Our local co-working boys better watch their backs. The globally acclaimed brand WeWork has officially opened its doors (Dec 14) in Singapore, and is already preparing for nationwide domination. In a three-storey space at Beach Centre in Bugis, the brand opens its first Southeast Asian space and 200th worldwide. The second Singapore location will open at 71 Robinson Road in early 2018, and the third will be at the newly revamped Funan, probably opening in 2019.
Those familiar with the brand will be pleased to know the design flair WeWork is known for features just as prominently in the Singapore outlet. At WeWork Beach Centre, pastel hues and touches of modern architecture feed into a beautiful, raw industrial aesthetic. Furniture in the common areas are simple but appealing, and a central staircase in striking yellow extends across all three floors. To inject local influences, wall features and old-school ceramic tiling reminiscent of traditional shophouses add to the decor, and neon lights screaming “Can lah!” keep things cheeky and fun. Frankly, the entire setup looks like the proud work of an Anthropologie visual merchandiser.
Whether you’ve got a hot desk or an entire private office, perks of working at the space include unlimited access to in-house coffee from Common Man Coffee Roasters, as well as beer on tap from local brewery Archipelago. The three floors house a total of more than 690 desks, most of which have already been snapped up by companies ranging from HP Inc. to Chope and PolicyPal.
Membership for the first month at the Beach Centre outlet is already 100% booked, according to representatives from WeWork, who added that prior to the launch, they had received multiple enquiries from fans asking about plans to open here. But fret not—membership at WeWork is flexible, and works on a month-by-month renewal basis, so anyone interested can just try again next month. The opening of the two new outlets will also mean more space for everyone; WeWork added that they have already started taking bookings for their Robinson space.
Being part of the 175,000-strong members club won’t come cheap though. Hot desks start from $550 a month, while private offices can go up to $8,650 a month for 10 seats. More information here.
