Cohousing Cohousing

Positive community Positive community resistance resistance

to hyper-individualist to hyper-individualist market societymarket society

Matthieu LietaertMatthieu LietaertEuropean University InstituteEuropean University Institute

Degrowth conferenceDegrowth conferenceParis, April 18Paris, April 18thth 2008 2008

Cohousing?Cohousing?What? What? – A neighbourhood development (10 to 25 A neighbourhood development (10 to 25

units) where private and common facilities are units) where private and common facilities are combinedcombined

Where? Where? – In (semi-)urban contextIn (semi-)urban context

Why?Why?– To provide answers to the social and the To provide answers to the social and the

practical needs of citizens practical needs of citizens

How?How?– Bottom-up approachBottom-up approach

Historical OverviewHistorical Overview

First cohousings First cohousings – in mid 1970’s , Denmarkin mid 1970’s , Denmark– Rapidly spread to Sweden and HollandRapidly spread to Sweden and Holland

1990’s onwards: Huge boom in the USA1990’s onwards: Huge boom in the USA

2000:2000:– Japan, Rest of Europe, Australia, CanadaJapan, Rest of Europe, Australia, Canada– 1000 cohousings built, same amount in process1000 cohousings built, same amount in process– Denmark: 2 % of population live in cohousingDenmark: 2 % of population live in cohousing– Boom of Cohousing for elderly peopleBoom of Cohousing for elderly people

Cohousing & Degrowth?Cohousing & Degrowth?

Assumption 1:Assumption 1:– Hyper-Individualism requiers illimited growthHyper-Individualism requiers illimited growth– Community enables “efficient sharing” and Community enables “efficient sharing” and

degrowthdegrowth

Assumption 2:Assumption 2:– Lack of public spaces requiers growthLack of public spaces requiers growth– Private “public spaces” enable degrowthPrivate “public spaces” enable degrowth

Cohousing & Degrowth?Cohousing & Degrowth?

At individual/neighboorhood level, At individual/neighboorhood level,

Cohousing enables:Cohousing enables:

new local social relationsnew local social relations new time management new time management

new space management new space management

new consumption patternsnew consumption patterns

Increase of local social contactsIncrease of local social contacts

– Common meeting spacesCommon meeting spaces– Contacts and activities with direct neighboursContacts and activities with direct neighbours– Inclusion of groups with specific needsInclusion of groups with specific needs

ChildrenChildren

EldersElders

Young couplesYoung couples

SinglesSingles

Differently able peopleDifferently able people

high level of privacy when neededhigh level of privacy when needed

Self-management and empowermentSelf-management and empowerment

New Time ManagementNew Time Management

– Cooking activity Cooking activity Individually: 35h-40h monthlyIndividually: 35h-40h monthly

Community: 5h-10h monthlyCommunity: 5h-10h monthly

– Schooling of childrenSchooling of childrenTransport and homework.Transport and homework.

BabysittingBabysitting

““Every child should have 100 parents”Every child should have 100 parents”

Alternative Consumption PatternAlternative Consumption Pattern

– Sharing & Re-useSharing & Re-useCars, bikes, tools, toys, washing machines, Cars, bikes, tools, toys, washing machines, Clothes (especially for children)Clothes (especially for children)

– Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETs)Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETs)Time BanksTime Banks

Direct contact with local (organic) producersDirect contact with local (organic) producers

– HouseHouseSmaller (cheaper appartment)Smaller (cheaper appartment)

Bigger common house (shared cost)Bigger common house (shared cost)

Ecology: low CO2 emissions (UCL, 2008)Ecology: low CO2 emissions (UCL, 2008)

Problems in mainstreaming?Problems in mainstreaming?

Market Society: Atomisation Market Society: Atomisation – Citizens >> consumersCitizens >> consumers

Critique of “community life” since 80’sCritique of “community life” since 80’s– Top-down hierarchy, no privacyTop-down hierarchy, no privacy– Communism, failureCommunism, failure

Decision-makingDecision-making– From individual/family level to CommunityFrom individual/family level to Community– Need to learn a new language: facilitation and consensusNeed to learn a new language: facilitation and consensus

Housing marketHousing market– Expensive IntermediariesExpensive Intermediaries– Speculation Speculation

Cohousing Cohousing

Positive community Positive community resistance resistance

to hyper-individualist to hyper-individualist market societymarket society

Matthieu LietaertMatthieu LietaertEuropean University InstituteEuropean University Institute

Degrowth conferenceDegrowth conferenceParis, April 18Paris, April 18thth 2008 2008