So when I was living in New York I actually checked out a few places that were similar but not nearly as hip. They were like artist compounds that were massive. Each person had a 12x12 room, there were 8-10 rooms and then there was a huge common area and a good sized balcony. It was a lot more space than a lot of 2 bedroom apartments (where I would have one roommate) but I just never could bring myself to live there. For one, it never felt like a home. You have house rules posted everywhere, you had locks on each bedroom door, and the furniture was sparse.

If I had been a musician or a painter (these people were really hippie types though) it might have worked. You could tell the sparse furniture was in part due to the fact the common area was mostly used for creation, not lounging.

Even though I rarely cook, I still felt uncomfortable sharing a kitchen with 8 or 10 other people. Not to mention the sharing of 3 toilets and 3 showers in weirdly divided cupboards. I assumed that handwashign and teeth brushing often happened in the shared kitchen as well, as there were only 2 sinks, one in the biggest bathroom and one in the hallway (with a load of paintbrushes in it)

As much as I respect people wanting to network, the reality is, living with someone when you are 30 years old under the guise of networking is probably not the most productive or going to lead to your success. It happens in college dorms occasionally but at that point you are so happy to be somewhere new, out of your parents house, that the little things that make your personal space yours matter less. By the time students are juniors or seniors though, they typically do not live in dorms and opt for a more livable situation, typically with a friend, but not a coworker.