The Rise of Community Living for Remote Workers in Montreal
For many remote workers and digital nomads, the greatest challenge of working from anywhere is not the internet connection, but the isolation that often accompanies it. As the world embraces flexible work arrangements, the need for community and connection has become increasingly important. In Montreal’s vibrant Village neighborhood, an innovative housing model is addressing this issue by prioritizing community over traditional living arrangements.
Introducing Noco: A New Kind of Co-Living Space
Enter Noco, a 16-bedroom building operated by Nomad Coliving, designed specifically for location-independent professionals. This unique co-living space accommodates between 18 to 20 residents at a time, creating an environment where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally. The concept is simple yet powerful: foster a sense of belonging among like-minded individuals who share similar lifestyles and work habits.
Maria Kinoshita, the founder of Nomad Coliving, emphasizes that Noco is not just another roommate situation. “Here is an intentional co-living space,” she explains. “People who are living here live here because they want to live together and meet people who have the same kind of lifestyle they have.” This intentionality sets Noco apart from traditional housing options.
A Hub for Collaboration and Connection
Converted from a traditional Montreal six-plex, the first floor of Noco serves as a central hub for its residents. It features a spacious kitchen, a cozy living room, dedicated call rooms for remote meetings, and a large communal co-working space. This layout encourages interaction and collaboration, making it easy for residents to connect over coffee or while working side by side.
The cost of living at Noco is approximately $1,000 per month for a single room. This rent covers shared amenities such as laundry facilities, a small gym, and essential supplies like coffee and toilet paper, along with regular cleaning services for communal areas. The focus on shared living not only alleviates feelings of isolation but also fosters a supportive community atmosphere.
A Thoughtful Selection Process
To maintain a harmonious living environment, Kinoshita implements an interview process for applicants. This ensures that new residents are a good fit for the existing community. “We don’t want to have people coming for a room, but for the community,” she explains. This thoughtful approach helps cultivate a sense of belonging among residents, making Noco more than just a place to stay.
While Montreal grapples with a broader lack of affordable housing, Kinoshita clarifies that Noco is not intended as a solution to the housing crisis. Instead, it targets a specific demographic of remote workers who are looking for a community rather than the cheapest living option. “When I travel, I live in co-living too, and my goal is to have a community of like-minded people, a place where I can work from,” she adds.
A Diverse and Engaging Community
The typical resident at Noco stays for about four to six months, and while their daily routines revolve around remote work, the social integration into the city is a significant draw. Tyler Reimer, a resident from Calgary, highlights the importance of the social aspect: “I think for me it’s the social aspect of it, getting to know people from different countries, or even just other parts of Canada.”
This multicultural environment enriches the living experience at Noco. Daniela Falla, a resident from Uruguay, appreciates the diversity: “This is a very interesting mix,” she says, referring to her housemates from various countries, including India, England, and China. Such interactions not only enhance personal growth but also foster a sense of global community.
Seasonal Support in a Challenging Climate
Nomad Coliving also operates a second location, Nico, in Montreal’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood. For international arrivals during Quebec’s harsher winter months, the built-in social network becomes especially vital. Darianna Molina, a Nico resident from Spain, shares her experience: “We got here in the middle of winter when there is not a lot else to do besides looking at the snow. Having more people inside the house for me was great because I didn’t feel isolated.”
Her partner, Aitor Romero, also from Spain, notes that the professional demographic of co-living spaces alters the standard shared-housing experience. “In a co-living space, they are not students; they are adults, so people tend to be easier to connect and engage,” he explains.
A Vision for the Future
Kinoshita is currently developing a new co-living space in Okinawa, Japan, but she has no immediate plans to expand beyond the Noco and Nico properties in Canada. However, she hopes to see the co-living model gain wider acceptance and inspire similar projects elsewhere.
She believes a cultural shift is necessary regarding how adults view shared living. “I think it’s a need… maybe the education has to be done because a lot of people feel like we should have our own house,” Kinoshita reflects. “For some people it’s great, but for others, maybe you should consider living with other people. It won’t be a roommate situation when you were a student because we’re all adults and responsible.”
In a world where remote work is becoming the norm, the innovative approach of Noco and similar co-living spaces offers a promising solution to the challenges of isolation, fostering community and connection among digital nomads and remote workers.
