THE FIZZ Leiden

Comfort and Affordability in Nature’s Embrace Visitors consistently appreciate the well-equipped and affordable apartments and studios, perfectly complemented by the breathtaking natural beauty and authentic surroundings of Lenk. The lush greenery, abundant wildlife, enchanting waterfalls, serene lakes, and vibrant Alpine flora create a spectacular and unforgettable rural experience. This combination offers the perfect balance of comfort and privacy, allowing residents to relax and find peace of mind.

Privacy and High-Speed Connectivity for Remote Workers Remote workers value their privacy in spacious apartments featuring well-equipped kitchens and ensuite bathrooms. High-speed internet, available in both private and shared spaces, is a necessity that ensures they can work efficiently and without interruption.

Inspiring Community for Digital Nomads Digital nomads discover an inspiring community with numerous activities that cater to both individual pursuits and communal experiences. Like-minded individuals can spend quality time together, learn new skills, and share their passions, fostering a vibrant and supportive network.

Activities to Nourish the Body and Soul A variety of activities such as hiking, yoga, walking, cycling, cooking, and exploring the beautiful nature of Lenk invigorate the spirit and heal the body. These activities encourage residents to engage with their surroundings and enhance their overall well-being.

Safety and Privacy as Core Values Safety and privacy are fundamental features of Lenk, providing a secure and tranquil environment for all residents. This focus on security ensures that everyone can fully enjoy their rural living experience without concerns.

Commitment to Regenerative Living The Lenk coliving project is committed to principles of regenerative living, promoting sustainable practices that harmonize with the natural environment. This commitment attracts individuals who are passionate about living in a way that supports and enhances the ecosystem around them.

Iterum is dedicated to disrupting the $1 trillion household appliance market, by providing a more sustainable, hassle-free and cost-efficient appliance management solution for large property managers and investors through two innovative B2B products: Appliance-as-a-Service (AaaS) and Iterum IQ platform.

Sustainability is at the core of Iterum’s circular economy leasing model. This business model can lead to a 40% extension in appliance lifespan and helps to reduce operational carbon by 25%. For each 100 co-living studios, the overall operational carbon savings over 5 years is equivalent to 25.2 flights from London to New York.

The business model also facilitates up to 95% cost reduction of upfront CapEX and up to 30% reduction of whole-life cost over a 5 year period.  

The hassle-free model also leads to increased tenant satisfaction due to higher-end products, reduced downtime of appliances, and also ensuring a quicker response time with Iterum’s 48-hour repair or replacement service.

In response to Dubai's challenges of loneliness, entertainment accessibility, and costliness, we are dedicated to creating opportunities for our guests to connect, network effectively, and seamlessly enjoy both work and leisure through engaging events, social networks, and community chats. Additionally, we prioritize fostering an environment of community, ownership, and safety for residents, staff, and locals. Our engagement with the local environment and neighbors includes cultural events such as the celebration of religious and governmental holidays, iftar dinners, and educating guests about local traditions and regulations. We also promote unique experiences for UAE visitors, such as desert excursions, traditional dances, and music. These initiatives underscore our commitment to integrating with and enriching the broader community. Community stories related to our guests' engagement to the community are presented in the accompanying presentation.

Variand Furniture demonstrates cost-effectiveness and financial sustainability through its highly flexible and modular design, which allows for easy configuration, modification, and extension. This flexibility supports iterative furnishing, meaning furniture can be adapted and extended over time based on user needs.
Moreover, installation, cleaning and replacement of components is straightforward, saving time and reducing labor costs.
Manufacturing takes place in Italy, combining traditional craftsmanship with computational manufacturing techniques.

We, as operators, always work hand in hand with developers to design the best Coliving spaces for our future tenants. We approach the design of each project based on our standards, adapted to the future target and localisation. We make sure it is coherent with our business plan, for it to be financially sustainable. We study the budget from a cost point of view but also from a ""total cost"" point of view, meaning that we take into account the potential gain/cost of durability and maintenance. We always design in-house with our Design internal team, and once they determine the design concept, they work together with the Procurement team, who will make sure we find the best alternatives for each item, according to our specifications. Most of the suppliers we work with are long-term partners, and we are very much attached to their ability to match our criteria, particularly in terms of quality, durability and environmental impact. Most of our suppliers are based in Europe, mainly in France and have a solid ESG policy.

- We work closely with manufacturers to ensure they produce appliances that are more energy efficient and prioritise a component-led design. This approach emphasises maintenance over replacement, promoting longevity.
- We frequently host webinars with stakeholders in the industry, including developers, investors, OEM’s, and service providers to educate the importance of sustainability within the built environment.
- With increasing IoT integration in household appliances, Iterum keeps consumers informed with real-time data, promoting energy conscious behaviours and allowing for proactive and preventative maintenance.

Community strategies:

- Partying – our community parties offer a chance to laugh and express emotions freely.

- Networking – success often hinges on strong connections. Various events and developed common areas on izzzi.life Mint facilitate meeting people who can mutually benefit each other.

- Sharing – a community chat is more than just a tool for managing information and services, it’s a hub for our guests to connect, share insights, seek advice, and offer help. Moderators set the tone with openness and courtesy, creating a safe space for requests and delightful small talks.

- “Workating” – coworking space “izzzi-working station” features both common and individual zones, and quality workspace in each apartment category were designed to seamlessly blend work and relaxation without stress.

- Joying – we aim to develop shared social networks across izzzi.life worldwide to enhance guest experiences with broader communication, virtual tours, and themed events using teleconferencing.

- Experiencing – when it comes to unique events, our guests love exploring the traditions of holidays from around the world and eagerly share ideas for future gatherings.

- “izzzi-being” – apart from keeping everything spotless and ensuring optimal rest, we prioritize our guests’ health. They can stay fit with our gym, sport courts by the pool, and rooftop areas. Plus, they get nutritious compliments like brain-boosting nuts. Our breakfast partner serves up healthy meals to start the day well.

- Collaborating – we are always finding new ways to engage our community and attract new members. Our project appeals to young and ambitious influencers who often become guests. We collaborate with tour agencies to offer personalized entertainment options. We also share only trusted recommendations from restaurants, useful apps, and ‘secret’ locations approved by our community managers.

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We are tracking the number of event participants and working on improving awareness of joint activities by refining the check-in regulations and enhancing our marketing tools. These tools include a community chat, social media, website, and digital advertising displays within the building.

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Variand incorporates sustainability and modularity into its products through the use of high-quality, durable materials and a design that emphasizes longevity and adaptability. The furniture system utilizes solid wood, high-quality plywood, and powder-coated sheet metal, all chosen for their durability and ease of maintenance. The modular design of the furniture pieces allows for tool-free assembly and disassembly, promoting reuse and reconfiguration.
This modularity supports a circular design philosophy by enabling parts to be easily replaced or repurposed, reducing waste and extending the product's life cycle.

We make sure our spaces are built thinking of the tenants, but also thinking of the impact on the planet. We have strict specifications in terms of environmental impact and durability for all furniture (second hand are favoured, wood must be certified FSC or PEFC, fabrics must be labelled Oekotex, derived wood must be <E1, Martingale must be above 50 000...).
We create modular spaces where the tenant feels comfortable. We surveyed our tenants last year, in our current colivings and it was confirmed that most of our tenants eat at least once a week altogether and that the kitchen bar is the most frequented place in our houses. As a result, we systematically favour an open kitchen to facilitate a modular use of the space and foster the community around this space.
We also designed our bedroom furniture set, built by a manufacturer based in Lille, France. They are of course made of certified wood, are thought to last and can fit in every space. The bed has drawers integrated, as tenants often tell us they lack storage space. It is thought (and tested!) to be solid and last years (contrary to most storage beds on the market). We also created a modular bedside table, that can also be used as storage under the desk, or an additional seat (yes, you can sit on it, and not break it, as for the desk, for that matter!). We created a series of bed headboards, fitting all room sizes and shapes, that became a must-have in our project to protect the wall and ensure a long-lasting design in our rooms. Finally, we made sure to minimise the number of different materials used for these furniture, to endure their recyclability and circularity.

Besides the speed, control and predictability of the design & development process we inherently implement our Biobased construction principles. From our mission: 'increasing high quality affordable housing while lowering our environmental impact'.
Boom starts at its core from the belief that we have to implement Biobased construction methods in your construction supply chain. We need to increase the speed of production of affordable housing. The speed should not decrease quality roof housing, neither should it have negative environmental impacts. That's why we at Common City Development have developed BOOM!
A collection of ready-made designs that can fit any location. Biobased construction for affordable prices, since our partner Architects have engineered and designed the Apartment Blocks from the knowledge of our OpenSource Boom-Handbook. Through the process of the Boom-Academy Architects have been intensively guided through their design process to maximise architectural Quality while keeping control of cost-efficiency.

- NPS scores: Gathered via module in the PMS (Property Management System).

- Weekly analysis: Conducted according to company standards.

- Reviews discussed: In "Happiness Directorate" and staff meetings.

- Virtue-based trainings: Complement the review process.

- The NPS Fund: each employee has access to an additional fund to address guests' needs without requiring manager approval, ensuring customer satisfaction.

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The NPS data and review score are presented in the accompanying presentation.

The Variand System fosters wellbeing and community through its interactive and customizable design, which encourages residents to engage creatively with their living spaces. In the coliving space WERK1.4 Coliving, over 80% of residents moved, added, or removed furniture pieces in their apartments, and over 20% exchanged furniture with other residents. This interaction promotes a sense of ownership and community as residents personalize their environments and share resources. Case studies suggest that such engagement enhances creativity and productivity, with residents able to choose from a variety of pictures and art to style their apartments and community spaces. Variand's design also includes practical features like integrated pin-strips, whiteboards, and magnetic rails, which support collaborative and creative activities.

Our coliving buildings are always designed following specific requirements: we have private units, where you have a room with a double bed, a desk and large storage, then you have your bathroom, and sometimes a kitchenette. Then we have what we call ""Semi-commons"": a living room, dining room and kitchen shared by 10 people, where you can live like at home with your extended family: you can come and have breakfast in your pyjamas there, you know all your housemates and this is your space. You can also work there or watch a movie. These semi-commons are created to make sure you have a small community within a bigger coliving building: it is easier to make friends with 10 people at once than with 200! We also add some signage, to help the community to live well together. We for example have a chore board, to split the chores, and eco-friendly tips.
Finally, we have the super-common spaces, shared by the whole residence. There we always have what we call 'a social lounge', where you can meet and play, have a drink or watch a game, we can also have a coworking space, a fitness room or a cinema room.

While assembling our OpenSource Boom-Handbook we have visited multiple factories and analysed the production, handling and logistic process oof various Biobased construction companies. This has resulted in a predefined set of parameters that pre-inform the Designers and Architect. By providing feed-forward to our design team we have been able to maximise qualitative output for the Architectural Designs. The Do's and Don'ts have been pro-actively communicated, which results in higher quality design output. The result is we have 8 Genotype Architectural Designs which can be applied to a wide variety of locations and making them context specific (Phenotype). The speed of replication is unique in the Design and Development industry. The industry status-quo is toe start every assignment with a new design. The design will go through intensive and time consuming iterations to make the design fit for production standaars. We at Boom do it the exact opposite way: we start with the parameters and limitations from the factory and production process and feed these parameters into the design process. We act on our factory-first principle. By understanding and granting the logics of production and manufactoring, we are able to reach a very high level of cost-efficiency. Minimising material wast, minimising nog-standard dimensions , while maximising design freedom. Boom has prove to be capable of showing vertical integration of the Design and Mannufacturing industrie.
The Boom Collection can be replicated at any location. Replication of differentiated design has not been prove before. We see a tendency towards product-standardization, we rather advocate process-standardization in order to realise Mass-customization at a reasonable cost. We can Replicate at Scale. Unique projects for a lower cost!

Increase Retention Rates:

- Personalized Experience based on preferences and previous interactions (PMS notes and alerts)

- Social networks are designed for users create their own content and can provide real-time feedback

- Special promotional rates through social networks help us to increase engagement and loyalty among subscribers and attract new ones

- Special rates and promo codes including business tariffs, medium-term, and long-term stays

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Support Strong Brand Ambassadors:

- Lifelong promo code “thankyou” is valid for guests who took the time to leave a review

- Creating a CJM map involves step-by-step and detailed elaboration of all touch points

- Continuous change in design elements, décor, and amenities due to guests feedback

- Branded merchandise

Variand ensures long-term durability, sustainability, and scalability through the use of high-quality components, versatile applications and its adaptive design. Metrics used to measure these aspects are the return rate (0.018% of sold products in 2020-2023) or the frequency of furniture changes by users (Case Study WERK1.4: 80% of residents at WERK1.4 changed their furniture).

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We measure our carbon footprint, scope 1, 2 and 3 and it is now certified BEGES protocol. Furniture is our 2d lever of action, and we put in place a strong ""Sustainable Design"" policy that we monitor yearly. We have determined 4 objectives overall for the company and our different products (Coliving, Flatshare, Private flats):
100% of chairs are second-hand, recycled or eco-designed: 48% achieved in 2023
100% of wood is FSC-certified: 82% achieved in 2023
40% of furniture is made in Europe: 63% achieved in 2023
100% of fabrics are labelled Oekotex: 56% achieved in 2023
We have better scores in our Large projects of Coliving. For the coliving project Holla of 68 units based in Brussels for example, we achieved 90% of second-hand chairs, 86% of certified wood, and 70% of furniture made in Europe. For the project JUMO of 96 units based in Paris, we achieved 96% of the seatings eco-conceived in Europe, 97% of certified wood, and 72% of the total furniture made in Europe.
This year we also decided to measure our ""avoided carbon"". The avoided carbon calculation compares 2 scenarios: the emitted carbon of a scenario where Colonies do not exist, and the emitted carbon of the scenario where Colonies exist. Our existence is to avoid emitting 3 times what would be emitted if we did not exist. The bigger part of this avoided Carbon lies in the furniture and design: part on the sustainable design criteria (second-hand, certified wood and origin), and part on the fact we share a lot of equipment and furniture, which prevents us from creating new ones.

Community Events,

Recreational Activities,

Cultural Events,

Cross-Booking Stand in Lobby,

Guests and visitors workshops,

Trusting strategies (respectful communication without imposition or restrictions, bright, eye-catching signage, monitoring of community chat)

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Qualitative data from interviews with residents at WERK1.4 Coliving highlight how the furniture's flexibility and customizability help users feel emotionally connected to their spaces. Residents reported high levels of satisfaction with the ability to personalize and adapt their environments, which enhances their sense of home and community. Quantitative data shows that over 80% of residents engaged with the furniture by moving, adding, or removing pieces, and over 20% exchanged furniture with others, indicating a high level of interaction and community building.

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Last year, in June 2023, we conducted a tenant survey in our current coliving houses. Unfortunately, this survey is partially valid, as we only had coliving Houses (15 to 20 tenants maximum) open at the time, and we now have several large Coliving Residences (80 units in average), where I believe the experience is a bit different.
That being said, we had pretty satisfactory results as most of our tenants loved the design and considered it cosy and warm. We learned that 90% of our tenants met in our semi-commons every week, or even every day, comforting us with the idea the semi-common is the centre of the community experience, especially with an open kitchen. 55% of our tenants would also work from the living room, proving this space is used during meal time but also the day.
We can't wait to launch this year's tenant survey and have feedback on the Large residences and the way they live in the space.