Co-housing Principles

Co-housing communities seek to incorporate the best aspects of privacy and community. Each household has a complete private home but also jointly owns and has full access to extensive community areas which are integrally designed for daily use. Co-housing is a concept developed in Denmark in the 1970s by people who were disenchanted with the quality and alienation of modern urban living. Significant numbers of Danes now live in co-housing communities and about 20 new projects are set up each year.

Whilst actual Co-Housing projects can vary widely, they are all characterised by the following:

DEMOCRATIC PROCESS Residents lead co-housing projects throughout. At the development stage, members engage with the processes of architectural design and build. Once inhabited, residents manage the community through a democratic structure.

DESIGN FOR PEOPLE The central premise of co-housing is that the residents have opted to live in a communitarian built environment. They look forward to inhabiting a community that is designed by and for them. The immediate neighbourhood is car free, with parking kept to the periphery. This enables spontaneous interaction between community members and offers safe places for children to play. Walking, cycling and greater use of public transport would be encouraged and facilitated by design.

SEPARATE HOUSEHOLD WITH SHARED SOCIAL GOALS Co-Housing recognises the privacy and autonomy of its member households, so that all have independent dwellings, livelihoods, and opportunities as individuals within the wider community. All residents also have the opportunity to share resources and ideas with the aim of a balanced and integrated life.

SHARED FACILITIES & THE COMMON HOUSE One of the most important features of co-housing is the creation of a shared common house. It is the heart and hub of the co-housing community. It is centrally located and is always open and available to all members. The common house will generally always include a communal kitchen and dining area that are large enough for the whole community to eat together and have meetings. The specific features of the common house depend on the interests, needs, resources and imaginations of the community.

Co-housing provides shared facilities and activities, available without obligation, for all community members. These jointly managed facilities often include: meeting spaces, catering facilities (for shared meals), public open space, play-space, laundry, workshops, tool share, day-care facilities, guest rooms, library, IT and car club. Some facilities are available to groups outside the community.

Members of co-housing communities are free to decide when and whether they participate in community activities. An important aspect of living together in a co-housing community is that activities and work for the community are voluntary. Each household is responsible for their own maintenance, insurance and personal bills. At the same time they pay a service charge for the upkeep, running costs and ground rent of the communal areas.

The co-housing approach has many benefits: creates an active community among neighbours, members can continue to live in the community and not become isolated as they reach old age, young families can get the support of neighbours and share childcare, children always have play mates and can play in a safe environment, young adults can have space for pursuing their own interests within the community and people generally can expect support from friends and neighbours and avoid the social alienation of many modern urban residential neighbourhood.

Suggested Reading
If you are interested we recommend that you:

You may want to learn more by visiting the UK Co-Housing Network website