FINANCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL INTEREST OF COHOUSING: IMPACTS OF AUTOPROMOTION AND MUTUALIZATION OF SPACES AND/OR SYSTEMS

Stiernon, Dorothée [UCL] Massart, Catherine [UCL]

Rising prices in real estate and demographic evolution make access to the individual property an important issue for many families. This leads to a clear demand for low-cost constructions. In this perspective, the research Opticost - Technical-Economic Optimization of the Construction Costs - led by “Belgian Building Research Institute” aims to suggest alternative solutions. As project partners, “Architecture et Climat” worked on conceptual optimization in order to limit construction costs. This paper focuses on cohousing as an economical and sustainable alternative solution. Cohousing is commonly defined as "a place where several entities live and where self-managed privative and collective spaces are organized" (Definition from “habitat et participation”, a non-profit organization). Cohousing, this very complete model deals with the three pillars of the sustainable development. The research is based on interviews with architects, and an online survey sent to inhabitants of cohousing. Cohousing in general and four case studies in particular are detailed. Research is structured on the following key elements: - Definitions of cohousing - Characteristics of cohousing: collective facilities and spaces - Objectives pursued in cohousing projects - Pros and Cons encountered in cohousing