{"id":3910,"date":"2024-01-02T04:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T03:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citylifer.flywheelsites.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/17\/an-introduction-to-coliving-the-future-of-housing\/"},"modified":"2024-04-15T14:53:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T12:53:39","slug":"an-introduction-to-coliving-the-future-of-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecitylifer.com\/blog\/coliving\/an-introduction-to-coliving-the-future-of-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"An Introduction to Coliving: The Future of Housing"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Coliving<\/strong>, also known as communal living or shared living, is a living concept where residents live in a shared residence<\/strong> and share common amenities<\/strong> such as laundries, a living room, a sports room, a movie theatre, and sometimes even a swimming pool! While the concept of coliving<\/strong> has been around for centuries, it has recently gained popularity as a solution for affordable housing<\/strong> in the city and the desire for a sense of community<\/strong>.<\/p>

In this article, we will examine the history of coliving and how it has evolved over the years. We will examine the pros and cons of coliving spaces from a resident’s perspective. Lastly, we discuss the potential that coliving has to revolutionize the housing industry and offer a unique housing solution for young people and digital nomads.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The History of Coliving<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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History shows that humans have always sought to connect and belong to other human beings. The concept of coliving has been around for centuries, but its popularity is spiking due to the high cost of housing and the desire to reconnect with others.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Coliving throughout history<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hunter-gatherer groups and tribal villages consisted of several families resulting in a size of a few dozen people. The agricultural revolution had massive ramifications on the social sphere, as people started living in larger and denser settlements. True communal living became rare, but in the modern world there are still various examples of co-living projects, including:<\/p>

  1. Monasteries and convents:<\/b>\u00a0religious communities where monks live and work together in a shared space. The residents live in a supportive, community-oriented environment while dedicating their lives to spiritual practice.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  2. Communal households:<\/b> in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was not uncommon for unrelated individuals to form communal households to save on living expenses. They would share\u00a0a residence and common amenities such as kitchens and laundries.<\/p><\/li>

  3. Cohousing:<\/b>\u00a0cohousing originated in Denmark in the 1970s. A group of individuals would live together in a shared building where each one would live in a private apartment but have common areas to socialize. Even now this is still a popular form of living in Denmark.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  4. Kibbutzim:<\/b>\u00a0an intentional community that was traditionally based on agriculture. Residents lived and worked together on a collective farm, called a kibbutz. This was founded in the early 20th century in Israel. Nowadays, kibbutzim are privatised and no longer necessarily connected to agriculture.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    \n\t\t\t\t\"Coliving is now more often a choice for those seeking to belong in a community\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Coliving's Evolution<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Coliving has evolved significantly over the years and can now appear in many forms. In the past, people chose to live together mainly due to financial constraints or lack of available housing. These motivations still exist today, but coliving is now more often a choice for those seeking to belong in a community. In addition, the trend of access over ownership<\/strong> is emerging, <\/em>especially among the Millennial<\/strong> and Gen Z<\/strong> generations. These younger generations don’t necessarily have <\/em>to own a house, so they remain flexible and don’t need to worry about the burden of ownership.<\/p>

    Recently, there has been an increase in the number of purposefully-built coliving spaces, which offer shared amenities and <\/em>private apartments for rent. These living spaces are typically targeted toward young professionals, students, and digital nomads. The coliving experience is offered in both short-term and long-term options.<\/p>

    The trend of living together has also led to the emergence of several platforms that connect individuals looking for roommates or renting out a spare room. These platforms make it easier for people to find and connect with potential housemates. Compared to traditional apartment rentals, this option offers more flexibility and is better priced.<\/p>

    Overall, the evolution of coliving has been driven by a combination of economic factors, the desire for community and connection and the preferences of younger generations. As the cost of housing continues to rise, it is likely that we will see an increase in the popularity of coliving.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Types of Coliving spaces<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Flat-sharing with roommates<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    In this type of coliving space, each individual typically has their own private bedroom, but the common areas of the house are shared. This can include the kitchen, living, laundry facilities, and outdoor spaces. In some countries, even the bedroom can be shared. But this is not very common in the Netherlands.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Purposefully-built Coliving facilities<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Purpose-built coliving spaces are real estate developments that are specifically designed and built for the purpose of communal living. These facilities typically offer a mix of private homes and rooms for rent supplemented with shared living spaces, including amenities and common areas for socialising.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Typically shared facilities and areas<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    There are many shared facilities and areas found in a purpose-built co-living space, and these depend on the specific building, the needs of its residents, and the existing facilities around the property.<\/p>