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Ask HN: Would you use a silent coworking space?

16 points by loorinm ↗ HN
I live in San Francisco. Back when I was studying on my own/unemployed etc, it was impossible to find a place in downtown to study that had quiet. The only place is the SF Public Library but it's full of poop and crazy people. I just wanted a quiet place to study that isn't my house, that's downtown and feels like a work space, not my own house.

I've been thinking starting a quiet coworking space as a business idea.

I would charge $2 an hour, much like Workshop Cafe SF.

Would you use it? Why or why not?

14 comments

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kevinyun
I'm a big fan of http://Deskpass.com in Chicago. It's access to tons of coworking spaces and has really affordable monthly pricing. For me, I got desk pass because I like a combo of different days between vibrant and quiet. As far as pricing, I would probably be more comfortable with monthly pricing vs hourly.

Just a .02 from a guy who works remotely and has different preferences at times.

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pmiller2
Personally, probably not. I live really close to UCB, so I'd just go there if I were interested in silence. I do, however, see some merit in the idea.
superuser2
I seem to recall being turned away from the gate at UCB's main library. Did you go to school there, or how do you get in?
vortico
I've used spaces with monthly rates, but I like the idea of hourly, since I'm not in SF most days. In this case, I'd recommend an online scheduling and payment system to avoid showing up with no vacancies. Let me know if you start your business. I'll definitely use it.
bbcbasic
If I were a freelancer or starting my own business then yes. I'd probably want a decent desk / monitor setup. Quite ergonomic, and some kind of visual privacy too. I'd pay more for that though than $2/hr.
bettyx1138
Yes. I need quiet. And I slack off too much when I wfh. I however live in NYC.
sheraz
There Are places like this in NYC for writers.

Paragraphny.com

Writersroom.org

They have a specific focus, which is what makes it so nice.

I think having one for Devs could be interesting, and I would pay more than $2/hr for the privilege.

selmat
I am not from your region but for me is also important have quiet environment for thinking. I hate open-office and crowded workplace. So I would prefer some like this: http://assets.inhabitat.com/files/2010/04/pod1.jpg

Personally....i definitely would use your service. $2/h is reasonable price.

superuser2
What you a describing is basically a private university's library, and hell yes. Though I retain access to my university's library, I don't live in that city anymore, and I have been unable to find anything like it.

Huge rooms. Reasonably nice interior decor. Fast wifi, reasonable printing, comfortable chairs at long tables with lots of outlets, rooms scattered throughout that can be reserved in half hour increments for collaborative work, expectation of silence in the main reading rooms.

I have often wished that companies wanting open plan offices would adopt this model (really all that's missing from most of them is silence).

loorinm
Universities have the luxury of collecting huge tuition, tax money, and endowments to support these facilities.

Being one person with minimal investment, I doubt I'll be able to start out at that level..

akg_67
I liked a co-working space SociLabo in Sendai, Japan that was like what you are describing. Most people quietly worked on their laptop or studied. Super cheap 100 Yen a day. Just a room with few chairs and tables and 50Mbps Wireless Internet. Looks exactly like cover photo on its Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/socilabo/ http://socilabo.com

ConG42
Working on a similar idea that uses underused spaces throughout cities. Starting with yoga/meditation classes abd letting space be bookable as well. Check out pre- launch site at 2b-infinite.com and drop me a line at connorgarrity108@gmail.com... Would love to talk some things I have been finding out related to your idea..
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