While remote work is most often associated with working from home, many people still prefer an office environment when their job can be done remotely. The proportion of such people is high in Finland: according to the CASTELLUM study, 70% of respondents in Finland in 2024 could partly or totally imagine working from a co-working office. However, the spatial distribution of current co-working spaces in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area - where Finland’s largest job market is located - is quite unbalanced. Most existing co-working spaces are in or around the city center, while only a few co-working spaces can be found in Espoo and even fewer in Vantaa. Existing co-working spaces serve the largest number of remote workers, who predominantly live in the city center and surrounding neighbourhoods. However, co-working spaces in non-central areas are essential, as residents of the city's periphery travel longer distances, creating more greenhouse gas emissions. To study optimal locations for new co-working spaces, the Urban Physics Research Group at Tampere University analyzed data on existing co-working facilities and developed an algorithm to maximize the spatial distribution of new co-working spaces while minimizing the amount of new co-working offices. The algorithm ensures that co-working spaces are accessible from almost any point in the city within 15 minutes on foot, maintains a minimum walking distance of 30 minutes between any two co-working offices, and restricts new facilities to areas with existing office buildings. The proposed co-working space locations support the 15-minute city concept, where essential services are accessible within a 15-minute walk. This approach reduces car dependency and subsequently decreases greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, reduced reliance on automobiles promotes active travel modes and helps to reduce the number of premature deaths by increased physical activity. The map and analysis by Petr Anashin
