Second Home LA: Coworking for the Future
In the midst of a pandemic, one London-based coworking startup has done the impossible. They’ve gained clients.
A splash of color overlooking downtown LA. Photo: Iwan Baan
Second Home, founded by tech entrepreneur Rohan Silva, designed their Los Angeles location with social distancing in mind before it even entered the world’s vocabulary. Opened in September 2019, it has now become the model for pandemic-safe workspaces.
“We obviously had no idea COVID was coming, but we did work hard to create an environment that was healthy and good for people’s well-being, which perhaps makes you a bit more resilient when the unexpected happens,” says Silva. “We’re very lucky because over half of our two-acre campus is outdoors. In the past few months, we’ve had over 20 different companies start using the space because they feel more secure here.”
Interior of one self-contained pod
Outdoors and self contained
Second Home boasts a sprawling rooftop deck and shaded courtyard, perfect for the LA heat. In addition, health-focused architectural additions easily follow social distance guidelines. A series of self-contained pods made from easily cleanable plastic replace the typical sea of desks expected in most coworking spaces. It’s also almost entirely outdoor. From above, this former youth center and adjoining ex–parking lot resemble a brightly colored sea of lily pads.
View from above. Photo: Iwan Baan
On top of it all, fresh air is pumped in from a hospital-grade MERV-13 HVAC system. “We made the decision to invest hospital-grade air filtration, simply because we wanted people to breathe clean air,” Silva says. A decision that proves to be incredibly enticing for the creative professionals of LA.
Refreshingly Green Coworking Space
Next, Madrid-based architecture firm SelgasCano, with whom Silva collaborates on all Second Home locations, designed the self described biggest urban forest in LA. They packed the location with 6,500 native Californian plants from more than 110 different species. With their focus on an urban jungle, they offer a refreshingly green work environment that’s perfect for the gridlocked city.
Views from the areas between pods. Photo: Sinziana Velicescu
With the future of working uncertain, we love to see innovation on such a creatively-focused scale. The modern office is changing for the better. A focus on luxury, wellness, flexibility is essential for the future. We are proud a part of an industry on the forefront of this change, and continually inspired by our coworking friends.
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