By 
Update (2024): This post was written when The Preserve LA was formerly Second Home Hollywood.
Do you want to know what the process of building Second Home The Preserve was like? Read my interview with architect Diego Cano-Lasso here.
Since moving to LA, I’ve had a few job interviews at coworking spaces. While these were nice, they did not catch my attention in the slightest, nor did they inspire me to schlep my laptop from my apartment to spend the day there.
Like many people working from home, I don’t have a designated workspace in my living room, which can make my daily routine feel monotonous.I do go to my office a few times a week, but not full-time like I used to.
I had never considered working at a coworking space until I came across Second Home.
This London-based coworking company, with offices in London and Lisbon, opened its first US location in November 2019. The space was designed by Madrid-based architecture company Selgascano. For those of you who don’t know, I grew up in Madrid, so it’s always nice to see Spanish companies making their mark in the US.
Located in the heart of Hollywood, across from Target, Second Home is surprisingly inconspicuous. Chances are you would never notice this place unless someone told you about it.
Second Home is definitely not your average shared coworking space. While the other coworking spaces I’d visited had industrial-style decor, Second Home was designed to be an urban jungle in the middle of LA. The biophilic interior, combined with the 1970s retro-futuristic architecture, will make you wish Second Home were your everyday office. Second Home is populated with over 6,500 native LA plants.
If it’s your first time there, they will take you on a free 25-minute tour where they’ll give you a full rundown of the place. Andrew was my tour guide that day. I was shocked by how big this place was! It seemed like we were never going to stop walking, but it was a great way to take in the beauty of the place before purchasing a day pass.
Second Home also doubles as a rental space for photoshoots and other productions.
The ground floor features a common space with a restaurant, a waiting area, and a bookstore. Then, an interior hallway connects to a two-story building that wraps around a courtyard.
The best part is the long concrete path, lined with plants and trees, that loops around and connects to multiple oval-shaped office pods. A few of these are private for business members only. Thank goodness they have arrows on the floor so you know what direction you’re headed. I loved this area. It reminded me of being in the Caribbean, but instead of bungalow hotels, these were bungalow offices. I love greenery because it brings me a sense of peace and relaxation, and walking through this oasis made me feel like I was in a tropical paradise.
Once you walk past this area, you’ll reach an open space with a daycare center and lounge chairs.
The long concrete path ends at the large courtyard I mentioned earlier, surrounded by tall trees adorned with twinkling lights. There’s also a fountain and communal tables.
From the courtyard, you can easily access the main entrance area, so if you don’t want to use the concrete pathway, you can take a shortcut without leaving the building.
This part of the building features a conference hall and more office spaces. A curved staircase leads to the upper floor, where a hallway with red carpeting connects to more office pods. The second floor opens onto a beautiful terrace overlooking the yellow, oval-shaped office pod roofs, surrounded by lush greenery, with LA’s palm trees in the distance. Seeing the yellow roofs from the terrace reminded me of lily pads on a pond.
I was sold! As soon as I got home, I purchased a one-day pass.
I don’t have the luxury of having a balcony and my apartment doesn’t get much natural light either. There are so many days when I wish I could work somewhere else while basking in the sunshine that LA enjoys almost year-round.
To my disappointment, it was overcast on my second visit to Second Home, but the temperature was really nice, so I chose the terrace as my workspace for the day. If you’re planning to work in this area, keep in mind that it won’t be completely quiet. Between business meetings, people talking on the phone, and loud footsteps on the wooden floor, it might not be the best choice if you’re easily distracted by background noise.
Surprisingly, I still managed to get a lot of work done without being distracted by the noise. I even overheard a call that contained a very compelling movie pitch. If you’re seeking a quiet space, then the indoor office pods will be the best fit for you.
Before leaving, I wanted to get a feel for the office pods I’d walked past earlier. I liked their no-eating policy, which meant I didn’t have to worry about being distracted by food smells.
There were four people, including me, working in one of these oval pods. Aside from the sound of the ventilation system, it was very quiet.
At the time of my visit, the restaurant was closed due to COVID-19. However, there’s a self-serve coffee machine where you can get free coffee. Despite the lack of food options, the receptionist told me that food delivery apps are the best way to get food, and if you order from Sweetgreen before 11 am, you get free delivery! I could clearly see this the day before. While I was waiting to meet Andrew, there was a constant stream of delivery drivers coming in and out to drop off orders: Chipotle, Sweetgreen… you name it.
A one-time day-pass is $35. A five-day pass bundle costs $110, while a ten-day pass bundle costs $200. The last two have to be used within a 3-month period. Beyond that, there are higher-tier business memberships and production rentals.
All passes are transferable, giving you plenty of flexibility if you need to change your plans at the last minute. No cancellation fees. They started implementing the day-pass option during the pandemic. This makes it easier to enjoy Second Home without committing to a full membership.
Will this be my everyday office? Probably not, since I already have a full-time job that requires me to go into the office a few times a week. But Second Home is definitely at the forefront of my mind whenever I get tired of working from home. Since Second Home is close to where I live, it’s much more tempting to purchase a one-day pass on a whim.
On the other hand, if you own your own business and you’re looking to rent a space, this could be the perfect choice for you.
What a commendable job the Selgascano team did. This is their office on the outskirts of Madrid!
The way Selgascano merges nature with the workplace in all the Second Home locations is something I’ve never seen before. Working at Second Home for the day felt like I’d left LA and been transported into another realm.
There’s an underground parking area. Once you park, walk up the stairs and follow the pathway to the large white paneled wooden door.
With a day pass, you can leave and reenter Second Home as many times as you like before its 6 pm closing time, whether you’re running a quick errand or grabbing something to eat.
There are plenty of exclusive members-only lounges in New York and LA, such as Soho House and Model’s Lounge Club, an underground lounge in New York exclusively for models.
Second Home prides itself on its welcoming environment and diverse community. I saw people from all walks of life working there. I didn’t notice a single ounce of pretentiousness from either the staff or the members. If you opt for a membership, you’ll enjoy special perks, such as members-only events and exclusive book signings. Unfortunately, Second Home does not open on the weekends, but they’re always hosting some sort of event for members.
