December 20, 2021
2. Study: The coworking index; Ubiq – November 17, 2021

Albus Burger is known for the juicy Uruguayan recipe they offer and the magic they bring to the kitchen. After partnering with Urban Campus throughout many events, we wanted to shine a light on how this business got started while in the walls of our very own coliving, here in Madrid.

Last week we spoke with Albus Burger founders, Alexandra Cooper and Juan Diego Martínez Castro, two of our colivers from Mellado Madrid Urban Campus to get the full story.

Within the interview, they will share how the business got started, where you can find them now, one of their secret ingredients, and much more!

Take a look below to view the full video.

Thank you, Sasha and Juandi for your time and for being so active within the community. Your burgers and your presence bring everyone so much joy!

Urban Campus, a coliving specialist in Spain, will open its very first residence in Lille: Urban Campus Saint So. By investing in the capital of Flanders, the company is actualizing its deployment in France and confirming the French craze for coliving. This new lifestyle is based on sharing and has multiple advantages: community, extra services offered to its members, and flexibility.

Investing in the French market

Recognized in Spain since 2017, Urban Campus continues its European development with its arrival in France. Surely it is no coincidence that the company has chosen the Lille metropolis. Urban Campus wants to offer a quality rental service in a real estate market in Lille that is very tight and even in near shortage in certain sectors. This is why the company decided to set up its first coliving residence on rue de Douai, in the heart of downtown Lille. In this dynamic neighborhood near public transportation and the Saint-Sauveur train station, the residence will welcome young professionals looking for a balance between neighborhood life and European mobility.

This upcoming opening confirms Urban Campus’ interest in the Lille region, as it is their second project in this area. The first being the management of the La Maillerie residence, located 15 minutes from the center of Lille, which will offer 121 coliving apartments starting in 2024.

“I am extremely proud of our arrival on the French market in a dynamic region. This is the result of a beautiful collaboration with LCPC (investor), Theop (AMO) and the architectural firm LA.M Studio. Together we will create a residence with a very high quality design and services to best meet the expectations of residents in a tight market. Our team has capitalized on more than 4 years of experience in coliving management in Spain. The Saint So residence will allow us to introduce the Urban Campus coliving experience to French tenants,” said Maxime Armand, co-founder, and COO at Urban Campus.

An offer adapted to new lifestyles

In a 4-story building that has been completely renovated, Urban Campus will offer from January 2023, 38 studio and one-bedroom apartments with mezzanines and balconies. The apartments will be fully furnished and equipped by LA.M Studio. Essential to coliving, several spaces have been designed to encourage sharing and living together: kitchen, living rooms, balconies, coworking spaces, gym, library, and event spaces. In addition, there is an all-inclusive service offer, from internet connection to cleaning services and access to Netflix in the common areas. The objective is clear: to do everything possible to make the residents feel at home in the building.

Urban Campus distinguishes itself by supporting its community. Each residence benefits from the “Community Development” program. Through various activities and initiatives, the community developer encourages the realization of personal, associative, and professional projects (such as collections for associations, talking circles, themed workshops, tasting evenings or film, and documentary screenings). These are some of the best ways to create links and synergies between the residents and they can confirm it works.

In the wake of this second project in Lille, Urban Campus plans to accelerate its expansion in France. The company is already working on other coliving projects in the Paris region and in the provinces.

About Urban Campus

Founded in Paris in 2016 by John van Oost and Maxime Armand, Urban Campus is one of the leaders in coliving in Europe. The company partners with coliving real estate projects from their conception, and then operates them through long-term management mandates. Urban Campus develops its own smart building technologies and applications to offer tenants a 360° residential service. The company operates 5 residences in Spain and plans to open 30 additional residences in Europe over the next 5 years, in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Head of Operations, Ana Martínez de Lizarrondo Asurmendi dove deep into what it is that makes Urban Campus different in the coliving world.
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We believe we are the revolution of the residential sector. How are we achieving this? In this article, I will share how it is that we do in Urban Campus, our models, values, and what we have that sets us apart from other coliving operators.

How did we become the first coliving operator in Spain?

In a perfect world, the build-to-rent market takes care of every individual it serves. You would start with a student residence, then move on to a shared apartment perhaps while working your first few years after studying, later to multifamily once you are ready to settle down and then near the final stages of your life (sad, we know), into a senior home. This path is the ideal scenario in a BTR world, however, it is not always the case for everyone. If you do not want to share an apartment anymore, but you also are not ready to build a family, you previously would have had to buy a three-bedroom home (if you can afford it) and sit in it until you are ready to take that next step but completely alone. The concept of coliving filled that space for those individuals who were on a different path. You can have your own, affordable, quality home and still take advantage of unique shared spaces with others. We saw the gap and began acting on it in 2017. 

Why do we only operate full buildings?

At Urban Campus, we believe in the coliving residential model and utilize the densification we can generate from a full building. In one apartment the space can be very limited, while once you have a building you can play with horizontal and vertical densification and give it more life. We ensure that we create much more valuable common spaces and not just an extra living room for our tenants to use. 

How are we able to scale so easily?

There are many property management systems in the market but they fell short, none could perform all the functions that we were looking for. Once we realized this, we began to develop our own technology to fit our needs.

Our system supports our tenants, promotes our services, and creates a place for the community. Our platform internally known as ‘Dunbar’ has been optimized and is completely autonomous. From here we automate all aspects of coliving; contracts, monthly rental, subscription fees for extra services, an extension of contracts, terminations, customer support, and more (a position that would typically need to be filled by a full-time employee). We also receive significant learnings from our system which allows us to analyze and optimize the final product, meaning the changes that are made are data-driven. 

With Dunbar, we are also able to view how our common spaces are being used. This is done by the system registering how many times a common space has been entered. Meaning, that aside from collaborating with our tenants face-to-face and getting a direct insight into what they would like in their homes, we have precise data to ensure that we are maximizing our coliving’s full potential. 

Having Dunbar and all of its functions, allows us to open a new coliving building without having to hire a team as a normal property manager would. We are scaling without duplicating time, employees, and costs as the job is already being taken care of by our technology. 

How we are able to function with a small team?

The whole system between sales and marketing is very connected. We use a separate system for automatic sales flows, this then allows our small sales team to manage many units. 

We also have visibility on vacancies to be able to anticipate and optimize our time, efforts, and budget. When we know that there are two terminations in our Mellado Madrid Coliving, for example, we boost our ads where it is needed.   

How do we handle the community aspect of our colivings?

We build a community in a non-intrusive way. What does this mean? We want them to be the owners of their own community. Our goal is to have our members feel at home and the best way to achieve this is to allow them to create those experiences, with our guidance and help. We have proven that when our tenants get involved, they are happier and in turn extend their stay. This is why we have ensured that the clubs and many events are created by our members. We give them more visibility and engagement via our platform and social media, but that initial spark is something that comes directly from them. 

Before entering one of our coliving buildings a new member is able to fill out their profile, input their bio, select their interests, and pre-join any clubs. They are also able to view the same details of those who currently live in their building, and vice versa to begin the process of creating those friendships and build on that excitement. 

Signing up for a community event is also extremely comfortable which makes it even more enticing to attend. Some events may come at a cost to our members, but instead of having an employee of Urban Campus handling the logistics of payments, our colivers simply need to go into their profile in Dunbar and RSVP. That fee will then be included in the next month’s rent. 

Contracting our additional services is as easy as turning a button on and off within our platform, and is also aligned with the following month’s rent. At Urban Campus, we can confidently say that we are listening to our members, analyzing our data, and perfecting the final product.