Finding a Balance Between Quiet Work and Being Social: Exploring Coworking Space Needs of Digital Nomads in Terms of Amenities and Community

Portable computers and wireless internet have transformed white-collar work and made the digital nomad lifestyle possible, which is to work online from almost anywhere on the planet. This research examines the requirements nomadic online freelancers and location-independent small business owners (digital nomads) have in terms of amenities and community in a coworking space, but also how they are willing to pay for these services. Coworking spaces (shared offices) provide a workspace outside the home as well as networking opportunities with other digital nomads. This study builds on Lucia Parrino’s (2015) study on proximity and collaboration in coworking spaces in Milan. The case study is based on interviews with 19 digital nomads and three coworking space employees who lived and worked in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2019. The focus lies on the digital nomad experience; the coworking space employees were interviewed to gain an additional perspective on the digital nomad lifestyle. The results demonstrate that there are three distinct groups of digital nomads in terms of workspace usage who nevertheless share a number of expectations as to must-have features of a coworking space. These include ergonomic furniture and a quiet atmosphere, community and networking activities, and the desire for a balance between work and play. Participants also discussed the need to constantly seek out new workspaces as well as alternative payment options in terms of workspace usage, for example via food purchases or room rates. While the fieldwork was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings are also relevant for the post-COVID-19 era that has drawn many remote workers out of the capital cities and into regional towns. As such, this research could help businesses attract a wider range of clients to their coworking spaces.