The longer the pandemic lasts, the more annoyed many are from the home office – especially in big cities. More and more people are fleeing to coworking spaces in rural areas.
From Griet von Petersdorff, RBB Alleys line the way to Großwudicke in the Havelland, from Berlin it is about an hour and a half drive to the west by car. The deceleration sets in, enjoyment of the wide view: It is a relief after the narrowness of the city, after all the hours in the Corona home office. At first glance, Großwudicke is a normal village with old clinker brick buildings and a few newly built single-family houses. The ICE drives along behind the green noise protection wall. But right in the middle of a green building, built towards the end of the GDR era, the modern world of work has now moved in. A coworking space with the appropriate name “Waldstatt.” State-of-the-art technology, rented offices and workplaces to be rented, meeting room with oversized screen – everything is there that a “digital worker” needs.
Especially people from the area
The view out of the window falls on a farm, the way there is sandy, there is something cozy about it. Florian Kunz only founded the “Waldstatt” in October, in the middle of the pandemic – and almost everything is already booked. For him and his team, it is not so much about the pandemic-stressed Berliners who want to work here in the rural area; For them there are currently not enough overnight accommodations, even if that will certainly change. Colleagues from the surrounding area are currently sitting in the “Waldstatt”, for example from nearby Rathenow, who now prefer to work in Großwudicke than in Berlin.
The coworkers revitalize the village
Precisely twelve o’clock, noon, the bells of the nearby church are ringing. The coworkers move to the village butcher, it’s only a two-minute walk. Sometimes a dog barks, sometimes the crowing of a rooster accompanies the “Waldstatt Troop”. The Mäser family’s village butcher shop is the “meeting point” in the village, especially at “lunch time”. There are BrühpolISCHE and Wudicker Lümmel, and one thing quickly becomes clear: this is nothing for vegans. What does the Mäser butcher family say about the coworking space in the neighborhood? They couldn’t do much with the term “coworking”. But the Mäsers see that the “Waldstatt” invigorates the community, and they also think that’s good. A touch of big city flair has found its way into Großwudicke.
Requirement: fast internet
The city comes to the village – that’s what hairdresser Stefan Thiem also thinks. More and more people want to move here, there are many children, a good school and a train station. Großwudicke, who once turned their back on their old homeland because of a lack of perspective, are increasingly coming back and giving their village another chance. Mayor Felix Menzel supports the further development of the village to the best of his ability. While strolling through the town, he proudly points to an inconspicuous little building: the Telekom distribution box is inside. In other words: Großwudicke has fast internet – an important recipe for success. That is why it works so well in the “Waldstatt”. If the Internet works, modern work is possible. And then life in the country becomes an increasingly popular way of life.
A trend is spreading
Coworking spaces in the country are emerging all over the state of Brandenburg. There is the now almost famous “Coconat” near Bad Belzig, chic and with a high wellness character; Sometimes artists and writers retreat to the beautiful premises of the estate for a few weeks. Or the old school Letschin in the east of Brandenburg: Here coworkers have the opportunity to rent, work and enjoy the beauties of the Oderbruch – for around twelve euros a day. Coworking spaces in rural areas are politically supported. The chance is that regions that were once left behind will gain new momentum and suddenly become trendy. Here Berlin radiates in all directions of the region.
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