How Should We Live Together?
— shared space in residential buildings
Above: Mehr Als Wohnen, Zurich, Duplex Architekten, Müller Sigrist Architekten, Pool Architekten
Humanity faces challenges on a global scale that put the well-being of the planet, nature and society in danger. Answering these challenges collectively is crucial, we have to put life and its thriving at the center of our efforts. Socially and environmentally sustainable housing is a challenge on a global scale.
In this paper we are looking for collective living models that can have a positive impact. We build on the concepts of existing forms of collaborative housing and use a systemic approach to define the drivers of successful projects.
Fundamentally, the solution is shared space, creating fertile ground for interaction which enriches the lives of inhabitants. With the application of the outlined strategies in the report - defining home, creating opportunity, using the potential of proximity, building trust and activating in-between spaces - we create the opportunity to design a more equitable, healthy, and sustainable future for us all.
The report highlights successful examples of collaborative housing projects in the Netherlands and abroad. These projects underline the ideas described in the paper and inspire to further thinking about the question: How should we live together?