It’s hard to go wrong when entering Alain Brault’s building. Arrows are omnipresent, pointing towards his loft located at the back of the courtyard, and revealing a well-established activity. This 56-year-old Franco-Canadian confirms: his 115-square-metre flexible apartment, located in the 11e arrondissement of Paris, is rented ten days a month. Its passing customers: companies, who organize meetings or day work sessions there.
We descend a staircase and arrive at the lower level, which overlooks a courtyard with large windows. Calm and light: a sine qua non for Alain’s activity as a host. In the center of the room, a device that recalls the codes of the office: three white Ikea tables in a row, with chairs around them. On the side, a flipchart and markers. An overhead projector is made available to employees. All around, there is a lounge atmosphere with sofas, designer armchairs, a library filled with art books. At the back, an American kitchen where Alain has prepared Thermoses of hot water for tea.
Its accommodation can accommodate up to twenty people. In addition, it also provides breakfast and lunch. “I try each time to introduce them to original products from local merchants, such as sesame rolls made with vegetable charcoal flour”, explains Alain Brault. At home, everything is done to make you feel at home, or almost. “We are asked to remove items that are too personal, such as family photos, he says. They shouldn’t feel too much at someone else’s place. » While his tenants are working, Alain takes refuge on the floor above, where his bedroom is, or takes the opportunity to go to the gym. “I also organize team building events in the evening, such as cooking workshops or karaoke, but not very often. My husband, who is a doctor at the hospital, appreciates being able to spend quiet evenings. We must be careful that they do not overflow into our private life. »
“The term office is banned”
« Ils »are the employees. Or, as they are called at OfficeRiders, the reference platform in this field, the “riders”. To register on the site, you don’t need to be a rental professional: you just need to own your apartment, like on Airbnb. If OfficeRiders also allows you to rent your accommodation for events or filming, 45% of its reservations concern office activity.
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