As remote work becomes more popular, we are seeing a trend of equipping our home offices better and better. Apart from the technical necessity, people are also becoming aware that having a well-organised workspace is essential to our overall wellness, productivity, and mental health. A cluttered or disorganised workspace can make you stressed, distracted, and unmotivated. As experts in wellness design we’re here to tell you your home office can become a wholesome working environment. It’s not challenging to design your workspace for wellbeing if you follow a few simple rules.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
The first step to organising your workspace for wellness is to create a dedicated workspace that you can call your own. This could be a desk in your room or a shared workspace in a common area. Either way it’s important so you can mentally separate work time from relaxation time. Each of our Hives does has a dedicated working area with a lot of natural light and working light. Since the pandemic we have also added private desks to our units to cater for the increasing need for work from home and to provide a private space for sensitive work-related conversations.
Keep It Clean and Clutter-Free
A clean and clutter-free workspace is essential to your overall wellness. Clutter can be distracting and stressful, so it’s important to keep your workspace tidy. Make sure you have enough storage space to keep your belongings organised and out of sight. Desk organisers, shelves, and filing cabinets come in really handy for keeping everything in its place.
It helps to clean your workspace regularly. Don’t forget about your computer keyboard and mouse.
Bring in Some Greenery
Plants are known to have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Adding a few plants to your workspace will help reduce stress and improve air quality. Plus, plants just make the space feel more inviting and pleasant! If you’re a beginner plant parent, we’d recommend you go for plants that are easy to care for and don’t require a lot of sunlight, such as snake plants or pothos.
Use Ergonomic Furniture
Ergonomic furniture is a game-changer. It is designed to support your body and help prevent injury and discomfort. Investing in an ergonomic chair and desk can make a big difference in your comfort and productivity. Look for a chair with adjustable height and lumbar support, and a desk that can be adjusted to the proper height for your body.
Minimise Distractions
Distractions can be a major challenge, especially in a shared living environment. Using noise-cancelling headphones can be useful to help you stay focused on your work. If you’re working in a shared workspace, you might consider setting boundaries with your roommates or coworkers to minimise distractions during work hours.
Personalise Your Space
Finally, don’t be afraid to personalise your workspace to make it feel more comfortable and inviting. Add a few personal touches, such as a favourite photo or a piece of artwork. Go for colours and decorations that make you feel happy and inspired.
Organising your workspace for wellbeing will do much good to you during work hours and make you more relaxed beyond. We hope these tips help you create a workspace that supports your well-being and helps you stay productive. Have fun!
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents.
The spring is here and you certainly feel like being outdoors enjoying the weather and the entertainment the area has to offer. We prepared a guide to spring festivals in Oxfordshire in 2023 for you so you don’t miss out on any of the opportunities to get out and have a great time together.
Thame Country Fair
9-10 April, Thame Showground, Thame, OX9 3JL
Enjoy a day of adventure with displays from falconry, gundogs, horse boarding and scurry driving, as well as a number of demonstrations and have a go events including fishing, falconry, airguns and archery to name a few. The Thame Country Fair incorporates its own food festival with a variety of street foods, wines and spirits from local and national producers and retailers, chef demonstrations, and background music for you to enjoy and relax too. A visit to the craft village is well worth it especially when looking for that special gift for a loved one or to treat yourself. This is accompanied by a chainsaw carving area with a dedicated speed carving arena with carvings being auctioned at the end of each event.
Henley Decor Fair
13-16 April, The Henley Showground, Marlow Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 3AS
No ordinary antique and salvage fair, Henley Décor Fair takes place at the stunning riverside location of the Royal Regatta Course. This lifestyle event has everything to inspire the vintage lover or interior designer in us all. It is known internationally for its array of interior stalls, and this year there will be more than 180 UK’s finest decorative antique traders, art stands, architectural salvage stalls, and of course the popular live music, bars, and gastro food tents. It also offers a chance to mingle with industry experts and well-known TV personalities from Restoration Workshop and Salvage Hunters. If that’s not enough entertainment, Saturday night is 80’s Disco Night, with bars and food stalls open!
The Folk Weekend is one of the county’s best music weekends. The exciting event includes a variety of folk music concerts, folklore dancing parades, and workshops led by local bands, as they celebrate folk culture. Whether you enjoy a concert, a ceilidh, a workshop or a bit of Morris dancing there should be something for you. All the showcase stages are in the city centre and there for you just to come along, enjoy the music and meet the musicians.
Shop SMALL and shop LOCAL in this authentic twist on the traditional craft market with a huge selection of products from illustration to vintage bric-a-brac, plants to jewellery, sustainable products to food, ceramics to candles and SO much more! This is not a typical craft fair. Stalls are handpicked based on their high quality, on-trend products.
This award-wining music and nature festival at Braziers Park which lies in the beautiful Chiltern Hills. It is run by a small group of family and friends, headed up by brothers Joe and Robin Bennet and their wives Claire and Megan. Alongside the excellent folk and indie music line up there are free workshops and locally sourced food stands. This is a truly beautiful festival which runs on 100% renewable energy, and with its packed programme it will be fun for everyone.
Artists’ Open Studios and Pop-up exhibitions across Oxfordshire
6-29 May
Oxfordshire Artweeks is the UK’s oldest and biggest artist open studios & pop-up exhibition event. This is your chance to browse and purchase stunning works of art from paintings and textiles through to woodworking, ceramics, and jewellery in some of the most historic buildings across Oxfordshire. Across three weeks venues such as pop-up galleries, studios, stunning gardens, churches, and historic barns will be opening their doors to the public with exhibitions that are completely free of charge. Oxfordshire Artweeks is also a chance to talk to artists and creatives about their work, watch demonstrations and even have a go yourself. Be inspired, entertained and delighted: browse, and even choose a treasure to take home with you.
This gastronomic weekend is held within the beautiful palace grounds with a fantastic range of stall holders, and masterclasses from brilliant chefs including Gennaro Contaldo, Andy Clark and Bake Off star Karen Wright. It is guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds and indulge your passion for great food and drink with a host of top chefs and producers.
Sample delicious products from artisan bakers, craft brewers and international cuisine, plus treat yourself to some irresistible handmade sweets and ice cream.
Tip: Until 1st April 2023, use the code FOOD10 for early bird discount.
Which of the events will you attend? Remember you can run your ideas past your vibrant community in our community app and gather your friends for unforgettable moments in together at the spring festivals in Oxfordshire.
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents.
As soon as winter sets in around Oxford, this beautiful city turns into a wintery wonderland with Christmas lights and decorated trees, Christmas markets, and pop-up winter events. Whether you’re spending Christmas in Oxford as a local, visitor, or expat having trouble going back home for the Holidays in the hectic post-pandemic reality, here are some ideas for you to make the best of the local Christmas festivities and get yourself in the cosy Holiday spirit we all love right in the city.
Explore the Oxford Christmas Market
The Oxford Christmas Market returns to Broad Street this year. Until 18 December, the heart of the city is filled with the atmosphere of carolling, performances of local bands and choirs, including the Oxford Gospel Choir, Kidlington Concert Brass, and the Rock Choir, traditional crafts, and smell of mulled wine and cinnamon. It is the number one go-to festivity in the city of Oxford. Take your friends with you to wander around the market, soak in the magical atmosphere, and shop for gifts for loved ones.
Image: licenced by Canva.com
Go for a wintery walk
It’s not just the events in Oxford that make the time feel festive. Its architecture is magical all year round, and especially so in wintertime. The streets adorned with Christmas light fixtures are a beautiful setting for a romantic walk. But don’t forget about the plenty of green spaces and scenic spots to enjoy. Port Meadow is one that is mostly missed by tourists. With river Thames flowing through the heart of it, it offers lots of space and beautiful views to take in. Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum is an attractive alternative, offering a break from winter weather in the Rainforest House among other things.
Image: licenced by Canva.com
Check out Oxford Castle and Prison
The castle and prison site are a classic Christmas staple in Oxford. The millennium-old site offers towers to climb, panoramic views of the city, and candle-lit crypts to explore. In the run up to Christmas, you can take an atmospheric lantern-led tour there.
Image: licenced by Canva.com
Spend an evening at Waddesdon Manor or Blenheim Palace
Although not strictly in Oxford, the historic sites offer a spectacular Christmas full of garden light installations and illuminations, displays and decorations in and out of the Manors, topped with Christmas fairs. Spend an evening discovering the glittering gardens, looking for Father Christmas along the way, and warming yourself up with great street food, mulled wine, and hot chocolate.
Image: The Oxford Magazine
Join in on Christmas Carolling
Christmas carolling is a big affair in Oxford, not only in the streets. It’s probably best experienced listening to the choir in the famous beautiful setting of the Christ Church Cathedral.
Image: Christ Church Cathedral
Create family vibe
Staying at home can be festive too. After all, the Holiday atmosphere also comes from within and is easy to create around us. Especially if you can enjoy a vetted coliving community that becomes your family whenever you’re there. If you’ve stayed at one of our Hives, you’ll know that special feeling of togetherness. Light some candles, decorate a Christmas tree, bake cinnamon cookies, perhaps wear an ugly sweater and join in on one of the social events like a quiz night, or just gather together around the dining table with a cup of hot cocoa. You have all the best conditions here to create beautiful memories for life by bonding with incredible people. Enjoy.
Image: B-Hive Living
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents.
In the current times of uncertainty and huge loss of symbols of stability in society, we do crave the comfort of a home we call our own. The passion of B-Hive Living is to provide our Residents with the comfort of that very feeling – of daily wellbeing.
The comforts of the Hives of B-Hive Living are yours as long as you stay there. And when you decide to purchase a property for life, we hope for you to keep a memory that one of the Residents in that situation shared with us. And for your new home to reflect the care for your personal wellness, and the elevated lifestyle you led with us.
“I’d like to thank you all for the amount of work you have put into making all of us in the house feel so welcome and a part of a community, particularly during the last couple of years through lockdowns when anxieties were high for all of us. I have made close friends living as a part of the B-Hive and have really cherished living with such a fantastic crowd of individuals from such diverse backgrounds. I feel very fortunate to have stumbled across what is easily the highest quality and most enjoyable accommodation within Bicester. Your hard efforts don’t go unnoticed.
Wishing you all the very best with B-Hive, what you are all building is unique and brilliant.”
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents.
Being part of an authentic, stable, and engaging community is crucial to the human experience and high quality of life. It gives us a sense of belonging and purpose, battles the feeling of loneliness, and promotes mutual support and personal growth, contributing to our individual and collective health and wellbeing of our society. Participating in a community bonded by common attitudes, values, and goals is an essential ingredient to enjoying a fulfilling life, allowing us to explore hobbies, shared interests, and ideas with other peers while fostering our own sense of individuality.
In the post-pandemic landscape, this is especially evident. People are searching for meaning in every aspect of life now more than ever. Especially millennials and Gen Z seek greater sense of belonging while missing their friends, network, and increasingly frequently working from home. Due to the decline in connectedness, loneliness, and FOMO (fear of missing out), mental health issues are on the rise. Businesses are also facing the need to learn how to build and manage communities remotely, both among their staff and customers.
Community building has therefore become a new strongly sought after value in the modern world, at the same time constituting a serious challenge. It takes not only know-how, but also purpose and diligent nurturing, application, and intuition to build a real community. Below, B-Hive Living shares a few key lessons learned from their journey to create an award-winningcommunity experience. We hope they become useful tools for developing and strengthen your own community.
Do it for the right reasons
At B-Hive Living, we have made building community a core component of our purpose and mission. It is essential to make community part of your culture and be intentional about creating it. Otherwise the community aspect will come across as fake and backfire, like criticism of greenwashing in the case of talking about environmental issues solely for publicity.
The purpose of driving change in society by responding to the two great challenges we currently face: affordable housing and loneliness, is very close to our hearts, personally and professionally. Both our founders were born in cultures rooted in vibrant family and social life, celebrating living well through music, food, fitness and culture. Those early experiences shaped their belief that a life well lived starts at home and the secret sauce is the people that surround you. It is by connecting with something larger than ourselves – a community – that we achieve our best life.
We believe coliving homes should not simply be a place to rest your head. It should be an experience that elevates human condition through community and wellbeing-led design and build. We endeavour to create an empowering space for residents to lead a healthier, more connected and fulfilling lifestyle, and everything we do is designed for that goal. Building a great community is top priority to achieve those goals. Meaningful relationships can only be built through genuineness.
Nurture connection every step of the way
We are a social species, hence one of our most basic human needs is to connect with other people. That’s why at B-Hive Living we never miss a chance to create opportunities and deliver strategies to bring people together.
On a daily basis, the shared spaces in the Hives invite togetherness through their design: comfortable kitchens for multiple users, fitness facilities for group activities, garden firepit for encouraging bonding and storytelling are just examples of such solutions.
Different Hives benefit from an even larger social network through our programme of monthly events that encourage residents to get to know one another in an informal way. The rich calendar of social experiences co-created with our Hive Ambassadors inspires fun, connection, and a healthier way of living. Such a co-creative approach allows for adapting our event calendar to the needs and mood of our community.
Find your niche and get to know your audience
Great communities don’t just develop overnight – they take time, concentrated effort, positivity, and planning. It’s important to have a clear view of who your members are and how to engage them so that you can put the right plan in place.
Over the years, we’ve developed a robust understanding of the resident profile that best fits our community, and developed relevant matching criteria implemented in our stringent vetting process. While diversity is key to stimulate learning and avoid apathy, bringing like-minded people together helps them to find commonalities more quickly. Our two-way curation process is designed to determine whether the prospective resident is the right fit for our community and vice-versa.
We’ve also designed a series of touch points to ensure we remain in close contact with our residents while allowing for quiet enjoyment of their homes and community. This helps us get to know our residents more closely. Newcomers are provided with a welcoming and smooth experience from the outset, from their introduction to the community before check-in, through a personal welcome by our community manager on site, including receiving information on their rights as a tenant in the UK alongside a welcome gift, to being introduced to their property Hive Ambassador who is another resident, and an invitation to a welcome dinner. The same personal touch and support is given to the offboarding process upon giving notice.
Be prepared to go beyond what’s normal
When nurturing community is your purpose, you are naturally prepared to go beyond the call of duty to support your community. Our team work during the pandemic was a testament of that. In those difficult times we implemented a number of solutions to make the lives of our residents easier and more comfortable, such as access and personal guidance from a wellness team composed of life, nutrition, and fitness coaches, as well as access to a dedicated series of “Wellness Hacks” content. They were simple and practical bite size strategies for our residents to enhance and optimise their health, wellbeing, and productivity during those difficult times.
These efforts were reflected in the attitudes of the residents. For example, we had a few NHS doctors working on the pandemic front line working long hours treating Covid patients. Over many weeks, their fellow residents took turns to cook meals for them to alleviate their burden. It is most rewarding when your passion for making others’ lives better is shared within the community you support.
Leverage technology to deliver a consistent and smooth experience
The community of B-Hive Living is also strung together by technology to make communication as smooth as possible. All residents are connected and made accessible to each other through our recently launched community engagement app.
Each resident has their profile with a mini-biography describing their skills, passions and activities they’d like to be contacted for. In the app, residents can communicate with each other, create sub-groups by property, interests, or hobbies, sign up for events, access discounts at local affiliated outlets, and much more.
Don’t do it alone
Our Hive Ambassadors among residents play a crucial role in building bridges and maintaining a positive vibe between our Hive communities. Ambassadors are there to engage, connect, educate and facilitate the commitment of residents to the shared values of our community. They among other things help the B-Hive team create relevant events, share information on upcoming events with fellow Hivers, and support the onboarding of new residents. They also share key messages and learnings from in-house dynamics and past events with the B-Hive team to suggest improvements on the overall experience. We do take that feedback seriously and do what we can to constantly adjust the experience to the current needs.
Keep experimenting
The needs of the community are organic and ever-changing. Hence it is important for our founders to seek to be present and engaged with its members. After 6 years of activity, we still personally get involved in the onboarding of residents, and often cook their first meal ourselves. Staying in close touch with the community in a variety of ways is the key to successful experimentation and trying out new solutions based on first-hand feedback. This allows for thinking out of the box, ease of innovation, and picking up trends as they arise to be on top of things at all times.
Nurturing positive and healthy communities is needed more than ever in the modern society. Community is essential for our potential as individuals and society to flourish. At B-Hive Living, we’re doing a part, and we hope you leverage some of those ideas to follow suit and create your own approach to building a thriving community and a better world to live in.
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents.
Contact: Silvia Grattieri, COO B-Hive Living The Home of Wellness Living UK: +44 (0) 780 950 1651 I Portugal: +351 (0) 936 836 632 www.b-hiveliving.com
The HMO Awards aims to bring people across the HMO property supply chain who are helping to shape the current and future shared living landscape across the UK, together to network, learn, celebrate and grow.
This year’s Best Community Experience award goes to coliving developer and operator B-Hive Living. They aim to shift industry standards and make a tangible and long-lasting difference to the lives of their residents through their vision of wellness living.
The official Award Ceremony with more than 400 delegates was held on 30 September 2022 at the beautiful historical venue of Stowe House in Buckingham, UK. B-Hive Living was announced as the winner of the Best Community Experience in the UK, among other champions of the UK real estate market. The award looks to recognise those who are creating thriving communities and providing a solid customer experience within their build-to-rent portfolio.
B-Hive Living lives up to its tagline The Home of Wellness Living. “We’re not here to simply provide a roof over people’s heads, but to empower a new and growing generation of renters to lead a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle”, says Williams Johnson, CEO of the Residential Coliving Brand.
Judge Leah Ziliak said, “They really go above and beyond when it comes to facilitating a strong community and creating a positive experience. They believe in actively supporting their housemates health and wellbeing through experiences, activities, technology and wellness-led design. They place a big emphasis on housemate compatibility, and have a carefully curated vetting process. An incredibly solid onboarding process.”
B-Hive Living is one of the pioneers and a model example of the new wellness real estate movement. The lifestyle component of their rental solution seeks to elevate the daily wellbeing of their residents through design, technology and community experience.
The company currently runs five operating assets in Oxfordshire, UK, and is now expanding internationally starting in Portugal. Building thriving communities is a core part of the brand’s mission, supported by a number of dedicated solutions, from community-building spaces and facilities, to community and event management, to the use of the brand’s community app for residents.
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B-Hive Living Ltd, Company No. 10514752 Address: Finsgate, 5-7 Cranwood Street, London EC1V 9EE, UK
People’s relationships with their living spaces have been changing. Our collective awareness around wellness and other mental and physical health-related issues has been sharpening over the last decade. And it has only increased due to the pandemic. First, co-working redefined the style of office work. Now it’s time for coliving and hospitality sectors to reflect the shift away from homeownership and apartment rentals towards the shared economy and a residential model based on membership and focused around wellness. Hence the rise of wellness coliving. It combines the wellness real estate trend with a lifestyle component that elevates your daily wellbeing through design, technology, and community experience.
B-Hive Living is one of the pioneers and a model example of the wellness coliving movement. The following are the primary modern issues the brand addresses in the scope of the wellness coliving trend, and the solutions it offers for a more fulfilled lifestyle of residents.
Issue: Unhealthy living environment
The living environment we find ourselves in is usually harmful to our health and wellbeing. When B-Hive Living started operation, 1 in 3 rented homes was in fact deemed unfit for human inhabitation in the UK. Hidden costs, absent landlords, inflexible contracts and poorly maintained spaces were all part of a self-servient culture of disregard for the health, wellbeing, and convenience of users. In these hectic and costly times, we are often also forced to compromise on living standards. We have no time or simply forget to take care of our immediate surroundings.
Solution: Wellness-oriented design
Since people spend more than 90% of their time in the built environment, wellness coliving is a true opportunity to impact the society in a positive way. It supports the holistic health and wellbeing of a growing generation of renters. B-Hive Living constantly improves the wellness-oriented biophilic design of the homes, and gives the Hivers comfortable control over their space by introducing smart technology throughout the premises.
Issue: Loneliness/burnout
In the times when we had no smartphones or social media, people connected with one another face to face. Socialising and even doing business depended on dinners together, nurturing relationships, and initiating meaningful interactions. Currently we are in a state of tech-enabled isolation, and many of us find ourselves feeling lonely. These feelings of loneliness are grounded in science – community is vital to our wellbeing. According to Campaign to End Loneliness, feeling lonely comes with multiple physical and mental health risks. That’s why today millennials are transforming their lives to prioritise wellness. The technology follows, with a platitude of exercise and meditation apps, organic food delivery services, etc. And so follows the wellness real estate market.
Solution: Community experience
Communal living offers a solution to the loneliness problem. The togetherness and community experience can be life-changing to many. Combined with upscale facilities, both supporting togetherness (recreational green area with a community firepit, kitchens for multiple users, shared living and dining areas) and privacy (en-suite bedrooms and private corners), this model implemented by B-Hive Living provides for affordable yet very comfortable accommodation.
At the Hives, the community experience is designed by dedicated specialists. It includes an event calendar, useful wellness content, and consultations with wellness experts. A dedicated community app facilitates your connection with like-minded Hivers. It encourages passion for mindfulness and fitness, and makes sure people get to know each other, spend time together, and inspire each other with their energy, ultimately elevating their quality of life.
Issue: Rising urban living costs
With urban sprawl and growing economy, there has been an immense demand for affordable housing in the heart of urban areas. Meanwhile, the supply is constantly shrinking. We are increasingly facing the choice between a longer commute from the suburbs and building up or densification of central building development. The former solution takes away the much valued sense of freedom and flexibility. And the other is hugely cost- and time-consuming. A third choice, less obvious, yet meeting the needs of the modern generation, is innovation involving wellness real estate. The existing real-estate is transformed into affordable but comfortable luxury coliving homes that offer benefits beyond location and savings.
Solution: Sharing economy
There is a general transition away from ownership by millennials. It is exemplified by the huge success of Uber avoiding car ownership, and Netflix shifting from content ownership to access. The trend is disrupting every industry, and the trillion-dollar industry of residential real estate is proving to be no exception. Offering the flexibility of short- to long-term membership options, wellness coliving pools resources such as community space, gym, laundry, and recreation facilities, along with services and other benefits, to offer a luxury lifestyle at an affordable price. The average resident age proves the elevated urban lifestyle and accommodation can now become reality just as you mature into your thirties.
The rise of the global wellness economy stood at $4.4 trillion in 2020, even amidst the pandemic. According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness real estate (including residential, commercial, and institutional properties such as office, hospitality, mixed-use/multi-family, medical and leisure) that incorporate intentional wellness elements in their design, materials, building, as well as amenities, services and/or programming – ‘has maintained the highest growth rate in the wellness economy, both before and during the pandemic.’
Wherever the economy turns in the upcoming years, it will support the shift towards membership-based wellness real estate. That’s why wellness coliving is on the rise and here to stay. By elevating the lifestyle of resident after resident, it drives social change that’s needed and inevitable. Millennials and Gen-Z will continue prioritising wellness over materialism.They will become increasingly aware of the benefits wellness co-living brings in that context.
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents. Apply to live with us here.
Coliving is by far one of the hottest living trends nowadays. Popular among digital nomads remote workers and expats, it is also a perfect landing pad for newcomers to a country/city, or a great opportunity to experience an adventure of a lifetime in a place you’ve always dreamt of exploring as a local. Coliving is about more than just travelling or streamlining your coworking and living space. The right coliving experience can facilitate learning, networking, and getting to know like-minded people from around the world in a friendly atmosphere. We have picked 10 coliving destinations in Europe that offer incredible opportunities for the most awesome lifestyle.
Spain
Many of us have dreamt of being a local in Barcelona, having tapas and sangria on a daily basis nearby the city beach. Barcelona’s first coliving space, A Landing Pad is a former guesthouse in the quaint neighbourhood, or ‘barrio’, of El Poble-Sec. The ensuite bedrooms and mini apartments and sun-drenched terrace will make your stay more than comfortable while you attend the coliving’s social events. There’s a minimum stay period of one month, so you will have ample time to get to know your neighbours and savour the sense of community of this amazing coliving destination.
Image: alandingpad.comImage: alandingpad.com
France
Ever dreamt of living like royalty in an actual castle? Chateau Coliving is an amazingly unique space arranged in a 12th-century French manor house, yes, with a private library, a lounge, and a fireplace, just like you imagine it. The Chateau offers everything a Coliving needs to offer, from a beautiful workspace, lots of common areas, to a great community, plus super-fast wi-fi in an ample workroom. On top of that, it is surrounded by 80 hectares of private park and two rivers on the property, where you will spot deer, rabbits, storks, horses, and more.
Here’s one of coliving destinations many dream of but often cannot afford. But thanks to coliving, it is easier to make it anywhere you want! Cheese fondue after an afternoon skiing or snowboarding session is right here within your reach. Swiss Escape’s charming chalet is situated in the heart of a dreamy Swiss Alps ski resort at 1500 m, with easy access to the cable car, supermarket, and a number of restaurants. When you’re not enjoying activities such as admiring panoramas, tasting wine or bread baking in the village’s communal kitchen, there’s a flexible workspace with a private room for Skyping.
Image: swissescape.coImage: swissescape.co
UK
Oxfordshire is not only home to No. 1 university in the world, but also an innovation hub for several cutting edge industries like Formula One, Formula E, Bio Tech, Science, Education, and Automotive Manufacturing while being close to the beauty of the Cotswold. That attracts some of the world’s brightest minds to work, study, research, and innovate. B-Hive Living is ideal for connecting with this community while elevating your lifestyle in a fulfilling and healthy way. Being the only coliving provider in the area, they provide a soft landing and unique housing solution for both the newcomers and established expats. Moreover, your life at B-Hive Living is bound to be soothing owing to the extra care they put in the well-being promoting biophilic design of both indoor and outdoor premises. They cater to the need for privacy (ensuite bedrooms) as well as community feel (common spaces and garden facilities). Frequented by international professionals, it is a great place to connect and thrive.
Image: b-hiveliving.comImage: b-hiveliving.com
Portugal
There is certainly no other place like Lisbon. This incredibly beautiful city at the ocean attracts people from all over the world. The whole of Portugal has become one of the world’s hottest coliving destinations as well as places for expat families and digital nomads alike. Outsite in Lisbon offers accommodation in a traditional building with blue and white azulejos. You can pick a sea view on the south facing side of the building, or select a room with a balcony for the ultimate people-watching perch. Outsite has also just opened a new place in Madeira which is quickly becoming a new hot spot for digital nomads.
Image: outsite.coImage: outsite.co
Serbia
For a delightful rural escape in the Balkans, visit Mokrin House of Ideas. You can expect three homemade meals per day there, and despite being rural, you can ask for boutique accommodation options, use a gym, and splash around in the pool. Cycling trips in the breath-taking scenery and outdoor movie nights are among the common activities. There’s a secluded coworking space available 24 hours per day and plenty of workshops and seminars to occupy your time, including ceramics!
Image: mokrinhouse.comImage: mokrinhouse.com
Norway
Arctic Coworking Lodge on the Lofoten Archipelago is perfect for lovers of chilling with a cup of coffee in a secluded place. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful coliving destinations. You can take in the view of the beautiful fjords, sea, and mountains while using individual desktops and private meeting rooms. Group hiking, surfing, and rock climbing excursions are often organised at the Lodge.
Do you imagine your dream home in one of those charming Italian towns that cascade down the hillside? There is a colivign solution for that too. What additionally sets this place apart is its cave dwellings, making it one of oldest continuously inhabited cities in the whole — and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Casa Netural is a 4-storey house offering endless evenings filled with pasta and red wine. You can also lend a hand to the local agricultural efforts at AgriNetural.
Casa Netural – Incubatore 2017 / photo Pierangelo LaterzaImage: benetural.com
Netherlands
The Zoku colivign offers a glorious rooftop garden amid Amsterdam’s famous coffeeshops, museums, markets, and red-light district if this is where you want to be. The space you can use is ample, from the spacious workspace and bar to a private work loft to stay focused.
Image: livezoku.comImage: livezoku.com
Belgium
If you’re a creative or into a bohemian lifestyle, there is the spacious Place Flagey Mansion in the heart of Brussels. Glamorous yet homey, it is one of the 51 properties of Cohabs in Brussels alone. it’s great to both live and work, equipped with a gym, cosy coworking area, and movie room. The proximity to the bustling Flagey Square and Michelin Star vegan restaurant Humus X Hortense is a plus!
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Are you ready to head towards some of the best coliving destinations in Europe and tick them off your bucket list? Enjoy yourself, while you’re still in the pink!
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents. Apply to live with us here.
Get an insider glimpse of our Hive community and their lifestyles. Meet your actual potential Hivemate and let them show you around. Join in on the coliving adventure at one of our Hive Homes. Practice Pilates with Andrea at her Oxford Pilates studio.
Your Hivemate Andrea and the B-Hive Living experience
Hi. I am Andrea. I am from Hungary. I’m a tamed rebel. I left home and moved to the Uk when I was 18 to be free, to be independent, to challenge myself, to build a life, explore life… I’m a fighter and a survivor.
I’m not gonna lie, the first couple of years in the UK was hell on earth. I wasn’t lucky with the experiences I had at the beginning. Despite the difficult start I worked hard, stayed focused and saved up enough money to go to university. I worked throughout University as a Pilates instructor and when I finished, I ended up with my own business, a Pilates studio in Oxford.
I have travelled quite a bit and since I like sunshine, being by the sea/water and those warm summer evenings I am always on the lookout for winter escape.
As a wellness expert, what do you make of the B-Hive living well concept and its mission to empower residents to lead a more connected and healthy lifestyle?
I do believe that without health we would not be able to reach our full potential. Physical exercise, healthy diet and social connections have been linked to longevity as well as a more fulfilled life. The living well concept at B-Hive supports the tenants in a way that we can not only ‘live’ here but thrive here.
“The living well concept at B-Hive supports the tenants in a way that we can not only ‘live’ here but thrive here.”
Andrea
How would you describe the experience of B-Hive co-living as opposed to other types of accommodation you previously experienced? How does your B-Hive home and rental experience compare and contrast to other previous letting experiences?
I have lived in many accommodations previously from student hall to shared living with friends as well as living by myself.
I really like the balance B-Hive living can offer. I can have privacy when I want but be social when I need company. Having a nice room with an ensuite bathroom offers the privacy I need while having great social areas in the house such as the fire pit in the garden gives the opportunity to bond with other housemates.
What is your favourite part of your Hive home and why?
The hammock is definitely my favourite feature right now. When the sun is out you’ll find me there. But in the winter I love spending time in the kitchen/dining area. It is the most social part of the house and I like chatting to other Hivers after work.
How has your lifestyle been influenced by living in a Hive coliving community?
I have a much better work life balance now compared to when I lived by myself. We regularly bake cakes together, we have BBQs, social activities, I am now learning to play the guitar and the piano etc. We enjoy skill sharing in our house and we inspire each other which for me makes B-Hive an ideal place to live.
“We enjoy skill sharing in our house and we inspire each other which for me makes B-Hive an ideal place to live.”
Andrea
What’s the most unexpected thing you found out about yourself or co-living while being there?
As much as I wanted to be ‘independent’ as a teenager I am now realising how much I enjoy the company of others. There was a time when the ideal setup for me was to live by myself. I did it for a while …until I burnt out as my life became consumed by work.
Now I live in a community where we support each other. I find it nice not to have to come home to an empty flat even if it comes with obvious sacrifices such as sometimes finding someone’s dirty dishes in the sink. …which seems only a very small price to pay for all the fun that we have together as a house.
Would you recommend B-Hive Living to a friend? Why?
Yes, definitely. In fact, I have recommended it to many of my friends. I think it’s the perfect place for a young professional who likes good quality accommodation as well as social interactions. I get enough privacy as well since I have a lovely room with an ensuite bathroom. When I am feeling tired or have more work I can have some quiet time in my room. However spending time with others is also an option when I am wanting company.
I haven’t been to many monthly social events with the other houses yet (mostly because of timings) but they are also great opportunities for making connections with people as well as taking part in fun activities.
About Andrea’s Pilates Practice
What sparked your initial enthusiasm for Pilates?
I did a Sports Therapy diploma course many-many years ago in Reading, UK. My tutor was a huge Pilates enthusiast and was running a mat Pilates course the following year. She talked me into doing it. Since then I have done a lot more courses as well as specialised in Pilates for rehabilitation and have even become a mentor for one of the biggest Pilates schools internationally.
What inspired you to start a pilates studio business in Oxford?
In short: I studied at Brookes (Exercise and Health BSc, Neurological Rehabilitation MSc) and I just stayed. I was qualified to teach on the Pilates equipment so I asked the only Pilates Studio with the equipment in Oxford if I could teach there. The owner of the studio was retiring at that time so I ended up taking on the whole business.
What is it about your Pilates training that makes your studio unique?
Other than my Pilates and many other fitness certificates I also have a BSc in Exercise and Health as well as MSc in Neurological Rehabilitation.
There are now a few more equipment studios in and around Oxford. Many of the teachers I trained/mentored. I specialised in Pilates for rehabilitation and I work closely with Physiotherapists and Osteopaths.
Can you tell us your favourite Pilates exercise and why you like doing it?
That’s a tough one. I guess my favourite exercise depends on what my body needs that day.
But it reminds me of a saying/joke in the Pilates community that we sometimes tease each other with. It goes like: ‘I’m just here for the feet in straps.’ Feet in straps is an exercise on the reformer (equipment). It is a great stretch & strength exercise and it is the favourite of many people.
What’s the most expected thing most people often find about themselves after trying pilates?
It is a type of exercise that leaves you feeling energised rather than drained or exhausted. Even after the first session you would usually feel some positive changes in your posture and overall well being.
What do you find most rewarding about your pilates work?
Making people feel good in their bodies.
Do you have any daily rituals to optimise your health and well-being to share with our readers?
I look after my teeth & gums. That also includes not having much sugar in my diet, staying hydrated, avoiding too much coffee etc.
It is more than just about a nice smile or the ability to enjoy chewing my food with a full set of teeth. A lot of cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory diseases start in the mouth. It’s been linked with many conditions from depression to heart attack.
I have come across some pretty awful cases such as a young girl losing all her hair because of a bad tooth. (She did grow her hair back once the tooth problem was dealt with.)
The bottom line is, if there is one daily ritual which you cannot miss in order to maintain overall health of the body is brushing your teeth twice a day (Or as I learnt it back in nursery: ideally 20-30 minutes after every meal.)
Look after your teeth! You’ll do more for your health with that than you might think.
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle of our residents.You can apply for living with us here.
Emerging from the brand values of B-Hive Living, including biophilic design and focus on the community, is the story of the mural on the latest of our Hives in Oxford, UK.
In celebration of creativity and community, we have been collaborating with an eclectic bunch of local artists and craftspeople from the very beginning of the brand’s existence. We fill each of our Hives with personalised decorative items. We upcycle them from old surfing and skate boards, whisky barrels, reclaimed wood and more. They make the spaces more sustainable and unique. Another signature feature of the Hives is a biophilic mural on the garden walls of each of our properties. They are all created by muralist, illustrator, and designer Curtis Hylton.
We felt the outdoor areas of the Hives should be anything but ordinary. We’re also adamant about using nature-inspired street art in a way that induces a sense of awe and connection to the natural environment. Yet, such themes and style are not very common in street art. We were delighted when we came across the works of Curtis Hyton. It’s a match made in heaven for our purpose. Curtis happens to combine the love of nature and street art in a way we found perfect to go with the ethos of our brand.
“The theme of my work has grown to be heavily influenced by nature and our connection to it”
Curtis Hylton
Street art stands for freedom of creativity. For us, it also conveys purpose, identity, belonging, and pride. Spending time in nature has shown to unequivocally improve our mental wellbeing. Mural art is another strategy we use to create and enhance direct contact with nature within our spaces.
It makes our green spaces more inviting, casual, and relaxing, suiting our aim of encouraging our residents to spend more time outdoors. The importance of that cannot be overstated, since we nowadays spend more than 80% of our time indoors.
On top of all that, the murals turn our properties into recognisable landmarks in the area. They make people stop for a moment of admiration, and provide a source of pride for our Residents and Team.
“It’s refreshing to see graffiti as a global scene growing continuously, as well as becoming an accepted art form. Public street-art projects are great for all generations, they stimulate and inspire communities.”
Curtis Hylton
This time, at the opening of the first Hive in Oxford, we took a new turn with our design. This was driven by a request from a local community member for local wildlife species to be featured in our murals. We leavagred the launch of our latest property to make this happen. To promote people’s connection to their neighbourhood and in tribute to Curtis’s creative flow, in addition to brightening the space with our signature images of colourful exotic plants and fruit, we decided on the mural celebrating the local wildlife icon – the kingfisher.
Image: B-Hive Living
We are particularly proud of choosing this design for the location, and of its placement right next to the logo of B-Hive Living. It fitted nicely with our brand values of promoting a positive and healthy lifestyle to our community and its surrounding environment while safeguarding our wildlife heritage for future generations. And surely the gifted hands of Curtis created the perfect canva for that.
“Anything botanical inspires me, nature is beautiful and I just want to paint it everyday! My paintings tend to be a mix of flowers merged with birds and other animals, their wings and bodies etc are intertwined with petals and leaves, like a sort of natural balance.”
Curtis Hylton
You can have a tour of our selected property if you are interested in moving in. Please enquire about the availability of bedrooms in our coliving Hives here. We are looking forward to meeting you. The design of the garden areas is just one of the carefully selected details that make coliving with B-Hive Living promote a more connected, healthy, and fulfilling life.
B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents.
