Overview of the Study
The article “Housing as community infrastructure: an analysis of senior cooperative housing using the capability approach” is published in the Journal of Housing and the Built Environment (2025‑11). Authors Zoe Tzika and Carla Sentieri‑Omarrementeria are affiliated with the School of Architecture at the Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain, and can be contacted via ztzika1@upv.edu.es. The research investigates a senior cooperative housing project (Can70) in Barcelona, applying Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach to understand how collective housing can enhance autonomy, care and sustainability for older adults.
Project Context and Motivation
Can70 originated in 2015 when a group of friends over 55 years old sought a non‑speculative, community‑led housing solution to avoid family burden and loneliness. The project is the first senior cooperative built on public land in Spain, employing the grant‑of‑use model that grants long‑term usufruct while keeping land publicly owned. Initial financial contribution per member is €30 000–€35 000 (approximately 20‑25 % of total costs), with the remainder financed through a bank loan. Monthly fees range from €700 to €800, plus €300 for shared services.
Resources and Intermediaries
Key resources include the intermediary cooperative Sostre Civic, which provided legal, financial and administrative support, and a €30 000 grant obtained in 2019 for developing a caregiving handbook. The project also benefitted from participatory workshops (nine sessions in 2022) with architects Peris + Toral, resulting in a hybrid design of 29 cluster units and 11 conventional apartments, covering 3 150 m² total floor area. Communal spaces constitute 25 % of the building area (up to 50 % when circulation is included), reflecting a strong emphasis on shared infrastructure.
Capability Approach Findings
Applying the Capability Approach, the study identifies four motivational pillars: (1) avoiding dependence on family, (2) preventing loneliness, (3) addressing the lack of suitable senior housing, and (4) fostering community‑based care. Resources (financial contributions, land, expertise) are transformed through conversion factors such as supportive municipal policies, the 2020 Catalan law recognising grant‑of‑use cooperatives, and the ESAL agreement that permits senior groups to access public land despite typical social‑housing criteria. These factors enable the expansion of collective capabilities, allowing residents to shape their living environment, governance and care provision.
Architectural and Spatial Design
The building comprises two volumes constructed with compressed earth blocks, situated on Via Augusta in the Sarrià district. Each private unit offers 30 m² (or 45 m² for conventional apartments) with shared kitchens, dining areas and communal rooms. Cluster units host 3‑5 residents, promoting mutual aid while preserving individual autonomy. Ground‑floor public amenities—including a reading area, day‑centre and physiotherapy room—are intended for neighbourhood use, reinforcing the concept of housing as a community infrastructure.
Outcomes and Impact
As of the latest reporting, the cooperative has grown from 16 to 24 members, aiming for 39 occupants before construction begins. The project seeks to demonstrate a replicable, affordable senior housing model that integrates care, sustainability and democratic governance. Planned post‑construction strategies include using surplus loan repayment funds to lower entry costs for future projects and advocating for public funding of self‑managed care services, thereby extending the model’s social impact beyond the immediate cohort.
Relevance for Sustainable Housing in Europe
Can70 exemplifies how cooperative, grant‑of‑use housing can deliver environmentally responsible construction (compressed earth blocks), reduce per‑unit energy through shared services, and foster social sustainability by mitigating isolation among older adults. The research provides a data‑rich case for policymakers and practitioners across Europe seeking scalable, low‑speculative housing alternatives that align with the Capability Approach and broader sustainability agendas.