Opened co-working space "WeWork Iceberg (Iceberg)" from the US, causing innovation from Harajuku

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"WeWork (Wee work)" headquartered in New York and providing community type workspace in more than 283 countries in 22 countries around the world "WeWork Iceberg (Iceberg)" which will be a flagship store on the 1st of August 2018, "(Shibuya · Jingumae 6-chome) opened.
▲ Opened in Shibuya and Harajuku, six domestic bases along the Meiji Dori
Looking back on the expansion of the co-working space in the country in the first place, as effective measures of the idle real estate of empty buildings and vacant tenants, space started to be formed mainly in Shibuya from around 2011, use of start-up companies, freelance, nomad workers Increasing rapidly while involving people. As one of the urban "new ways of working", there is a background that the space gradually spreads all over the country. Recently, irrespective of freelance and venture companies, large companies are beginning to use "satellite space", "telework space", and communities and collaborative places beyond the boundaries between companies. It is no longer a fixed seat or an era of working in the office.
Amidst the transformation of these work styles, we came like a black ship from abroad, "WeWork" which is the largest co-working space management company in the world. Along with Uber and Airbnb, it has attracted a great deal of attention as a unicorn company of the US venture. Starting with the opening of the first shop in Tokyo Roppongi Ark Hills South Tower in February this year, Ginza, Marunouchi North Exit, Shimbashi Kita entrance, Shinbashi, Hibiya dōkyo and so on, six bases including Shibuya and Iceberg this time in less than half a year Count. Unlike the domestic co-working space that originally expanded from the utilization of idle real estate, there are striking things for the first time in the scale and facilities that stand out. Especially the newly opened iceberg boasts a space of 1st to 7th floors and boasts a huge capacity to accommodate a capacity of 700 people.

The other day, since the inside exhibition for the media was held, I would like to quickly introduce what is going on inside the iceberg.
The location is Jingumae 6-chome, a good location along Meiji Dori that connects Shibuya and Harajuku. Building with full glass is bluish, design like ice blocks and crystals of crystals is impressive like facility name "Iceberg" which means "iceberg". Speaking of the building where Audi's large-scale showroom "Audi Forum Tokyo" originally occupied, it should be understood that "Oh, that wonderful building".
▲ Cafe counter available for general customers
When entering the 1F entrance, the cafe counter comes into the eye immediately. "STREAMER COFFEE (Streamer Coffee)" boasting of popularity in the Harajuku area runs, and it can use not only WeWork members but also general customers.
The cafe produced by WeWork is the world's first attempt, including a limited soft cream "Milk Cream Typtoon" (Milk · Cream · Typhoon) which can be tasted only at this shop, a rich Matchary Latte "Military Latte" etc. It is said to provide.
Well, I would like to step into the space of only members. In the back of the 1F cafe counter, the member - shared community space spreads.
In the open space with ceiling height, you can use according to the number of people and use, such as relaxing sofa seat and table seat which can focus on work. We also set up DJ booths and audiovisual equipment, and in the future we will have talk events and panel discussions by inviting guest speakers at the pace two or three times a week in the same space, new product launch sessions by members, workshops, etc. Variety rich Develop community events.
We will position the 1F floor as an opportunity for people to interact with each other regardless of generations, industries and occupations, and will provide opportunities for new encounters.
Mr. Masami Takahashi of GM (general manager) on the difference with the conventional co-working space is "It's not just a space provider, but emphasis on the community." Iceberg raised "Center of Gravity for Entrepreneurs" as a concept I hope to have a hub-like role to create ideas and collaboration with people who have an entrepreneurial mind gather here and make it a place to bring innovation. "
On the 1st floor, set up a pantry space where you can drink coffee, tea, beer etc freely. A bit of a breath between work, sprinkle coffee while talking with each other as a member, has become one of the devices to foster mutual favor. The streamer cafe also offers coffee in the space.
After the evening, there are many figures of members who talk with each other while drinking beer.
The 2nd to 7th floor is a work space. The member plan is "Hot desk (member without fixed seat)" "Special desk (member with fixed seat)", "Private office (independent room according to the number of teams)" three.
▲ 2F workspace. If you contract with the hot desk plan, you can use it freely
By the way, monthly charge of "hot desk" without fixed seat is 100,000 yen ~. In addition to high-speed Wi-Fi, up to a certain number of copies and printers can be used within a monthly fee. Furthermore, as Japan's first effort, although it is only a private office, commuting with a dog is OK. In recent years, overseas IT major companies such as Google and Amazon, it is said that permission to commute with pets is permitted because activation of internal communication and work efficiency can be expected to improve, but also to incorporate such new work style trends flexibly There.
▲ "Private room space" that can be reserved from specialized applications
When members make meetings, meetings, etc., private room spaces of different shapes and sizes can be easily reserved according to the use from member smartphone apps. In addition, "Horn Room" that can be used for telephone calls and online meetings, and "Wellness Room" which can be used for children's lactation and religious prayers are also available.

In addition to booking private room space, if you wish to use WeWork other than your home base, such as on a business trip or traveling, you can use any space both in and outside of the country if you book through a special application. It is planned to open in regional cities such as Yokohama (November), Osaka (December) and Fukuoka (December) within the year, so companies that will move local branches / business offices to WeWork will also gradually I wonder if it will increase. Yet another application is superior to having the ability to instantaneously interact with 250,000 members worldwide. Not to mention new products and events, as well as discussions on ideas and issues can be done among members. This is the reason why it emphasizes that "it is not just a space provider but a place to provide a community".
▲ Floor with open air in the ceiling height
Currently, the word "sharing economy" is one of the keywords of innovation, but at WeWork, in addition to "sharing" such as space, ideas, networks, and other aspects of building facilities in each country, we take one more thing It is "the share of light" that is. "Because natural light has the effect of evoking the creativity of people, WeWork often has bases in many windows, and in terms of being able to share" light "with members, Iceberg (full glassed) I think that it is a place that is perfect for creating communities to think about, "Mr. Takahashi said.
Iceberg is lighted from any angle at 360 degrees, and it is bright enough even without lighting during the daytime.

Only the first and second floors of the common area were opened to the media this time. Unfortunately we were unable to visit floors 3 - 7 because of the private office. Shibuya, Harajuku Kaiwai is the area where the most co-working space is concentrated in Japan, and it is large and small from small "drop-in type" to "community type" "share office type" for workers seeking Wi-Fi environment There is space. I think that the monthly usage fee of WeWork is about 2 to 3 times higher than the price of other space in such a coworking space battle area. Nonetheless, there are six domestic sites (expanding to nine bases in the year), including the world, from the scale to deploy in more than 283 places of 75 cities in 22 countries, entrepreneurs And for venture companies it seems very convenient. In addition, the quality of venture companies and members who move in is also high, and it seems to be said that it is a perfect environment as a place to find opportunities to create personal connections and collaborations. Whether you see it as expensive or cheap, its judgment is somewhat difficult, but in terms of location, facilities, amenities and community it can be said to be a very attractive workspace.

Editorial department · Fuji Itakashi

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