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ABSTRACT
“Cohousing” is a collective housing model, which has the potential to offer socially and environmentally sustainable housing for a community. It is a collaborative housing concept designed to foster meaningful relationships, closer social bonding, and more efficient use of resources. This study aimed to examine the motivations of cohousing groups to create or enter a cohousing community in the UK and identify potential issues to improve future cohousing development. In total, 24 people participated in this study: 18 cohousing group members and 6 project architects. Interviews were conducted in eight cohousing communities in the UK. The results showed that the social aspect was the driving characteristic attracting people to a cohousing project. This study focused on social aspects related to cohousing, but environmental, financial, family, and health aspects were analyzed as well. Potential issues were identified based on the experiences of group members and the architects, which showed the concerns and obstacles experienced by cohousing group members. The findings of this study could be used as an evidence-based tool to enhance social engagement for the development of future cohousing communities and other collaborative residential facilities.
Acknowledgments
The authors are very grateful to the support provided by Professor Jenny Pickerill from the Department of Geography, The University of Sheffield, and Zoe Barker Moss.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jingjing Wang
Jingjing Wang is at the Sheffield School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, UK. Her research is focused on cohousing development, community- led housing, and sustainable design in the UK.
Yiru Pan
Yiru Pan is at the Sheffield School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, UK. Her research is focused on approaches to aging in place and age-friendly environments with particular emphasis on the Chinese context.
Karim Hadjri
Karim Hadjri is the Head of School and professor in Architecture at the School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, UK. Karim’s current research is concerned with inclusive and age-friendly design of the built environment, housing, and health.