Meet Moscow’s first co-working space with a private members business club

Meet Moscow’s first co-working space with a private members business club

Football Frenzy period has begun! The FIFA World Cup 2018 is here, and it’s one of the biggest sport events in the world with true fans of the sport, rooting for the favorite football team to win the cup.

With the event being held in Russia, we are sure several people or rather true football fans would love to travel down there and hail their teams to victory… more of an “ova di bar” moment.

One of the stadia though that will host the major games is Luzhniki Stadium located in the heart of Moscow. With a sitting capacity of over 8000 people, Luzhniki will host up to seven games, with three main games, the opening, semifinal and final game being held at the stadium.

A quick background on Moscow, it is the most populous city in Europe with over 12 million residents and continues to expand. Fortunately, the metro system is the world’s largest, fastest, and most efficient way in which people move.

Year after year, Moscow finds itself listed at the top of the most expensive cities in the world. To enjoy a comfortable lifestyle be prepared to part with a few dollar or rubles and finding suitable, affordable accommodation is one of the most troublesome things about moving to Moscow.

Many expatriates find themselves in the “Garden Ring” of the city – the second loop outside the center. Dropping some serious rubles on a flat is not unusual, usually to the tune of ₽80,000-140,000 ($1200-2000). Unless you’re prepared to face housing costs as well as foreigner prices for the city’s attractions, Moscow can hollow you out.

After all the expenses and frustrations of getting by in this, are there any redeeming qualities for the digital nomad? How about a busy day far from your headquarters and you may need a place an urgent video conference with an overseas partner?

Or you may be in Moscow on a business trip and do not have a permanent location? Also, how about a modest budget that cannot allow you to afford a fixed office or find it too expensive to rent after all its just a few days before you travel back.

Workspace in the centre of Moscow

Well, there are a growing number of co-working spaces with stylish ambiance and full amenities as well.

On this feature we decided to look at some of the cool co-working spaces in Moscow that you might find your way there just in case you are caught up in the football frenzy and you still need to virtually attend that meeting minutes to the big game.

Cabinet Lounge on Novaya Ploshad’

One such place is the Cabinet Lounge on Novaya Ploshad’ which is a redecorated historical mansion strategically located near many government institutions and around the “Garden Ring” of the city (takes you roughly 24 mins from Luzhniki Stadium).

The Cabinet Lounge is termed as Moscow’s first and so far, the only private members business club and represents a new business format for Russia which is termed as one that has already functioned successfully for several years in other key business capital cities.

Found in the heart of Moscow, the space also offers office premises from 20 to 50 m2 to rent. They are available for a long – and short-term rental. The space also has several meeting rooms for 6 to 12 people which include conferencing equipment, plasma screen TV, and flipchart. Some rooms also include video-conferencing facilities.

Conferencing Facility (Photo Credits: Cabinet Lounge Website)

Cabinet Lounge is a fully-functional business space, with meeting rooms, fully-equipped work spaces and offices, a conference hall with video conferencing facilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, a secretary, IT consultant, first class bar and a restaurant serving delicious, healthy food.

The co-working space is intended to cater for the needs of business and creative people who are not tied to a specific place of work or a nine-to-five schedule, people who need a high-quality office within the Garden Ring for important negotiations and presentations.

Office Space (Photo Credits: Cabinet Lounge Website)

The space also provides a base for businesspeople whose main office is located outside of the city centre, or outside of Moscow. The space allows the heads of large international companies to hold important meetings and corporate events on neutral territory.

Why club?

Cabinet Lounge is defined as a club because it can only be used by its members. This approach is necessary so that even during peak times your comfort is ensured, just like in your own office, and that you are only surrounded by your peers.

According to Moscow Times, the Cabinet Lounge was started off by an Architect called Anton Khmelnitsky. The idea of having a co-working space in the middle of Moscow town came to life as he had to work between two cities that were miles away, that’s Moscow and London for the at least 10 years.

The office of Architects of Invention, the international company that he works for, is in London. But many of its customers are in Moscow. Arranging meetings used to be quite a task without a constant presence in Russia’s capital.

That is how he came up with the idea of a shared business space and co-founded Cabinet Lounge, which allows businesspeople to rent an office or meeting room in a redecorated historical mansion on Novaya Ploshchad, near many government institutions.

Co-working space. (Photo Credits: Cabinet Lounge website)

The co-working package includes: Flex that goes for/, Club, Resident and corporate package that includes One day visit to the space may cost you around 3,500 rubles which is roughly translated to $62.

Other notable co-working spaces in Moscow

Apart from Cabinet Lounge, DI Telegraph which is in the landmark Central Telegraph building on Tverskaya. Prices start from 800 rubles ($14) per day and 7,600 rubles per month.

Another notable coworking place is Rabochaya Stantsiya or Workstation which is in the middle of Gorky Park, about a 10-minute walk from the Leninsky Prospekt metro station. Prices start from 750 rubles ($13.5) per day and from 13,000 a month. The Start Hub is another amazing co-working space. The prices start from 400 rubles ($7) per day.

Other co-working spaces include GVA Hub, Smart Place, Union Place, AirLab, Work Station Plaza, Grow Up, and Coworking 14.

Interesting read? Read more here!