Contemporary cohousing experiments in the Brussels-Capital Region

Abstract

In recent years, cohousing projects have flourished in Brussels, particularly in the central working-class neighbourhoods, with the support of associations and certain political stakeholders. This article takes a closer look at the reasons for their success. Based on a two-year field survey of nine cohousing projects, it also analyses the architectural typologies associated with them and the ideological principles underlying them, as well as the uses made of them by the residents. In particular, the article highlights the discrepancies which may exist between a spatial vocabulary based on the desire to promote the creation of community life, and the uses and expectations of the targeted disadvantaged population.

Crisis and Transition: Forms of Collective Housing in Brussels

“…Even though its impact remains limited in terms of numbers [53], co-housing is a fairly new trend in the Brussels one-off projects included in neighborhood contracts. The term "co-housing" indicates housing forms characterized by the sharing of certain living spaces and a participatory dimension to favor the creation of community life.…”

“…On a local scale, property prices have doubled in the last ten years, and the real estate market supply does not match the population growth, diversity of demand and average incomes [55]. Most of the recent co-housing projects in Brussels are located in dense working-class neighborhoods along the canal area where the affordable housing crisis is particularly acute [53]. In this context, co-housing has the advantage of offering more living space at a cost similar to that offered by the conventional residential market.…”

“…In this context, co-housing has the advantage of offering more living space at a cost similar to that offered by the conventional residential market. This primarily economic logic is represented by two types of interventions [53]. The majority of co-housing projects target underprivileged households.…”

“…On the other hand, each household worked with a specific architect to reach decisions on the interior design of the domestic space. As a result, this process has reinforced, in a dynamic way, the collaborative involvement of residents in the collective perspective of the project and has ensured its affordability [53].…”

“…These architectural and urban features make co-housing a new housing model that can answer to the peculiar characteristics of the Brussels urban environment and its recent social trends. Thus, the qualities of co-housing, usually demonstrated in studies in the field of humanities [53,57], have an evident impact on a neighborhood scale:…”