Admire the view of the Eiffel Tower and Paris' iconic monuments from Kwerk's rooftop. Enhance your complexion and hair naturally with Deskopolitan's colorimetry workshop. Have your suit tailor-made at The Bureau – and then get back to work. Yes, you're actually in a coworking space, even if the word itself is prohibited. Here, people call it a "haute couture office." "Bureau," the French word for office, is shunned in favor of "suite." All occupants are offered a "unique" work experience inspired by the luxury industry.
"The current trend is 'show me where you work, and I'll tell you who you are,'" explained Laurent Geneslay, The Bureau's founder. This former trader left the world of finance in 2015 and set his sights on rewriting the codes of the office. Traditional coworking spaces no longer match the aspirations of a new generation keen to promote well-being at work. "I wanted to modernize business centers, with their single-activity tower and their metro, work, sleep routine. My vision was a top-of-the-range space in a central location, with beautiful decor, included services so that all occupants have to focus on is their work, and a good restaurant to negotiate deals around the table," explained Geneslay.
The Bureau was launched in 2017 in the "golden triangle," in the heart of Paris' 8th arrondissement. Its network now boasts four addresses, sought after by almost 200 companies, with prices ranging from €500 to €1,000 per workstation per month, explained Geneslay. "Nowadays, people visit coworking spaces like they would explore a hotel. Joining one of these premium establishments is like joining a club: You pay to be a part of it. You post pictures of your office on social media. Like clothes or cars, offices have become an ostentatious sign of wealth."
They also act as a lure for young graduates. In 2023, Laurent da Silva, a former talent director at LinkedIn, set up his own recruitment consulting firm to attract the best consultants. He visited several workspaces and settled on Kwerk. Founded in 2015, this "collection of exceptional offices" is available at four addresses catering to a premium clientele – law firms, consultancies, investment funds, luxury companies – willing to spend an average of €2,500 each month on a workstation.
"There's a 'Wow!' effect when I greet applicants. The concierges know everyone's first name. The common areas are fantastic. And that's without even mentioning the 300-square-meter terrace with a view of the Eiffel Tower. The barista offers them a nice latte and all kinds of snacks. Even those used to big offices can't get over the fact that it feels more like a hotel than an office. We have yoga and pilates classes at lunchtime and a gym open even during the weekend," explained da Silva, whose team now includes 25 employees.
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