Housing, Theory and Society Journal
2020
Darinka Czischke, Claire Carriou, Richard Lang
The article "Collaborative Housing in Europe: Conceptualizing the Field" explores the development of collaborative housing (CH) in Europe from the 2000s onwards. It defines CH as an umbrella term for various self-organized housing forms, including cooperatives and community land trusts. The study identifies core characteristics such as collaboration among residents and external stakeholders, active participation in development, and shared sustainability goals. It addresses historical contexts, emphasizing modern challenges like housing affordability and social inclusion. Key tensions highlighted include balancing social cohesion with diversity, navigating organizational structures, and addressing implementation challenges across different countries. The research notes that collaborative housing varies across Europe, with specific focuses in Denmark, France, England, and Finland. In conclusion, CH is portrayed as a flexible approach to housing provision that emphasizes both individual and collective agency while confronting the challenges of inclusivity and stakeholder balance.
This comprehensive academic article titled "Collaborative Housing in Europe: Conceptualizing the Field" was published in January 2020 by Darinka Czischke, Claire Carriou, and Richard Lang in Housing, Theory and Society journal. The paper examines the emerging field of collaborative housing (CH) in Europe since the 2000s.
Key Concepts and Findings
Definition and Scope Collaborative housing serves as an umbrella term encompassing various forms of collective self-organized housing, including:
- Resident-led cooperatives
- Cohousing projects
- Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
- Community self-help initiatives
- Self-build housing projects
Core Characteristics The defining feature of collaborative housing is significant collaboration between:
- Residents with each other
- Residents and external stakeholders
- Active participation in housing development and management
- Shared goals related to sustainability and social inclusion
Historical Context While collective housing has historical precedents, the recent wave since 2000 addresses modern challenges:
- Social inclusion and cohesion
- Housing affordability
- Environmental sustainability
- Democratic governance
- Community-based solutions
Key Tensions and Challenges
Social Inclusion
- Tension between social cohesion and diversity
- Risk of exclusivity due to required social and cultural capital
- Challenge of including disadvantaged populations
Organizational Structure
- Balance between internal member interests and wider community needs
- Competing influence of bottom-up and top-down forces
- Tension between market-based and cooperative tenure forms
Implementation
- Context-specific challenges across different countries
- Need for professional support while maintaining resident autonomy
- Balance between individual and collective action
European Context
The study highlights how collaborative housing manifests differently across European countries:
- Denmark: Focus on cooperative homeownership
- France: Integration with social housing sector
- England: Emphasis on community land trusts
- Finland: Owner-occupied collective projects
The research concludes that collaborative housing represents a flexible and adaptive approach to housing provision, shaped by local contexts and institutional settings. It emphasizes the importance of both individual and collective agency while acknowledging the challenges of maintaining inclusivity and balancing various stakeholder interests.