Mapping social innovation and collaboration in housing – Co-Lab Mapping

The project titled "Mapping social innovation and collaboration in housing – Co-Lab Mapping" has been developed in collaboration with Urbamonde, supported by the Dutch architecture firm Inbo. This initiative is a response to the growing need for structured research and data on collaborative housing, which has been primarily based on qualitative case studies thus far.

Existing research indicates that while umbrella organizations collect data on various forms of collaborative housing at regional and national levels, the information remains scattered. The absence of standardized definitions hampers a comprehensive understanding of both the challenges and opportunities that these housing models present. There is a clear need for comparative data to facilitate mutual learning and communication among users across different countries and regions.

The Co-Lab Mapping Project aims to provide a validated categorization of different collaborative housing forms across Europe, based on the conceptualization proposed by Lang, Carriou & Czischke in 2020. By aggregating data from national umbrella organizations according to pre-established filters, the project seeks to lay the groundwork for comparing and analyzing the essential characteristics of collaborative housing, thereby advancing current scientific and applied debates.

The project concentrates on nine European countries where collaborative housing is well-established: Belgium, Denmark, England and Wales, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. These nations are represented by national umbrella organizations that contribute to the research effort.

An iterative data collection approach has been employed, incorporating various techniques. These include interviews with key informants, a literature review, and a Delphi-panel consisting of insights from academic and practitioner experts from the selected countries. The research also involves reviewing several national databases and conducting a validation workshop with research partners, ensuring a robust methodological framework.

The Co-Lab Mapping Project received a grant from the Creative Industry – KIEM programme, aimed at encouraging fundamental and industrial research. Previously, the project was funded by the Delft Technology Fellowship, awarded to Dr. Czischke in 2014, which supported its initial phases from January 2018 to December 2019.

By providing a structured approach to understanding collaborative housing, the Co-Lab Mapping Project aims to enhance the discourse around sustainable housing solutions in Europe. Through validated categorization and data aggregation, it contributes to the identification of best practices and facilitates collaborative efforts in addressing housing challenges across the continent.