Entrepatios

Entrepatios is a housing cooperative based in Madrid, Spain, established to provide an alternative to the speculative real estate market. Its formation was a response to the persistent difficulty many families face in accessing affordable and sustainable housing in Madrid, where members sought to secure land and develop a collective project after earlier unsuccessful attempts dating back to at least 2004. The cooperative’s flagship project, Las Carolinas, was completed in 2020 in the Usera district. It consists of 17 dwellings for 53 residents, with communal spaces occupying about 15% of the building. These include a courtyard, play area, communal laundry, bicycle garage, and a rainwater collection and treatment room. The design and management of the building were carried out through participatory processes, with future and current residents involved in all decisions, from construction material selection to energy systems. Families contributed between 40,000 and 50,000 euros as down payments; this sum is returned if they leave, maintaining the building’s ownership within the cooperative and preventing individual ownership or speculation. Entrepatios operates under a right-to-use system rather than conventional ownership or renting. A second project, Vallekas, offering 10 units, was opened in 2022. As of early 2025, a third initiative is underway in Villaverde Alto, which is actively seeking additional member families. The cooperative is recognized for its commitment to sustainable construction, shared governance, and fostering local community engagement, serving as a reference point for similar initiatives in Spain.