On Co-Living Becoming Bigger than Co-Working with Hmlet Founder & CEO Yoan Kamalski

PUBLISHED April 13th, 2020 05:00 am | UPDATED July 22nd, 2024 02:31 pm

As a term, co-working has permeated our daily orations about work and business – and it occasionally slips into life too, since many co-working spaces were hosting events before the Covid-19 outbreak. An advocate of flexible housing arrangements, Yoan Casimir Joseph Kamalski extended the co-working concept to co-living in the 2016 founding of Hmlet in Singapore, quickly made the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2018.

How did you come up with the idea of Hmlet?

When I first arrived in Singapore, I lived in a flatshare apartment along with my housemate, and we rented out rooms. Through that, we formed numerous friendships which sparked an idea about co-living being a viable and necessary option for working millennials.

So in 2016, we launched Hmlet, which today lists on its platform a full range of properties, from shared housing to private apartments. Our members enjoy affordable, stylish, fully furnished ready-to-move-in homes in prime locations, with flexible leases and access to a diverse community. One crucial design and architectural consideration for Hmlet is that co-living properties have shared spaces like rooftops and lounges to facilitate interaction among members.

Co-working is now more popular than ever. Do you think co-living will gain similar traction in the coming years?

Yes – and there’s a few reasons for that. First, we’re increasingly seeing a young, mobile workforce that relies heavily on technology and favours flexible working and living arrangements. Our platform enables flexible lease options to configure living arrangements based on their individual lifestyle needs. For example, Hmlet members can move seamlessly to a different room/apartment type depending on how their needs evolve, neighbourhood, or country where Hmlet is based without having to break long-term rental contracts and endure the frustrating process of house hunting.

Equally, with housing prices steadily rising and outpacing average incomes, it has become increasingly difficult to own a home. In fact, countries with sizable rental markets will see people switching to renting in the long-term. Hmlet is here to offer value for money solutions which match the desires of our members. Overall, I foresee co-living to be bigger than co-working.

How does a sense of community factor into Hmlet? 

Hmlet is actually pronounced “hamlet” which means “small village”, meaning that Hmlet not only makes finding a place easy but also offers a community to those who are moving into a new city or have left familiar surroundings.

Our Member Experience team is on the ground to ensure the well-being of members. Beyond that, in our co-living properties we design shared spaces to encourage member interaction, and organise community events such as BBQs, workshops, beach clean ups and day trips to facilitate it. These help forge authentic and meaningful relationships amongst members from all walks of life. For this reason, 40% of new customers at Hmlet have been referred by past and existing members.

What are your favourite Hmlet community events?

Hmlet has a range of community events from bar hopping, city exploration, food trails and workshops. Personally, I enjoy our Day Out series where our community team plans day trips to the islands around Singapore such as Pulau Ubin and Lazarus Island. Through that, we not only explore the island but it also enables interactions and meaningful relationships for  members residing in our different Hmlet properties.

Besides that, I also love our member-led community events where members showcase their talents and lead an event of their choice. I remember joining a sketch walk around Hmlet Cantonment helmed by a long-time resident who hails from Russia. An architect by day and a sketcher at heart, she conducted a tour of the property and the neighbourhood by showcasing unique spots while giving us a sketching tutorial. It was amazing.

How else do you think millennials can connect more?

Hobbies and extracurricular activities are useful in connecting with like-minded friends. As a millennial myself, I’ve made a few good friends through Hmlet and it was through the very early days, during our social BBQs.

Besides helming the company, what do you do in your free time?

 I have two French Bulldogs – Vader and Trooper (Star Wars inspired). I also enjoy gaming (Call of Duty) and playing poker with my buddies. I work out 6 days a week and spend time with my amazing girlfriend, who is an entrepreneur in the wellness industry.

What’s your favourite thing about being based in Singapore?

My favourite thing about being based in Singapore is the fact that it has given me a home away from home. I love the diversity – from the food to the people. Its dynamic economy, amazing talent pool and attractive infrastructure has helped us launch and scale our business. I do love kaya toast and kopi too; I can’t do without it anymore.

How has Covid-19 affected the co-living community, and how do you think the consequences of the pandemic will shape the future of the industry? 

The evolving COVID-19 situation and the resulting social distancing measures and work from home arrangements has significantly altered the way people live and work today. As this way of life becomes the new normal, it will be important to offer innovative tech solutions to provide greater efficiency and value to our customers. One of the shifts we have been seeing is the increasing use of online platforms. At Hmlet, our continued investment in tech has paid off as today, more than ever, our customers want to access and select their home and related services online.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold and customer behaviour changes in this new world we’re living in, we have accelerated our shift to digital to meet the needs of our customers who can no longer physically view properties and run their home like they used to. Going digital enables our customers to view our properties through virtual tours and choose their next home without having to move from where they are. We are adapting our business to this new world and we are constantly thinking about how we can serve our community better.

How do you think co-living will shape the future of real estate?

Hmlet is much more than co-living. We provide a platform for landlords to list their properties with us, while at the same time we advise them on how to maximize returns because we intimately understand what people want, which are more flexibility as well as customization of spaces and services.

In terms of co-living specifically, we optimise under-utilized buildings to give them a second lease of life. For example, we recently launched a collection of properties in the iconic Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, blending modern touches with retro elements all while retaining the unique aspects of Singapore. Increasingly, heritage buildings in Singapore are undergoing such transformation and being redeveloped to preserve and showcase their rich cultural meaning, thus, unlocking their full potential.

What would you like to personally achieve this 2020?

Personally, I’d like to do my bit for the planet by eliminating all single-use plastics in my life as well as cutting down my consumption of meat. I also wish to explore how Hmlet as a business can remain nimble and be in a position to seize opportunities that will no doubt emerge in a post-Covid world.

All images are of Hmlet Cantonment in Singapore.