Cohousing & Community-led Living

As Europe faces a housing crisis marked by unaffordability and social isolation, community-led living offers a democratic alternative to purely market-driven development. Encompassing cohousing, intergenerational living, and resident-led cooperatives, this model places human connection at the centre of the built environment. Collaborative housing designs social contact into daily life, acting as a powerful antidote to modern loneliness. By sharing infrastructure like communal kitchens, workspaces, and gardens, residents achieve a higher quality of life on fewer square metres, reducing their environmental footprint. These environments also foster care economies, embedding informal mutual support into the neighbourhood structure. Increasingly recognised within European policy frameworks as a vital tool for inclusive urban development, community-led housing demonstrates that sharing resources fundamentally redefines how we live together.

Below, you will find a curated collection of resources, organisations, and projects illustrating the practicalities of collaborative living. Explore reports like the Housing Agency's Community-Led Housing Webinar Report and regional insights such as the Thessaloniki Investment Plan and Greater Manchester's untapped potential. The page highlights pioneering cooperatives and practices, including Assemble and Bau- und Wohngenossenschaft Kraftwerk1, alongside built projects like A House for Artists and Abante Jubilar Sevilla. You can also discover opportunities to connect with practitioners at events such as the Coliving Conference 2026 and the Zusammenleben Festival. Whether you are investigating the price of living in communal paradise or the nuances of co-design, these materials provide a comprehensive guide to building intentional communities.