Living the dream! The rise of tropical offices

WE MIGHT mock hipsters, but these ones know how to do work-life balance. Their Bali office set-up could be the way of the future.

The rise of tropical offices

IT HAS all the makings of an island holiday. Lush tropical surrounds, endless sun and a leisurely pace with which to collect your thoughts.

Days here start like most do in Bali. Guests roll out of bed for a 10am start. But the Macbook mafia at members-only Tribewanted in Ubud didn’t come for the sleep-in or poolside Bintangs. At least not today.

They’re an unconventional breed of like-minded entrepreneurs, trading stale office cubicles and busy cafes for the rice paddies of Bali. In a movement that’s sweeping the globe, Tribewanted is just one of a handful of exclusive co-working clubs whose aim is to provide innovative work environments for people going it alone. It’s all very hipster.

Dream office. Picture: Tribewanted at Hubud

While today’s generation of workers are more discerning about employment than they’ve ever been, in the era of connectivity, nothing is more coveted than a job that gives you the freedom to work wherever you want. Standard hot-desking spaces, such as Berrins in Sydney’s beachside suburb Manly, offer freelancers a place to get their head down away from the city. But cookie-cutter office settings will no longer do.

Operating out of a bamboo-thatched collaborative workspace called Hubud, members at Tribewanted Bali congregate on bean bags and watch monkeys scramble up trees between Skype calls. Members are selected via an online application process and initially pay $550 a month for their spot.

That fee includes daily check-ins to discuss individual projects and goals, skill-sharing sessions and weekly activities that take in Bali’s sights.

They host a maximum of 20 people at one time, among them creatives, tech entrepreneurs, health coaches and niche marketeers. The Bali outpost is one of four Tribewanted set-ups around the world, with locations as diverse as Italy, Sierra Leone and Papua New Guinea.

Tribewanted Ubud is filled with clever young entrepreneurs working from beanbags. Picture: Tribewanted at Hubud

High on their agenda is creating a sense of belonging and personal accountability.

“I quit my job in corporate a year ago. I needed time to rest and figure out what I wanted to do with my future,” says Hélène Schmit, a French national and member of Tribewanted Bali.

“When I finally found inspiration, I felt I was facing the procrastination trap. It’s really hard to make things happen by yourself when you’re restarting from scratch, at least from a work environment point of view,” says Hélène.

That’s where niche co-working clubs come in. Exclusive members-only spaces aim to foster a culture of targeted networking environments for people with shared interests, where creativity can flourish and lifestyle is a key focus.

Collaboration is key for these young entrepreneurs. Picture Tribewanted at Hubud

London-born members-only club Soho House now has 15 locations around the world and caters to those in the arts, fashion and media industries.

So exclusive is their membership, they request applicants to submit head shots, offer discounts for under-27s and admit to regular culls to ensure they get the right balance of people. They’re as hip as they are hoity-toity, but money can’t necessarily buy you a place here. Earlier this year former Soho House director of membership Tim Geary revealed Kim Kardashian has been denied access on numerous occasions.

Newly opened, Soho Farmhouse is arguably the brand’s most lifestyle-driven offering, set among 100 acres of England’s verdant Oxfordshire countryside. The premises offer luxury cabin accommodation, a country pub, cinema, spa, an acclaimed hair salon and a boathouse with indoor and outdoor pools. Short of being fitted with a homing device, clientele simply default back to the comfort of the venues’ luxurious digs when they’re fresh out of ideas or need inspiration for that next big project.

It’s an entirely different but similarly fashionable ball game at Soho House in NYC’s Meatpacking District. Some of the perks of being a member here are the rooftop pool with views over Downtown Manhattan, regular networking events, a self-service candy bar and a cheese and meat counter.

Meanwhile, those belonging to the exclusive Work Club in Sydney are a diverse bunch, among them poets, photographers, lawyers and tech start-up professionals. The premium membership is a staggering $1250 a month, which includes concierge services, Nespresso coffee, organic juices, as well as wine and canapés on Thursday evenings.

Work Club in Sydney costs a whopping $1250 a month to join.

Nearby, Tank Stream Labs offers its top-tier membership for $800 per month and is the base of a number of successful Australian tech companies, including BuzzFeed and Survey Monkey.

But while the more exclusive co-working clubs may pander to massive egos and status seekers, the key to success isn’t necessarily dependent on luxurious amenities or perks. Tribewanted Bali comes stripped of all the bells and whistles, proving sometimes all you need is a relaxing location, a good program and the right crew.

“You’re with people who get it, who have been where you are, they know the highs and the lows, the power of the group and of the skill share sessions,” says Helene. “Everybody is far from home and here to connect with people. It creates a very positive energy.”

For the rest of us, it’s back to the office until we hit the big time.