Speaker
Description
The concept of 'collaborative housing' refers to various housing models that feature shared spaces or facilities designed for collaboration, resident solidarity, participation in the redevelopment or design processes, and internal governance based on collaboration (Vestbro, 2010a; Bresson and Labit, 2020; Fromm, 2012; Czischke and Huisman, 2018). In contrast to traditional housing, these communities center around diverse common areas, cultivating a distinct sense of belonging and mutual assistance (Arroyo et al, 2020). This characteristic has been especially vital during crises (Glass and Norris, 2023; Arroyo et al., 2021; Grellier, 2020).
Collaborative housing has gained significant attention as a potential response to ecological, social, and economic challenges facing contemporary urban environments across Europe. This model reshapes the conventional housing approach by highlighting cooperation, sustainability, and a harmonious balance between private and communal areas in the housing settlement. The literature also examines the potential for collaborative housing to serve as an alternative to conventional urban development strategies in Europe (Bresson and Tummers, 2014).
France has a rich history of community-driven and affordable housing initiatives that have adapted to social, economic, and political shifts. Both public and private efforts sought to improve poor housing conditions and promote social mobility, beginning with the Habitation Bon Marché (HBM) in 1889 and the Siegfried Act of 1894. However, collaborative housing in France traces its roots to the Castor movement, which emerged after World War II, with families working collectively to build homes in cities such as Pessac and Lyon (Bresson & Denèfle, 2015). The Self-Managed Grouped Habitat Movement (MHGA) further catalyzed the spread of collaborative housing models in the 1980s. Since the 2000s, collaborative housing has gained significant traction as a response to ecological, economic, and social challenges, with initiatives targeting not only the middle and upper classes but also marginalized groups such as low-income households, disabled individuals, and older adults (Bresson & Labit, 2020). The term “habitat participatif,” introduced in the 2014 ALUR law, encapsulates the participatory approach to housing that allows citizens to engage actively in the design and management of their living environments.
This presentation contends that these three collaborative housing examples successfully reclaim the right to the city. They do this by fostering social diversity, mutual support, social care, financial accessibility, and a democratic decision-making process within the housing units. They also strengthen community ties, participate to the local governance and support social movements at the neighbourhood level. This analysis employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporating a survey of 102 participants from 15 collaborative housing sites and qualitative research including personal interviews and focus group interviews in three collaborative housing settlements from France.
At the micro level, this paper illustrates how democratized governance in collaborative housing promotes inclusivity and alters everyday life through social care practices. At the neighborhood or city level, it examines how collaborative housing projects interact with their surrounding environment, emphasizing their contributions to local community life and social value creation. This includes fostering ties with neighborhood residents, engaging in local committees, and supporting cooperative economies. Residents become active participants not only within their own housing project but also in broader neighborhood governance, creating shared spaces, organizing community activities, and developing initiatives that enhance social cohesion and collective well-being. These efforts illustrate the dual impact of collaborative housing: strengthening internal community dynamics while also contributing to the social fabric and sustainability of the wider urban neighborhood.
In summary, this abstract emphasizes that collaborative housing in France is an efficient tool for reclaiming the right to the city by promoting social inclusion, sustainability, and community empowerment. These projects utilize participatory governance to improve internal dynamics and strengthen cohesion within the broader neighborhood.
References
Arroyo, I. et al. (2021) ‘Social integration through social connection in everyday life. Residents’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in SällBo collaborative housing, Sweden’, Archnet-IJAR. doi: 10.1108/ARCH-10-2020-0236.
Bresson, S. and Labit, A. (2020) ‘How Does Collaborative Housing Address the Issue of Social Inclusion? A French Perspective’, Housing Theory and Society, 37(1), pp. 118–138. doi: 10.1080/14036096.2019.1671488.
Bresson, S. and Tummers, L. (2014) ‘L’habitat participatif en Europe: Vers des politiques alternatives de développement urbain ?’, Metropoles, 15.
Dorit, F. and Fromm, D. (2012) ‘Seeding Community: Collaborative Housing as a Strategy for Social and Neighbourhood Repair’, Built Environment, 38(3), pp. 364–394. doi: 10.2148/BENV.38.3.364.
Glass, A. P. and Norris, H. (2023) ‘Finding Community in Elder Cohousing: Before and During COVID-19’, Journal of Aging and Environment, 37(4), pp. 403–420. doi: 10.1080/26892618.2022.2103869.
Grellier, A. (2020) Covid-19 : les coopératives d’habitants plus fortes pendant le confinement, France Culture - Radio France. Available at: https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/covid-19-les-cooperatives-d-habitants-plus-fortes-pendant-le-confinement-1563335.
Huisman, C. and Czischke, D. (2022) ‘Between Self-organization and Formal Participation: Increasing Tenants’ Influence through Self-management? – A Dutch Case-study’, Housing, Theory and Society. doi: 10.1080/14036096.2022.2150681.
| Keywords | Collaborative housing; right to the city; social care; participatory design |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
