The community in a Barcelona coliving does not appear on its own: it is held up by enough shared space, a coherent resident profile and someone who actually programmes the calendar. At La Fabrica &Co that translates into more than 2,000 m² of common areas, a Txoko kitchen for dinners and private events, a rooftop with a pool, networking events and 24-hour on-site assistance. Master’s, PhD and research students live alongside founders and digital nomads who work in the coworking space in the same building.
What makes a Barcelona coliving a real community and not just a group of neighbours?
There are four signals you can check before signing.
Shared square metres per person. If the building is full of rooms and has one lounge, social life happens in the corridor or it does not happen at all. La Fabrica &Co devotes more than 2,000 m² to common areas: rooftop terrace, pool, gym, shared kitchen, bar, meeting rooms and a podcast recording studio.
A kitchen where ten people can cook at the same time. Cooking standing up, together and without rushing is where you really get to know people. That is why there is a large kitchen on each level (two in total), plus the Txoko kitchen, designed for private events: resident dinners, celebrations, team meals.
Work and home in the same place, but separate. When the coworking space is in the building, you cross paths with people you would never have met otherwise. And when you can also close the door and go up to the terrace, you do not end up working in bed.
A real person at reception. 24-hour on-site assistance is what turns “we have a community” into “someone introduces you to somebody on your first day”. A bot in an app does not do that.
If a space does not meet at least three of the four, what they are selling you as community is a messaging group.
Who lives here? The profile matters more than the building
A community works when people have something to exchange. At La Fabrica &Co three groups live side by side:
- Master’s students, PhD candidates and researchers. They come to Barcelona for a specific programme, between six months and three years.
- Founders and entrepreneurs who use the coworking space and build their own projects.
- Digital nomads who are studying a postgraduate programme and living in the coliving.
A PhD candidate, a mentor and a founder are not competing: they explain things to each other and share what they know. That is where the talent hub positioning comes from, rather than “residence with extras”. You can see how it is set out by the La Fabrica &Co community itself.
What you will not find here: families, weekend stays or people looking for the cheapest rent in Poblenou.
What kind of events are there and where do you check the calendar?
There are two scheduled formats, and they solve different things.
| Format | Where it happens | What it is for | How to get in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Networking events | Bar, meeting rooms, rooftop | Meeting people who work in your sector or in one that interests you | Scheduled by the space; open to residents and to anyone with a coworking plan |
| Dinners and private events | Txoko kitchen, event spaces | Small groups, long conversations, resident celebrations | Organised by a resident or a team who books the space |
Beyond the calendar, two things work every day without anyone calling a meeting: the wellness activities and the gym, which create a shared routine without forcing you to socialise, and the podcast recording studio, booked for personal projects and interviews.
On frequency, the honest answer is that it varies from month to month and there is no fixed published cadence, which is why you can ask the team at reception for this month’s calendar — it is staffed at any hour. If you are comparing colivings, always ask for last month’s calendar so you have a solid reference.
How much does it cost to live at La Fabrica &Co?
Studios and accommodation range from around €1,825 a month to €2,900 a month, depending on the type of room or studio. Coworking is contracted separately if you only need the workspace: day pass from €29, flex plan from €139 a month and fixed plan from €287 a month.
The fair price comparison when you are searching is against the total cost: rent, utilities, weekly cleaning, gym, pool, workspace and social calendar, all on one invoice, with no flat deposit, no one-year contract and no hunting for flatmates online. If that sum does not add up for you, coliving is not your product. The up-to-date breakdown of what each type of accommodation includes is on the coliving page.
Why Poblenou and not the city centre?
Doctor Trueta 191 is in the 22@, the district where Barcelona concentrates tech offices, research centres and startups. You live where your people work, not forty minutes away.
And Bogatell beach is a short walk away. Which explains why in September the terrace fills up before the gym does.
The building opened in September 2024, so the community has been built from scratch with the first residents. That has one rarely mentioned advantage: the community is always open to welcoming new members with open arms.
Is it a fad or is there something behind it?
Coliving in Spain is in an expansion phase, not a plateau. According to Brains Real Estate News, Spain will multiply its number of coliving beds by five over the coming years. EjePrime points to record investment in the sector and to a model that specifically attracts young professionals, and the Observatorio Inmobiliario identifies demand from young professionals in large cities as the engine of that growth.
The practical translation for you: you are going to see a lot of new options in Barcelona over the next few years, with very different levels of community between them. Some will be international chains present in several European cities; others, small neighbourhood buildings. Compare them using the four criteria from the first section rather than by the photos.
Who is this coliving right for, and who is it not for?
It fits you if:
- You arrive in Barcelona without a network and want one in two weeks, not in two years.
- You are doing a master’s, a PhD or research and want to live close to the 22@.
- You are building something and need coworking and home behind the same front door.
- You move between cities and do not want one-year contracts or furniture.
It does not fit you if:
- Price is your absolute priority.
- You are coming with a partner and children and looking for family life.
- You need a completely silent building, with no community.
- You only want a desk: that is what standalone coworking is for, from €29 a day, with no accommodation.
Being honest about that last point saves everyone a visit.
How to take the next step
Go and see it, or take our virtual tour on the coliving page. If you get the chance to go, look at whether there are people in the common areas, and ask a resident how long they have been there and whether they know anyone from another floor.
You can book a visit or clear up questions about availability and studio types from the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is social life like in a coliving in Barcelona?
It revolves around the shared spaces and each resident’s own rhythm. At La Fabrica &Co that means dinners in the Txoko kitchen, afternoons on the rooftop and by the pool, the gym and wellness activities, plus the daily encounters with people working in the building’s coworking space. Nobody forces you to take part: there is a private studio with a smart lock for whenever you want to switch off.
Are there networking events for residents?
Yes, and there is no sign-up list to get in: they are announced on the community page and at reception, which is staffed 24 hours. They are also open to anyone on a coworking plan who does not live in the building, so the circle of contacts you build is wider than your neighbours on the same floor.
What profile do the residents of La Fabrica &Co have?
Three main groups: master’s students, PhD candidates and researchers; founders who use the building’s coworking space; and digital nomads on medium-length stays for postgraduate studies. It is an adult, professional profile, geared towards exchanging talent. It is not designed for families, weekend tourist stays or holiday groups.
How much does the coliving cost and what does the price include?
Studios and accommodation range from around €1,825 a month to €2,900 a month depending on the type. The price includes weekly cleaning, bed linen and towels, WiFi, air conditioning, laundry, a safe and access to the common areas: rooftop, pool, gym and shared kitchen. Parking may carry an additional cost.
Can I use the coworking space without living in the coliving?
Yes. Coworking plans are contracted separately: day pass from €29, flex plan from €139 a month and fixed plan from €287 a month. They give access to flexible workspaces, meeting rooms and the space’s events, at Doctor Trueta 191, in the heart of the 22@ district in Poblenou.
Where exactly is it and when did it open?
At Doctor Trueta 191, 08005 Barcelona, in the El Poblenou neighbourhood, inside the 22@ tech area and a short walk from Bogatell beach. The building opened in September 2024, which is why the community has been built from scratch with the first residents.
What should I ask when comparing colivings in Barcelona?
Four specific things: how many shared square metres there are per resident, whether the kitchen lets several people cook at the same time, whether the workspace is in the same building, and whether there are staff on site 24 hours. Also ask for last month’s events calendar, not the one on the website.
Which district of Barcelona is the coliving in?
In the district of Sant Martí, specifically in the El Poblenou neighbourhood, inside the 22@ tech area and a short walk from Bogatell beach. The address is Doctor Trueta 191, 08005 Barcelona.