Collaborative design of Older Women ' s CoHousing

Abstract

Purpose – CoHousing provides a new approach in the UK to older people’s housing, and meets a clear demand for similarly minded groups of individuals who would like to grow old together. The purpose of this paper is to explore how a Collaborative Design Process (CDP) can work, as applied to a soon-to-be realised project in North London. Design/methodology/approach – Report by the architects with comment from an end user on a CDP including end users, architect, developer and housing association management. Findings – A group of individuals that has invested in building decision-making capacity can participate meaningfully in the design of their future homes. Research limitations/implications – This research was focused on one development, so work on a wider range of projects would help test its validity. Social implications – Older Women’s CoHousing (OWCH), and similar projects, demonstrate an appetite for: mutually supportive, intentional communities; planned downsizing and contemporary, sociable design for the third age of life. Originality/value – The CDP developed for OWCH was comprehensively documented. It has already been adapted for further cohousing developments, and is intended to continue to evolve with the demands made on it.

Female perspectives on housing quality and household characteristics, perceptions and challenges: Evidence from Australia

“…The provision of affordable housing would not only alleviate financial strain but also likely to benefit mental health ( Rowley et al, 2016 ; Baker et al, 2020 ). Indeed, Darab et al (2018) , Devlin et al (2015) and Varley (1993) propose that flexible housing arrangements may provide additional housing solutions such as co-housing and co-ownership schemes between governments or community housing providers and low-income earners. In this respect we are confident that the research presented in this paper contributes to the evidence base for advancing such proposals.…”

Interdependence, commitment, learning and love: the case of the United Kingdom's first older women's co-housing community

“…The promise and the intention of senior co-housing's advocates, and of the women of OWCH, is that co-housing should be more than simply well co-designed, age-friendly physical space, important though that also is in the establishment of these spaces (Cooper, 2000; Williams, 2005; Sargisson, 2014; Devlin et al , 2015; Fernández Arrigoitia and Scanlon, 2015, Fernández and Scanlon, 2017; Ruiu, 2017). New Ground aims to be a new way of socially inclusive and mutually supportive shared living, capable of buffering the physical and emotional challenges of later life.…”

A Conceptual Framework for Urban Commoning in Shared Residential Landscapes in the UK

“…These spatial arrangements are based on principles that increase the use of shared spaces and encourage social interaction [6]. Devlin et al [84], described this in an older women's cohousing where the "positioning of the entrance hall and common room as the focal point of the whole site and of arranging circulation routes so that paths cross and people are drawn together was fundamental" (p. 191). This results in a proximity of spaces perceived as 'mine' and 'ours' (Figure 4, (1)), and centralised car-free landscapes that increase the likelihood of social interaction (Figure 4, (2)).…”

“…Some communities found that negating all private space in favor of shared was not desirable, as in the case of the older women's cohousing in a study by Devlin et al "But we are all individuals and it was equally important that each separate flat was as private and self sufficient at possible, with its very own little bit of outside space if at all possible." [84] (p. 191).…”

“…Working with professionals presents a number of benefits to cohousing groups. For example, Devlin, Douglas and Reynolds [84] highlight the important role professionals have in communicating and negotiating the community's vision within planning frameworks. In addition, partnerships with external organisations and institutions may provide opportunities for broader inclusion of people from a range of backgrounds [85].…”