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Skip that corner office

A big co-working movement is happening all around us, with such offices sprouting up across the island from Ubi to the heart of Orchard Road. Two more have joined the scene, but they’re not just offering a desk for rent and a conducive environment — one’s got a rooftop terrace, another’s all about retro upcycled furniture and a deli.

A big co-working movement is happening all around us, with such offices sprouting up across the island from Ubi to the heart of Orchard Road. Two more have joined the scene, but they’re not just offering a desk for rent and a conducive environment — one’s got a rooftop terrace, another’s all about retro upcycled furniture and a deli.

COOL OFFICE #1: KEONG SAIK COLLAB

Searching for a restaurant could change your life. Just ask Lionel Ang and Carmen Low, the owners of Keong Saik Collab which opened its doors earlier this month.

“We were back from Shanghai where we were based last July and walking down Keong Saik Road looking for Esquina. I felt a vibe and energy in the area, that something exciting was happening here — and I walked past a ‘For Rent’ sign for one of the shophouses,” explained Ang. “Two or three days later after viewing, I put down the deposit for it.”

Even though the couple had no concrete plans of moving back home, they immediately sprang into action with an idea they’ve been toying with: To have a space where budding entrepreneurs could collaborate, especially to start businesses in emerging economies.

“While working in Shanghai, we were always impressed by fellow Singaporeans we dealt with. We thought it would be great to have enterprising, capable Singaporeans working together, helping one another. We also see ourselves as a business match-making company as we have quite a wide network of contacts who can fund and mentor new businesses,” said Ang.

Keong Saik Collab is a celebration of what it means to be “balik kampong” as Low put it. Vintage items such as old Singer sewing machines were upcycled and turned into desks. Furniture that reminded them of their childhood, like a traditional Chinese bookshelf, were sourced from the karung guni, second-hand shops and upcycling companies like Second Charm and The Rocking Chair. They also brought in items from China such as ceramic garden stools and specially made pipe lamps. In fact, you could purchase these lamps from them if you’re interested. Ang is also speaking to some local artists to get their works displayed on the white walls of the office.

An attached attic above the main office has been converted into an event space that could be used for meetings, presentations or brainstorming sessions. It’s outfitted with Bluetooth technology for seamless streaming from your devices and LED floor lighting so the atmosphere is more intimate and less intimidating. Yes, you can rent it for private shindigs, too.

Perhaps the finest flourish is Glow Deli across the road. “After we got the space for our co-working office, we knew we wanted an F&B outlet which would be like a ‘continuation’ of Keong Saik Collab since the best ideas don’t always stem from the office,” Low explained.

To find this sweet spot, the pair went knocking on doors down the street and chanced upon a former stationery supply shop that wasn’t renewing its lease. Glow Deli boasts a slightly more industrial retro chic bent with cement screed flooring and exposed brick walls. It offers healthy, wholesome meals like a raw taco bowl (salsa, veggies, walnuts and avocados) alongside fresh pressed juices to nourish body and brain. Craft beers and wines are served in the evenings at the moment, and a cocktail bar will be ready after Chinese New Year. Power lunches and post work drinks? You could say this office has got them all sorted for you.

Keong Sai Collab is located at 29B Keong Saik Road. For more information, visit www.keongsaikcollab.com.

COOL OFFICE #2: EGG ACCELERATOR

It’s hard to top one’s first co-working venture space in Ho Chi Minh City, when it boasts a pool, a gym and a spa.

So how about a swanky address in a heritage building and a rooftop terrace to chill out at right in the middle of the Central Business District?

Egg Accelerator’s second co-working space is located in The Quadrant. The building, erected in the 1930s, was once the headquarters for the Kwangtung Provincial Bank but these days, it’s better known for being the home of the restaurant The Black Swan.

The company moved into the fourth level last September and it has since become a hotbed for a few start-ups in the digital field like Perx (a loyalty programme) and Between (messaging and photo app for couples).

As co-working offices can be rather clinical and stuffy, founder of Egg Accelerator, Sieng Van Tran, was determined to create something different. Hence the desire for a building with character. “People love the buzz of working in an open space with others and that was a design requirement from the start. We also wanted to allow as much natural light as possible into the building and we have highlighted the heritage nature of the building in the fit-out,” he said.

Besides the enviable large windows, black and white photographs of colonial Singapore are hung up on the walls. The office is also awaiting a London Phone Booth, which would double up as a private space for private mobile phone calls, since this is a shared office. Alternatively, you can opt for one of the nine private offices available. “We offer furnishing services for these offices — you can specify what you need, such as couches, filing cabinets, rugs, and we can do it up,” revealed office manager Amber Hilditch. “We’ve done that for companies which needed everything set up from the get go.”

Another huge perk of working here has to be what lies above. “We have an awesome rooftop terrace that our tenants can use for meetings and functions,” enthused Tran. Fully equipped with a pantry, the rooftop terrace accommodates 40 people and can be booked for private events if you’re one of the tenants at The Quadrant. It’s a pretty perfect spot at which to take a breather with deck chairs to lie back on while grass carpet rugs give it a park-like ambience.

And for those who prefer to work outdoors (seriously?) instead of chilling, there are tables here as well. “We had people going up all the time until the rainy season, but when the weather is better, there’s nothing better than sitting up here,” added Hilditch.

The Egg Accelerator is located at The Quadrant, #04-00, 19 Cecil Street. For more information, visit http://eggaccelerator.sg.

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