LifeX LifeX was created by Ritu & Sune after both of them struggled with their transitions between Copenhagen and San Francisco. LifeX is a co-living community based in three different locations in Copenhagen offering both accommodation and a network to young working professionals from all other the world. We had the chance to drop by and have a chat with a very friendly resident, Morgan, who moved to LifeX a few months ago. Danish design is fascinating. It is both functional and beautiful. Simple and harmonious. All unnecessary parts have been removed. What is left is what you need, plus the aesthetic. Meeting Morgan at LifeX, a co-living community in the heart of Copenhagen was an experience of Danish design as its best. Even better. With a great portion of “hygge� served by the friendly people living here, it lightened up a pitchdark evening in November.
found an onboarding package suggesting different links to accommodation websites. To start with, I lived in an Airbnb for a couple of weeks, but I had a hard time finding a more sustainable solution.
Morgan, how would you describe your experience of looking for accommodation in Copenhagen before you found LifeX? It was definitely not an easy task. I did some online research prior to my arrival. When I started my new job at Falcon.io, I
I registered on many different accommodation websites, but most of the time, I never got an answer. If I did get an answer, they suggested some very over pricy platforms for expats. I went to a couple of open house events as well, but the number of people attending the events was a clear indication that my chance to get the flat was close to none. It was quite discouraging. I remember one place I visited in Hellerup. I had a good feeling about it, because the house and the
hall were beautiful, but when I climbed the stairs and entered the room I could rent, it was like going back in a time machine to the seventies. The furniture had seen better days. Everything was old and dysfunctional. The price demanded by the property owner did in no way match the standard of the room. Did you know your rights as a tenant? I had no good feel for my rights, but I talked to my colleagues at work and I think I got a better idea of what I should expect. It is by word of mouth at work that I heard of LifeX. What was appealing to you with the idea of a co-living community? It is a cheaper solution. The contract is open-ended. There is only a month’s notice, which is quite appealing too. The place is both comfortable and beautiful, a few minutes away from my work. The idea of having people to hang out with was appealing too. We are seven people in this location- soon 8. My wife Birte from Germany and I, and 6 other people from different countries: Finland, UK, Denmark, etc. It is very international. We each have our own room and we share the living room, kitchen and bathroom. In the beginning, I was a bit concerned with the balance between privacy and being social, but I think so far that it has been easy. If you feel like hanging out by yourself, it is
not a big deal. There is no obligation to be social. It is very relaxed. I do enjoy the community feeling and it is a great opportunity to make new friends in Denmark. We often do things together. Kitchen is definitely the most social area in the apartment. We cook a house meal every Sunday evening together. Last week, Alan made Chinese food. He had just come back from a trip to China, where he was very impressed by the food. He bought different ingredients and back home, he instructed us in preparing a full meal with homemade noodles and other things. It was delicious. We do other things too, like pumpkin carving, watching series, etc. Sometimes we do things with residents from the two other locations, which gives us an opportunity to meet new people. What is you and your wife’s plan regarding future accommodation, Morgan? We can stay as long as we want at LifeX, which is very nice, because we are not in a rush to find a place to live. We plan to stay for a while in Denmark, so we are looking for a more permanent solution. Luckily, buying an apartment seems easier than renting one. We have been meeting nice and friendly professionals. We hope to find our dream place near the harbour soon.
Good luck, Morgan and Birte! Thanks for sharing
If you want to know more about LifeX, have a look at their webpage: http://lifex.dk/ More info about your rights and obligations as a tenant? Click here: http://bit.ly/2hDjVYG