Saying goodbye to 2025, we’re looking back at a very special year – and one very special weekend in particular. In November, The Living Room Coworking marked the biggest milestone in its history: ten years since TLR first opened its doors in Málaga.
Ten years is a long time in the life of any community. It’s long enough for people to arrive, leave, return, reinvent themselves, change careers, fall in love with a city, leave it, and sometimes even come back again. It’s long enough for a coworking space to become something far deeper than just desks and WiFi. And so, when the idea emerged to celebrate this anniversary not with a single evening event, but with a four-day gathering in the Montes de Málaga, it felt ambitious, slightly crazy… and entirely on brand.
Four days, one big milestone
The anniversary celebrations took place over four fun-filled days at Las Contadoras, a finca tucked into the folds of the Montes de Málaga. Members past and present arrived from near and far. Some came for a single day, others stayed for all four. There were current members, former members, friends of the space, partners, collaborators, staff past and present, and a generous scattering of plus-ones who very quickly stopped feeling like plus-ones at all.
The weather played its part too. Fog rolled in and out. Rain tapped on windows. Fires were lit. Blankets were claimed. And then, for the final day, the clouds lifted and bright sunshine appeared, inviting hikes, outdoor yoga and long conversations under open skies.
For many, it was their first time experiencing TLR outside the city. For others, it felt like a reunion.
As Mir, a current member, shared: “This was my first time experiencing such a celebration here in Málaga since I recently moved here and, to be honest, it went beyond my expectations. The relaxed and chill vibe really made it a great experience.”
Mir took part in the treasure hunt and the cacao ceremony, but it was the evenings that stayed with him most.
“I especially enjoyed the live singing around the firewood at night, that was my favorite part,” he said, adding that “the food was amazing, especially the dinners on both nights I stayed.”
Those shared meals were a highlight for many.
A programme shaped by the people in the room
In classic TLR fashion, the weekend was built around member-led activities. There was morning yoga, led by Marco, a former long-time member who many were delighted to see return for the event.
“I’m so grateful to have been able to be there on this magical weekend,” he said. “Thank you all for the love, for showing up in the early morning yoga, for all of the hugs and the laughs, for bringing the sun in such foggy days.”
There were workshops and sessions that invited reflection and creativity: an Ikigai workshop, a cacao ceremony, zumba, a sound bath, a painting workshop, a breathwork session, ice bathing (attempted by some, bravely avoided by others), hikes, games, an escape room, spikeball, treasure hunts… and plenty more amazing moments that never made it onto any schedule at all.
Silvina described the weekend as reconnecting her with why she joined TLR in the first place, back in 2021.
She shared that she felt “full, home, safe” and spoke about meeting “a lot of new beautiful people – all different, yet all equally fascinating.”
She attended several workshops herself, including the painting class, which left a lasting impression.
“Now I apply the ‘back to raw, no correcting, no turning back’ concept to my podcast, to make it more real,” she said.
The sound healing session led by Franita also stayed with her: “I went somewhere else. To my childhood, to my wonderlands, to the sound of rain. It was majestic, cosy and bedtime-like. Loved it.”
Silvina also led her own Ikigai workshop, designed “to help people live connected to their soul drive,” a description that could easily apply to the weekend as a whole.
Warmth, wellbeing and a growing shift
For Franita, who has witnessed the TLR community evolve over the past four years, the weekend felt like a clear turning point.
“The TLR 10th anniversary was deeply important to me,” she reflected. “Despite very adverse weather, people showed up for themselves and for each other, choosing to gather, to care, to laugh and to be together. There was so much warmth, fun and mutual support.”
Her sound bath session at the event ended up drawing almost everyone present, to the point where extra mats had to be brought in.
“That moment really highlighted the turn TLR has made towards a stronger willingness for wellbeing activities,” she noted. Being away from Málaga for long stretches, she admitted she had underestimated “how meaningful TLR is in my life and how strong those bonds truly are.”
She spoke about feeling a collective shift during the closing circle, with a shared desire for future gatherings centred on wellbeing. Since the weekend, she has committed to showing up more within the community.
“My relationships within TLR have deepened, and I am genuinely excited to grow stronger together,” she said.
Feeling at home, even just for a day
Not everyone stayed for the full four days, but even short visits left a deep impression.
Leila joined for one day out of the four, yet described the experience as transformative.
“I immediately felt at ease, like being part of a big family. And yet, concretely, I hardly knew anyone,” she said. “Still, I never had that feeling of being on the sidelines… quite the opposite.”
In a single day, she experienced “passionate conversations with housemates, delicious meals shared in an incredible atmosphere, and an amazing Saturday night on the dance floor filled with laughter and joy.”
She also organised a cacao ceremony on Sunday morning, which she described as “a deep moment with beautiful people who were open to experiencing something new.”
Her lasting takeaway captured something many others echoed in different words: “I left with the feeling of having lived a teenage summer camp all over again, like when I was 14 years old. An incredible atmosphere.”
Long tables, full plates, real conversations
If there was one constant throughout the weekend, it was food bringing people together. Catered by Bernardita Cocina, meals were shared around long tables that quickly became the heart of the finca.
Silvina summed it up simply: “Dinners and lunches. Long tables, made-with-love food, huge family. REAL PEOPLE.”
She went on to say the weekend reminded her of “chaotic summers in Argentina… a big house full of happenings.” She also highlighted the quieter moments: early mornings with rain in the background, mate shared with early risers, night owls still asleep, and what she called “co-sofing moments” where people worked silently side by side, laptops open, calm and focused.
Mir echoed this appreciation for the meals, while others mentioned how easy it felt to sit down with people they barely knew and find conversations that were “full of authenticity,” even when brief.
Music, firelight and moments you had to be there for
As the sun set each evening, the finca took on a different energy. Fires were lit. Guitars appeared. Singing broke out, sometimes planned, often spontaneous. There were marshmallows roasted, stories shared, and at least one unforgettable night of dancing that included, for those lucky enough to witness it, some truly epic and unexpected breakdancing skills.
These were the moments that could not have been scheduled, but somehow happened anyway. They were also the moments that turned strangers into friends, and friends into something closer.
Voices from the community
In the days that followed, messages began to arrive, capturing the afterglow of the weekend.
Fiona wrote: “Processing a fantastic and beautiful weekend. I feel so lucky to have found TLR and this group of AMAZING people. Feeling all the love and very held, accepted, happy and content this morning.”
Keith shared that even though he was not there for all of it, “when I was there I was smiling from ear to ear. What an amazing group of humans.”
Cris summed up the collective effort behind the scenes, thanking those who helped make the weekend happen and offering “a special shoutout to our amazing Carmen,” alongside everyone who gave their time, energy and effort to make this event such a success.
During the closing circle on Sunday our dear Carmen, TLR’s Community Manager, finished with perhaps the most beautiful reflection shared all weekend.
“During difficult times, globally speaking, the amazing people I meet through TLR every day – all of you incredible souls – you have restored my faith in humanity.”
A milestone, and a moment of reflection
For Ben, owner and co-founder of TLR, the weekend was both a celebration and a moment to step back and take stock.
“TLR’s 10th anniversary celebrations truly exceeded my wildest expectations,” he said.
“When we started planning months ahead with this crazy idea of a four-day anniversary festival I could not have imagined the level of engagement, the passionate contributions and the incredible atmosphere that was created by all of our members – whether veterans or recent joiners.”
Looking around at what unfolded, it was hard not to see the last ten years reflected in the weekend itself: people arriving from different chapters of life, bringing their skills, their energy and their openness, and creating something meaningful together.
As the year comes to a close, this feels like a fitting way to mark both an ending and a beginning. The end of a decade, and the start of whatever comes next.
And perhaps the clearest sign of how well received the weekend was came from what Ben shared next.
“This retreat-style getaway was so successful that based on popular demand from our members we’re looking into how we can integrate something like this into the TLR calendar every year from now on. We’re not sure exactly what that will look like yet, but we know we don’t want to wait another 10 years before making this kind of magic again!”
If the last ten years have taught us anything, it is that when good people come together with openness, creativity and care, something special happens. November’s anniversary weekend was proof of that. And if it is also a glimpse of what the future holds, then the next chapter looks very bright indeed!
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