IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

As a result of rapid societal changes, including increased longevity, migration, and evolving family structures, cities are under significant pressure to accommodate a growing number of people with diverse backgrounds and lifestyles in the housing market. This societal shift will significantly impact the housing sector, often inadequately equipped to accommodate such diversities. Looking specifically at the housing context in Belgium, there is currently a lack of alternative housing options to serve the heterogeneous population. Among many other housing options, co-housing could be a valuable option. Co-housing is a housing form with shared characteristics involving shared space, activities, creation, or tenure outside a single-family household. Unfortunately, it is often not considered a formal housing option. There is a strong cultural script concerning shared housing for young adults and students. Belgian research shows that co-housing is perceived as less favorable among older age groups, such as families with children or older adults, justified or rationalized in terms of assumptions about “normal” housing careers. This contribution focuses on exploring existing forms of shared living. With (interior) architecture students, over 125 housing projects in Western Europe were collected, mapping their sharing practices. Combined with an extensive literature review on sharing and collectivity, this resulted in a housing categorization based on sharing. This categorization can spread knowledge among designers and dwellers of different co-housing options to generate a more diverse housing market to accommodate the heterogeneous population in cities.