Bright colours, music and not-so-much tech: what co-working is really like

I'm confused. I've stepped out of the lift at JustCo's co-working space in Sydney's CBD and I'm not sure what to do next. The customary geography of an office is simply absent. There's no clear reception, no sign instructing visitors with an arrow and everything seems very bright.

The walls are decked out in bright orange with white stripes, the ceiling is multi-coloured with patches of green, yellow and white. It seems like a million lights are also glowing and there are a variety of plants including ferns, fiddle leaf figs and rubber plants. There is also music playing constantly - I later learn it is the "cosy cappuccino" playlist.

The general open plan area where people work in the JustCo shared workspace.Credit: Kate Geraghty

There's a kitchen on the left, four comfy couches directly in front and to the left a bright pink neon sign glowing the message "just enjoy today".

This spot - I later learn - is the concierge desk. This personalised service is what JustCo believes makes it different from its competitors.

JustCo is one of the newest entries into the crowded Australian co-sharing market and is backed by Singapore-based developer Frasers Property and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.

The neon sign behind the desk reads "just enjoy today".Credit: Kate Geraghty

After being given a quick tour, I take up a spot in the desk sharing hub, which works on a first come-first served basis with a long row of wooden benches.

Packages for a hot desk start from $50 a day depending on your type of membership. Meanwhile, a desk in a private suite is about $950 a month. There are communal business facilities including printers and users pay 30 cents per page for black and white and $1 for colour.

At 9am there are about 20 people working but there is still room to spread out. Each desk has its own power outlet, an adjustable chair and the Wi-Fi is fast and easy to access.

As I begin my day's task - listening to Suncorp chairman Christine McLoughlin tell investors her company is taking climate change seriously - my co-workers are an assorted bunch. Some are working on their own, others in groups. There's a wide range of ages and dress codes.

Some who have small personal offices take their clients to their own spaces for meetings but others sprawl out on the communal couches and tables. It is a much more relaxed atmosphere than a traditional office.

At lunch, I wander over to the kitchen, where there is a retro-looking fridge, a fancy coffee machine, bright orange cabinets and, most startling, a huge neon sign declaring, "let's make work better". Another sign says "just wonder".

Most people seem to stick to themselves. At lunchtime people from different companies sit together and eat and there seems to be a real communal atmosphere.

As I listen to Suncorp investors call in the co-working space, even with headphones on, I could hear loud conversations around me. The desks are situated right next to the couches which means there are multiple conversations going on. I take myself off to a quiet room to conduct phone interviews.

Throughout the day I notice guests of some clients arriving who also look a little confused when they enter. I hear one explaining to their guests that it's actually a co-working space.

The author working out of one of Hub Australia's private offices.Credit: Louise Kennerley

The vibe is different from another co-working space I worked out of earlier in the week, Hub Australia's two floors at the historic Customs House in Circular Quay.

Hub Australia's space is decked out like a hotel with extras not normally seen in co-working spaces including a private cafe, a podcast recording room and a meditation zone.

Membership starts at $50 a month and this means you can come in but have to pay $40 for a day pass to use a desk. Private offices and suites vary but start from about $1000 a month.

Hub Australia is my first experience of working out of a co-working space and I had expected to find techy start-up geeks. Instead, I meet lawyers and financial types including Darren Heathcote, chief executive at Hach Private Capital, who has been working out of co-working spaces for years.

Hach Private Capital chief executive Darren Heathcote at a Hub Australia co-working space.Credit: Louise Kennerley

Heathcote tells me the ability for a company to grow in a co-working space was much easier than a traditional office set up with its fixed overheads.

"In a traditional office you are talking quite often about trying to end a lease and move on and find a new lease," he says. "The whole process is time-consuming and often you don’t end up with as good facilities as you would in co-working."

Talking to Heathcote and walking around the space, I run into more finance types. There are no tech startups to be seen. Hub Australia pitches itself as a premium offering with swipe card security on your booked room.

I am confused with all of this, so I ask Steven Wong, the barista at the private cafe what do most people wear to work here?

The private cafe at Customs House. Credit: Louise Kennerley

"It is fairly casual, but there are certain days they have their business attire but also sportswear and jeans and t-shirts," he says.

I ask him what is the difference between working here and a cafe open to the public.

"Most people come in between 9 and 11. Occasionally we have small rushes but it is nothing like a normal cafe," he said. "The good thing is we get to know our clients really well. They are like friends."