Housing, Theory and Society Journal
2020
Darinka Czischke, Claire Carriou, Richard Lang
The article titled "Collaborative Housing in Europe: Conceptualizing the Field," published in January 2020, explores the emerging landscape of collaborative housing (CH) in Europe. Authored by Darinka Czischke, Claire Carriou, and Richard Lang, it delves into various forms of collective self-organized housing that have gained traction since the 2000s. With the pressing challenges of social inclusion, housing affordability, and environmental sustainability, the paper seeks to define and contextualize collaborative housing as a viable solution. Collaborative housing encompasses a range of initiatives, including resident-led cooperatives, cohousing projects, and community land trusts. A defining feature of these arrangements is the significant collaboration among residents, as well as between residents and external stakeholders. This active participation not only fosters a sense of community but also drives shared goals related to sustainability and social inclusion. The article highlights key tensions and challenges within collaborative housing, particularly regarding social inclusion and organizational structure. It discusses the risks of exclusivity that can arise from required social capital, and the balancing act needed between individual interests and broader community needs. Moreover, it points to the varying implementation challenges faced across different European contexts, underlining the necessity for professional support while preserving resident autonomy. Ultimately, the research concludes that collaborative housing offers 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 recognizing the ongoing challenges of inclusivity and the balancing of diverse stakeholder interests.
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.