Collaborative Work Spaces are Balancing Fluid Nature of Work and Play [PSFK 2015]

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PSFK is excited to invite NeueHouse’s managing director, James O’Reilly to speak at PSFK’s flagship conference April 16-18. offers inspiring workspaces where solo entrepreneurs and small teams rent space to work alongside other creative professionals. We sat down with James to discuss the shifting needs of today’s workforce, and the role networked spaces play in the digital age.

NeueHouse caters to a workforce where the line between work and play aren’t as clearly defined. How has NeueHouse built offerings around this shift?

NeueHouse was born out of frustration, primarily with traditional real estate. The way we work is much more fluid and enigmatic than ever before, work bleeds into play and vice versa.

Before our work, play patterns were siloed, now we live a much more integrated life, but the paradigms that facilitate both haven’t adopted to these changes.

NeueHouse was established to address some broad secular trends influencing the way we live and work, and everything in between. It is a private work collective, which is intensely experiential—using great design, intuitive hospitality, community and culture to support creative entrepreneurs.

Technology has scaled the impact individuals can have by connecting them to a broader community of support. What do you see as the future of entrepreneurship in a digital age, and how do collaborative spaces play a role?

Technology has allowed small talented teams to dislodge even the most established of industry behemoths. You no longer need to build a big company to change the world, in fact, the new bravado is how much you can do with less; smaller more productive teams, oftentimes leveraging wider networks of specialized freelance talent, are capable of incredible things.

I see such side projects as hopeful transitions, as low-risk, iterative ways to trying new things which may well provide a transition from transactional 9-5 work into something more rewarding.

Social platforms provide civilians with access to deeper audiences of well-segmented consumers. These platforms amplify the message similar to how traditional media once did, but in a much more democratic way and providing deeper connections to engaged communities.

[NeueHouse leverages] the importance of community and the power of engaging with super talented, creative thinkers who may be like-minded but from different backgrounds.

To hear and PSFK’s selection of thought leaders, change-makers, and creators inspire new ideas on how to live, work, and play better, join us at our conference April 16-18 in New York City. Tickets are available now.