Coliving: all about the shared housing trend

In several places in Brazil and in the world we already have people working together, from different companies, in spaces designed for this purpose - coworking. Now, the concept has also been extended to homes and we are already seeing a new housing model emerging called coliving.

The act of living in community is not new, since this trend has followed the human being since the beginning, with tribes and clans, going through the hippy communities of the 1960s and also through ecovillages, republics and student pensions.

So, what would coliving be different? The movement encourages not only shared housing, but also integration, collaboration and  sustainability. With this reading, you will understand in depth how the idea works and why this is a strong trend for the residential future. Continues!

After all, what is coliving?

The concept of coliving is not that current. It originated in 1972, with the world's first cohousing project - the  Sættedammen. In Denmark, 35 families kept their homes private, but shared living spaces, household chores and, thus, stimulated the relationship between neighbors.

It seems that the idea worked, since you must have noticed the similarity between the project and the residential condominiums. However, the housing model underwent a change in 1988, with the American architect Charles Durrett. He took the concept of cohousing for ventures and thus founded  The Cohousing Company, an organization that values shared coexistence to promote a more sustainable society.

Thus emerged what we know today as coliving: a form of shared housing that divides not only physical spaces, but also  common ideals and  objectives, involving sustainability, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

The coliving manifesto

In view of the proposal, a manifest was prepared that summarizes the main fundamentals of the shared housing movement. Created by  Coliving.org, it preaches a community that is in harmony with individuality, but that brings people together and promotes the exchange of experiences.

In addition, the document emphasizes consumption strategically conceived in collaboration, giving space for the promotion of  sustainability. This guarantees the shared projection of residences, the saving of natural resources and the division of tasks and decisions. In this sense, the concept of coliving house trends is very close to another trend - the collaborative economy.

Stimulating the collaborative economy

To row against the global tide of industrialization and unrestrained consumption, the era of sharing arises, with initiatives linked to the economy. Therefore, we can say that coliving fits this trend as an excellent option to encourage a lean, functional and collaborative lifestyle that can generate less environmental impact.

Most of the shared housing constructions have water reuse systems, renewable energy capture,  selective collection systems, in addition to thinking about accessible, ecological and economical architecture and decorations. In this scenario, even individual consumption changes - in relation to supplies, exchange and shared use of objects and equipment, optimization of means of transport, among other attitudes.

How does coliving work?

You must have a keen curiosity now that you understand what a coliving is. It is important to know that it works with a common purpose, so it brings together people with similar goals. Shared housing attracts many young people, for example, students, people who work in large centers and those who are willing to undertake, improve skills and exchange experiences.

However, in Brazil we already have initiatives that bring the solution to the elderly. The architect Lilian Lubochinski founded  Cohousing Brasil, which provides consultancy for coliving projects aimed at the elderly. This is, in fact, a trend in the United States and Canada!

The most interesting thing of all is that, regardless of the public, in general, shared housing is sought by those who want more socialization than financial savings. This is a possible statement thanks to the results of  a survey conducted in 2018 by Space 10.

It is a community that has a need for sharing that goes beyond the physical space. Residents want to share experiences, promote co-creation, learn from new cultures, undertake, etc.

What are the characteristics of a shared house?

Coliving is usually an aesthetically interesting space, with modern, technological design   and structured living spaces to receive a “big family”. The rooms are private, however, the house is already furnished and  domestic services such as  cleaning, supplies and laundry are already included in the cost.

It is as if you share a house, but without worries that involve a common residence. Therefore, it is something closer to a hotel stay, but with the opportunity to socialize with other guests in shared rooms and kitchens, lounges and even in the famous coworking spaces, which opened this article. Remember?

The importance of home insurance

According to a  study by the Urban Institutes Housing Finance Policy Center, only one in three millennials - people in their 20s and 30s -  purchased a property  by the end of 2018. This means that this generation is far less concerned with residential acquisition.

So, why not think about home insurance with solutions that suit even models as modern as shared housing? Porto Seguro's home insurance even accepts colivings, where it supports both the property owner's property and the tenants' property. That is, you can live in a house, in a rented apartment, in the city, in the countryside or even in a coliving - so that the home, regardless of its structure, is protected, it is essential to have this service!

The idea is that the space is always protected and when hiring insurance, residents will have the coverage of a traditional insurance and also with emergency services hours, making the experience even more peaceful, convenient and with an excellent cost-benefit. In the case of coliving, residents will be able to direct even more time and energy to what matters most in their lives - without worries such as broken appliances, theft or theft, plumber, locksmith, electrician, miscellaneous repairs, among others.

Did you like to know more about coliving? Did you understand the importance of insurance even in shared housing? Continue here on the blog and  read everything you need to know about home insurance !