International Journal of Housing Policy
2022
Emma Jo Griffith, Mirte Jepma, Federico Savini, and others
The paper titled "Beyond collective property: a typology of collaborative housing in Europe," published in September 2022 in the International Journal of Housing Policy, presents a thorough examination of collaborative housing across six European countries. Authored by Emma Jo Griffith, Mirte Jepma, and Federico Savini from the University of Amsterdam, the study analyzes 100 collaborative housing cases, providing a comprehensive framework to understand the varying forms of collaborative living. The research establishes a typology framework based on three main dimensions: architecture, institutional setup, and organization. The architectural aspect considers the size and design of shared spaces, while the institutional setup looks at legal status and property rights distribution. Finally, the organizational dimension focuses on the values and management approaches that drive these collaborative initiatives. This multifaceted approach reveals the intricate dynamics at play in different housing projects. Among the findings, the study identifies various architectural patterns, ranging from small groups to large communities, and two distinct sharing regimes: sharing only extra spaces or essential living spaces. The research further highlights the significance of diverse institutional arrangements and organizational values, including eco-communitarianism and affordability-focused initiatives. Overall, this pioneering typology not only enhances the understanding of collaborative housing but also serves as a critical tool for researchers and policymakers. By challenging traditional assumptions about housing models, the study emphasizes the complexity and diversity inherent in collaborative living arrangements across Europe.
This comprehensive academic paper titled "Beyond collective property: a typology of collaborative housing in Europe" was published in September 2022 in the International Journal of Housing Policy. The authors Emma Jo Griffith, Mirte Jepma, and Federico Savini from the University of Amsterdam conducted an extensive analysis of 100 collaborative housing cases across Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Key Findings
Typology Framework The research established three main dimensions for analyzing collaborative housing:
- Architecture: Considers estate size and design of shared spaces
- Institutional Setup: Examines legal status and property rights distribution
- Organization: Analyzes values, political commitment, and management approach
Architectural Patterns
- Projects range from small (under 10 members) to extra-large (over 100 residents)
- Two main sharing regimes exist:
- Only sharing extra spaces (gardens, parking)
- Sharing both functional and essential spaces (kitchens, laundry)
Institutional Arrangements
- Legal Status: Either formally recognized or operating in trans-legal status
- Property Rights: Either dispersed across multiple entities or concentrated in one group
- Management: Ranges from self-managed to professionally managed
Organizational Values The study identified five main value orientations:
- Eco-communitarian
- Intergenerational
- Identity-based
- Affordability-focused
- Service provision
Research Context
The study emerged from the need to better understand the diversity of collaborative housing forms beyond simple private or public tenure models. The researchers conducted content analysis of project websites and social media, interviewed ten experts, and performed an in-depth case study of the 4Stelle Hotel in Rome.
Significance
This research provides the first comprehensive typology for comparing collaborative housing projects across different European contexts. It challenges simplistic assumptions about collaborative housing and demonstrates that successful projects can exist at various scales and with different combinations of features. The typology serves as a valuable tool for researchers and policymakers to understand and analyze the complexity of collaborative housing initiatives.
The study concludes that collaborative housing is more diverse and complex than previously understood, with projects showing various combinations of architectural, institutional, and organizational features. This work lays the foundation for more nuanced international comparative research in the field of collaborative housing.