Discover Ministry of New, The Story of The World’s Second Most Beautiful Coworking Space*

*according to Forbes. 

What turns a workspace into a place where people want to belong? This month, Coworkies Readers Club takes you inside some of the world’s most visually striking coworking spaces to uncover the principles that make coworking design stand out. In a world where workspaces have become as flexible as the people who use them, interior design in coworking spaces has become an art form with real purpose—balancing aesthetics, adaptability, and a sense of community.

Our case study of Ministry of New, recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s most beautiful coworking spaces, dives into the choices that make it more than just a pretty space. Founder Marlies Bloemendaal’s vision reveals how a coworking space can feel like a second home and support diverse professionals with thoughtful spatial planning, adaptive interiors, and meaningful interaction points.

Across the following sections, we’ll explore the must-know design principles shaping the coworking world, share the story of Ministry of New’s rise as a social and creative anchor in Mumbai, and conclude with a curated mood board showcasing coworking spaces that bring innovative interiors to life. 

Dive in, and discover what it takes to build a coworking space that looks as good as it works.

🧑‍🔧 Key Insights on Designing Impactful Coworking Spaces

As coworking spaces continue to evolve, design has moved beyond basic functionality to serve as a strategic tool for creating and fostering a sense of community while offering flexible solutions that respond to diverse professional needs. Successful coworking interiors hinge on elements that merge culture, adaptability, and well-being. Here’s a breakdown of the essentials that shape effective coworking environments:

1. Layering Local Identity with a ‘Home-Like’ Atmosphere

2. Flexibility and Adaptability at Every Level

3. Energizing, Purposeful Aesthetics

4. Thoughtful Balance of Communal and Private Spaces

5. Emphasis on Comfort, Well-Being, and Inclusive Design

6. Built-In Mechanisms for Community and Organic Interaction

🤓 Coworking Case Study: Discover the 2nd Most Beautiful Coworking Space in The World*

*according to Forbes. 

Alright, now that we’ve unpacked some of the key principles of coworking design, it’s time to immerse ourselves in a space that brings these ideas to life. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Marlies Bloemendaal, Founder of Ministry of New—a coworking space in Mumbai that’s as functional as it is beautiful, earning its title as the world’s second most beautiful coworking space according to Forbes.

Since its founding, Ministry of New has redefined coworking in India, combining Marlies’ vision for a community-driven, aesthetically refined environment with a design that feels welcoming and flexible for everyone who steps inside.

In our conversation below, Marlies shares the story of Ministry of New, from the inspiration that sparked it to the thoughtful design choices that continue to shape its community and culture.

Ministry of New ‘ID Card’

An Interview with Marlies Bloemendaal, Founder of Ministry of New on the Journey to Creating Mumbai’s Most Inviting Workspace. 

{Slightly edited for an improved reading experience)

🎤 Pauline: Can we start with a short introduction? Who are you, Marlies?

Well, originally I’m Dutch, from the Netherlands, and I moved here about 15 years ago. My grandparents lived here, and my dad worked here as well, so there was always this family connection to India. Moving to Mumbai felt natural as if I were moving to Amsterdam or Paris. I came here to explore India’s amazing craftsmanship and get into product design. I was trained in graphic design but got tired of it—I didn’t want to sit behind a laptop every day.

So, when I moved, I got involved in the arts and worked as a freelance art director for publications like Architectural Digest. It felt so familiar and easy, almost as if I’d done it before.

I also had my design studio in an old warehouse that I renovated. It became a sort of creative hub where I hosted events. But rent in Mumbai is high, similar to New York, so I thought, "Why not share the space with other creatives?" I started calling it a collaborative creative space, and that’s where it all began. We hosted some fun events, and eventually, I heard about this global trend called coworking. It was an organic evolution—I didn’t plan to create a coworking space; it just happened.

The location you’re seeing now is different from where I originally started. I moved here about six or seven years ago. It was fantastic when you all visited, and I remember the photos and conversations we had during coworking day. It’s so nice to reconnect with you all.

🎤 We’re big fans of Ministry of New, and everywhere we go, we share your story as an example of outstanding coworking design. You mentioned that you started in a different space. What pushed you to move to your current location?

The first space was much smaller, and unfortunately, the landlord saw what I had done with the place. I’d made it nice on a tight budget, and he ended up kicking me out to either keep it for himself or rent it out at a much higher price. I was suddenly locked out. Sometimes that’s just how things go here in India.

By coincidence, I found this place, and immediately, I could envision everything. It felt like it was meant for this project.

🎤 What’s the story behind this building? What was it used for before you took it over?

It was a CBI building, the Central Bureau of Investigation—a bit like the CIA. So, it didn’t have the best energy at first, as it was a place for investigating criminals. I don’t even want to know what went on here! But I made it into a much more positive place with far better energy.

🎤 Ministry of New was recognized as the second most beautiful coworking space in the world by Forbes. That’s quite an honor. How did that come about?

Actually, I always tell my team—since they like to mention it to potential new members—that this recognition was awarded five years ago. It’s great, of course, but it was some time ago! Still, it was an amazing honor.

🎤 How did they find you? Do you remember how they approached you?

Oh, it’s all thanks to Coworker, the platform. Their founder reached out and was incredibly supportive. She was really helpful, using our beautiful photos on their homepage and everywhere. We had a very nice relationship, and I think she pitched us to Forbes. Then, all of a sudden, the recognition came through. I think it was the first year in this new location, and it was massive! It gave the team such a boost and reassured us that we were on the right track.

Especially considering we’re such a small place—just one location in Bombay, not a large corporate chain.

🎤 Does that recognition still bring you some awareness?

Yes, of course! Google still shows our space, and it’s great to get that kind of free publicity. These days, so much publicity has to be paid for, which we don’t do. And to get this kind of recognition, from experts no less, feels amazing.

🎤 I’m showing a few pictures of Ministry of New now, and I’d love for you to talk to us about the renovation process and the design concept behind it.

Sure. I see you’re showing the blue library—well, it was blue! We changed it to pink.

🎤 What? Really?

Yes! The painters came in, and the blue library is now a pink one. The space was closed off while they worked, and it was even a bit of a shock for me. All the furniture was reupholstered by a partner, an interior shop in town that offered to do this for us, which was amazing. So, the whole color scheme has completely changed.

I’m planning to introduce it as our new “pink library” and might organize some fun events around it, like rose and cinnamon-themed drinks or desserts. I even asked members to wear pink for the launch!

Overall, the idea was to create a calming, professional oasis—a place that feels like a second home, especially important for people who’ve moved to the city.

It’s a space where they can relax, build a solid network, connect with locals, and make lifelong friends. We always talk about community here. Most of all, we wanted to make a place that felt like a place of belonging.

As coworking space owners, we play an important role in building these kinds of environments, especially now. It’s essential to bring people together in a meaningful way, offering spaces where they can have conversations offline, face-to-face, not just online. A true sense of belonging gives people courage, improves their work, and makes them more creative. I think that’s our role—to build and design for that.

Every space we create encourages people to meet, host spontaneous events, and feel like they’re at home. You almost can’t avoid each other here; you’re bound to smile or say hello when you meet around the courtyards.

🎤 The space has different areas, right? Can you talk to us about the spaces you offer to members?

It’s an 8,000-square-foot, single-floor space, which helps a lot. At the center, there’s a courtyard with plenty of natural light. Then there’s a large gallery workspace, about 3,500 square feet, where freelancers and independent people can sit wherever they like, with options for different levels of privacy. It’s the quieter part of the space.

We also have the library—now pink!—which serves as our living room. We hold a monthly breakfast club and potluck here, with members bringing food. It’s a cozy, social spot that’s also great for working. Next to it, we have a café with fresh food and a fantastic chef. We keep it simple but high-quality and ask members for recipe ideas so they feel truly at home.

People move around a lot here—from the library to the gallery, to the café, and to their offices. You can’t avoid each other, so you’re always meeting people and looking them in the eye. It creates a supportive community.

🎤 Where did you find the inspiration, or where did you source it? Every time I visit, I notice new details.

A lot of things come from my home or local bazaars. I also had some items custom-made by local carpenters and artisans. At one point, we had about 200 carpenters, painters, and welders working on the space! It was quite hands-on and simple, but I liked it because it felt honest.

I could envision the whole place from the beginning; I barely needed any drawings. The only fixed items are the bookshelf, bar, and of course, the bathrooms. Everything else is movable, so we can adapt the space for events and different setups.

🎤 During this event, we’ve been talking a lot about designing spaces with the end user in mind. Who are your end users, and how did you understand what they needed?

So, the initial space I had was more of a studio primarily for creatives. But this new location, which opened several years ago, is quite mixed, and I love that. Creatives benefit from access to people in finance, and financial professionals benefit from having creatives around. We have a mix of lawyers, journalists, writers, architects, and many others. We actively connect people here, so if someone needs help with something, it’s true co-working happening in every sense. I believe we’re one of the only spaces doing this in India.

Many spaces here, like WeWork clones or even WeWork itself, are beautifully designed and offer fantastic amenities. But our focus is on people and building relationships.

Most of our members are locals or people returning to India after studying or working abroad. They feel at home here because it has a global, metropolitan feel. It’s not particularly Dutch or Indian; it’s a mix, so everyone feels welcome.

🎤 If you were to design the next Ministry of New, what would you do differently?

Not much. I was lucky with this space—it’s an old heritage building with high ceilings and lots of natural light. Finding good spaces like this in Indian cities is difficult. I’ve looked around Bombay for years, and at one point, I even considered a basement or a darker space just for the challenge of it! It doesn’t matter what the space looks like; it’s about creating a clean, spacious place centered on people.

Everyone suggests I should get an old bungalow or another heritage building, but I don’t want Ministry of New to be just about aesthetics. One of our hashtags is actually “#notjustaprettyspace.” The focus should always be on the people, not just the design.

🎤 When we visited, we noticed so many different types of people—journalists, creatives, and more. There was always something happening, like events and exhibitions.

Yes, we try to keep it vibrant. One fun project we did was set up an old office cubicle as a photo booth. We painted it a dull gray, added an old computer, phone, and clock, and made it the most boring cubicle ever. Visitors could take pictures there, and it became quite popular. Many people still have those photos as their profile pictures! We kept it as an art installation, and people still take photos there. The idea was to contrast it with our workspace—this cubicle represented everything we’re not.

🎤 Since the pandemic, have you noticed any changes in how people use the space?

Yes, definitely. More people are choosing flexible memberships, like five or ten days a month, instead of full-time dedicated desks. We adjusted to that shift, but our membership packages remained the same. We host fewer events than before, but we still have at least one weekly event. It’s nice because some of our long-term members have started organizing their events, which gives them a sense of ownership over the space.

🎤 Finally, for those watching who are designing their own spaces, do you have any advice for considering end-user needs?

If possible, have everything on one floor like we do. It allows people to naturally run into each other, fostering more connection. Avoiding multiple floors with lifts also keeps things more social. Flexibility is key—our furniture can be moved around easily, which is incredibly helpful.

We also made sure there were different types of spots, not just identical desks. Our AC isn’t the same strength everywhere, which works for members who prefer different temperatures, especially those who don’t like strong AC. The courtyard has no AC, just fans, and now that it’s the cool season, we’ve opened the whole balcony.

The high ceilings and flexible furniture layout allow us to rent the space for photoshoots and events over the weekends, which has become a significant revenue stream—about half of our income comes from rentals. Flexibility, in every sense, is critical, especially during lockdowns, flexibility saved us; it kept the business afloat by allowing us to pivot and generate income through space rentals.

🎤 Flexibility is vital for any coworking space, regardless of its size. As you mentioned, monetizing the space for events throughout the week can add significant value. Do you also host private events?

Yes, quite a few! We’ve hosted some intimate wedding parties—weddings are big in India, but these were smaller gatherings. We also rent the space to consulates, like the British Council, universities, and even NGOs. We have a mix of events, from member-hosted gatherings to public events, free and paid, as well as corporate rentals.

(Bringing Dimitar back in to wrap up)

Hey Marlies, thanks so much for this interview. I have such good memories of the space and the event we hosted there. We even met friends who later moved back to Berlin! I’d like to highlight for the audience just how much the interior design of a coworking space can reflect its founder.

When you enter a coworking space, you can often see the founder’s personality within it, from the color schemes to the interactions among members. That liveliness and openness are often direct reflections of the founder’s approachability and vibe.

Exactly. And the design is also essential to support your members. It provides an environment that not only facilitates work but attracts new people, expanding opportunities for networking and collaboration. Inviting others to work in a well-designed space reflects positively on you as a professional.

Thank you! It’s always great reconnecting with you all. Take care, and have a fantastic rest of the day.

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🌚 To Go Further: A Moodboard of Coworking Interiors

Images:

1️⃣ The Coven, Minneapolis –USA

2️⃣ The Bureau, Paris - France

3️⃣ Nest City Lab, Barcelona - Spain

4️⃣ NOI, Medellin - Colombia

5️⃣ Uncommon, London - UK

6️⃣ Impact Hub Berlin, Berlin - Germany

7️⃣ Old Session House (Knotel), London - UK

8️⃣ Haus Olé, Sankt Gallen - Switzerland

9️⃣ Working From_, Brussels - Belgium