At the intersection of the Route de Marseille and the Rocade, the ultra-modern coworking and living space “Cowool” will open its doors on October 1st.
At the intersection of two of Avignon’s most powerful thoroughfares, the Rocade on one side and the Route de Marseille on the other, this building, which has been abandoned for several months and in front of which the people of Avignon pass without paying any attention, will soon rise from its ashes.
Formerly a Mercure hotel and then a “Yes Hotel”, undergoing work since December, it has been bought to become “Cowool”, an ultra-modern living and working space, this Avignon site being the first to emerge under this brand, while 8 others are to come in several large French cities.
“We chose this location because the building and its outdoor spaces were perfectly suited to it, but also because it is a key location in Avignon, 8 minutes from the TGV station and 10 minutes from the ramparts and the motorway,” explains Anne-Audrey Béraud, project manager.
“It is a place of life that helps to energize the area.”
Creating a community between each “Cowooler”
A real city within a city, the building will be composed of a large volume dedicated to work (office, meeting room, coworking). The building will also have 1700m 2 of hi-tech space, as well as gardens, a cinema, a shared kitchen, an electric bike station, a dry cleaner’s, and an enclosed car park…
Ninety-eight flats will also be built, the majority of which will be 30m 2 Flex’Appart apartments and six 60m 2 flats. This space, called “Coliving”, is aimed at a young generation on the move (young professionals, students, self-employed entrepreneurs, etc.) and offers sliding scale rates.
“The prices at Cowool are all-inclusive, i.e. all the charges (water, electricity, insurance) but also a good number of services: high-speed wifi, 24/7 catering (seasonal, fresh and healthy food), a culinary workshop, a vegetable garden, an audiovisual studio and a gaming studio, a wellness and fitness area… All of this put together is well worth the cost!” continues the manager. For example, a Flex’Appart costs €650/month for 6 to 9 months, €690/month for 3 to 6 months and €720/month for 1 to 3 months.
“This very innovative concept aims to create a synergy between all the cowoolers, whether they live or work on the spot… or both. We are here to combat the isolation that many people have unfortunately experienced over the past 18 months,” adds Anne-Audrey Béraud.
In addition, the brand hopes to give a bit of a boost to this area, which is currently unattractive, even though it has a lot of potential. “It is a place of life that will help to revitalise the area. Aesthetically too, the building will embellish the landscape. There should be a large fresco on the façade by an Avignon artist” (a discussion is underway with the city on this subject).
Although the work is still in progress, reservations are open and several future Cowoolers have already signed up to join this new space in Avignon from 1 October.
Link to the article in La Provence.
Credit: By Cyrielle Granier
