Co-housing

A feature of social design can be co-housing. On my Erasmus at ELISAVA Barcelona we did a project on a local desolated old fabric factory. Where we, a group project with Shane Cavellier, designed a co-living space for co-generational inhabitants. Where young and old can come in contact with each other, help each other and learn. We devided the big center space by adding small modular houses, the private units. Between these private units comes a communal space alive that gives the opportunity to make a real bond with the people around.
Inspired by the Moriyama House, located in Ohta-ku, Tokyo, reimagines traditional Japanese dwelling by scattering ten independent volumes across a 290 m² plot. Instead of concentrating the program in a single block, architect Ryue Nishizawa designed a cluster of small, detached units that include the owner’s home and five rental apartments.

Intergenerational co-housing
Intergenerational co-housing provides a safe living space for people of all ages to interact, collaborate and explore the values of each generation on an ongoing basis. Although how this is done will differ in each setting, the common factors are that intergenerational housing:
• Enables people of different ages to live side by side as good neighbours, to share their talents and resources, develop meaningful relationships and support each other;
• Fosters programs, policies, and practices that promote engagement, cooperation, interaction, and exchange between residents of different generations;
• Provides adequately for the safety, health, education and basic necessities of life for people of all ages, by taking a partnership or community-led approach to the delivery of services and/or activities;
• Has private spaces and communal areas intended for collective use.

This is also social design, with first thorough research about the place and other co-housing projects, the needs of every person. By creating a space that brings people together, from different ages. People connect who first would not have been in contact. A place where you can have privacy but can, on any given time, find people to talk to. Good for the mental health and for all humans, as we all are social creatures who need these contacts on a daily basis.