Coworking was once about shared purpose — and that spirit thrived until 2020. Post-pandemic, most large operators pivoted toward managed offices, prioritizing predictable returns over community. While this reduced risk, it also stripped away creativity, diversity, and emotional depth from the workspace experience.
Today, professionals are rediscovering the need for meaningful connection and wellness in work. That’s what’s driving the new wave — spaces like Away that combine design, culture, and consciousness.
With thoughtfully integrated lounges, brainstorming zones, relaxation areas, and collaborative spaces, 315Work Avenue creates environments that prioritise both productivity and well-being. In a time when hybrid work models and digital fatigue challenge team cohesion, these physical spaces provide a much-needed sense of connection and community.
Some unique aspects of these spaces
- Acoustic gigs, comedy nights, and fireside talks and less frequent gigs when we can curate something truly special and fresh.
- Art pop-ups and retail showcases featuring upcoming indie brand.
- Founder mixers, workshops, and curated wellness sessions.
- They host regular yoga and meditation programming, live music sessions, and retail pop-ups that bring people together organically.
- Members meet over good coffee, movement, and shared purpose rather than superficial networking.
The future belongs to spaces that nurture both productivity and presence. Away is built for that.
Spaces are engineered for well-being. This includes Biophilic Design (lush indoor plant walls, natural light, organic materials) and the integration of soundproof ‘focus pods’ and phone booths—critical in open-plan setups for professional-grade video conferencing and deep work.
The centers are becoming ‘intelligent buildings’ utilizing IoT (Internet of Things) for touchless access, AI-driven room scheduling, and smart climate/lighting controls. This enhances convenience, maximizes energy efficiency, and provides founders with data-backed space planning insights.
The trend is shifting from standard cafeterias to curated, customized meal delivery partnerships (akin to ‘The Kenko Life’ model), offering diet-specific, home-style food options. Many operators are also facilitating the delivery of 100% homemade, healthy tiffin services from FSSAI-certified home kitchens, promoting authentic, regional diets.
There is a pronounced commitment to green operations. This includes the widespread adoption of biodegradable, cornstarch and paper-based packaging, a conscious effort to eliminate single-use plastic, and even the use of large, hot-sealed, food-grade steel containers for corporate bulk delivery, which are collected back daily. This aligns directly with the environmental consciousness of the next-gen workforce.
New inclusions like on-site Childcare Support are emerging to help eliminate the women’s health stigma, a powerful move for corporate talent retention.
The workspace is now a canvas and a cultural hub, serving dual purposes of inspiration and client branding. The trend is indeed moving towards using large-scale murals and conceptual artworks not just for general aesthetics, but for client-specific branding. We see dedicated ‘art walls’ or ‘client showcase galleries’ where member companies can commission local artists to create installations reflecting their brand’s ethos or product, effectively turning a common area into a dynamic, rotating art exhibition and a powerful marketing backdrop for clients. This directly supports local artists while providing a visually stimulating, culturally-rich environment that blends modern messages with traditional motifs.
A key pillar is the integration of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the ground level. Centers organize frequent society services—like donation drives, blood drives, or engagement with local NGOs—to raise awareness of “returning back to society.” This provides a tangible, shared purpose, strengthens employee loyalty for member firms, and enhances the collective brand reputation of the co-working community.
The co-working network itself is leveraged to facilitate inter-client engagement, leading to organic business development, partnerships, and peer-to-peer mentoring—a critical growth lever for the startup ecosystem.
Read the full story that first appeared in Our Bangalore dated Oct 11-17, 2025 here:
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