Continent: Europe

Las Carolinas-Entrepatios, Madrid

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Las Carolinas-Entrepatios, Madrid

Mismatches Location Price Functional adequacy Services Diversity New family structures
Urban Design Modelos De Ciudad Environments Quality Liveability Inclusion Participatory processes
Promotion and production Private promotion Materials Self-management Self-promotion Cooperatives
Ownership and tenure Shared ownership

Main objectives of the project

Las Carolinas-Entrepatios is the first ecological building with right of use in Spain that has been built between the centre of Madrid and the suburbs. It is a cohousing project, which means that it is the neighbours, members of the cooperative, who, through a participatory decision-making process, have decided on everything from the ecological materials to be used in the construction of the building to what part of the budget will be allocated to the insulation of the building and the type of air conditioning, among other things. Communal spaces make up 15% of the building: a communal courtyard; a room that serves as a children’s play area and as a space for weekly food distribution; a garage with mainly bicycles; a room dedicated to housing a large cistern where rainwater is collected, treated and used for toilets and gardening, by drip; a workshop room where neighbours work with their hands; a communal laundry; and a rooftop dedicated to adult leisure. The child population accounts for almost half of the total, some twenty children between the ages of two and twelve. Las Carolinas cooperative is made up of the fifty-three people who live in its seventeen dwellings. Depending on the size of their dwelling, they have paid between 40,000 and 50,000 euros as a down payment, an amount that will be returned if they leave the cooperative and replaced by those who move in. The ownership of the building remains in the hands of the cooperative and its members use the homes, but never own them.

Date

  • 2020: Construction
  • 2016: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Entrepatios
  • Architect: Lógica’Eco
  • Architect: TécnicaEco
  • Architect: sAtt

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Madrid
Country/Region: Madrid, Spain

Description

A few meters from the Manzanares River, in the neighborhood of Carolinas, in Orcasur (Usera), stands the first right-to-use collaborative housing building in the city of Madrid. This project, focused on environmental and community sustainability, has been conceived as a building with its own energy production and a very low energy demand, housing a community based on mutual support. The Las Carolinas development consists of 17 homes, inhabited by 32 adults and 20 children.

Usera, where this innovative building is located, is a peripheral municipality of Madrid that has faced social challenges, including difficulties of access to housing. Emerging from an active neighborhood movement, this project represents a radical, anti-speculative and accessible solution that integrates with the local community. In contrast to the dynamics of marginalization and privatization that have affected the neighborhood, the Entrepatios initiative aims to create inclusive spaces that strengthen the community fabric.
The system used involves a group of people forming a cooperative, which acquires the land and constructs the building. However, the residents do not own the land; instead, they only have the right to use the building as part of the cooperative. This approach prioritizes the use value of the building over land value speculation, offering a solution against gentrification and dispossession.

Since the acquisition of the site in 2016, the cooperative has navigated various forms of participation in the management of the process, with the collaboration of Lógica'Eco for technical aspects and the architectural design by the sAtt studio and TécnicaEco. Funding came from ethical banking and donations. The building, located on an elongated south-facing site, consists of 17 apartments with access through an outdoor corrala, which serves as a circulation and meeting space. Common spaces include first floor and attic space for various community activities, as well as a small workshop in the basement and a common laundry room.

In keeping with its commitment to climate change mitigation and resident comfort, the building prioritizes energy efficiency and comfort, especially in summer, through quality insulation and renewable energy generation. The garden is drip-fed, a rainwater cistern is provided for water savings, and the materials used prevent the release of volatile organic materials. A wooden structure is used. In order to have clean air, we will have a double-flow controlled mechanical ventilation system, which will prevent pollutants from entering from the outside thanks to a filter. This initiative seeks to reduce energy demand and promote a more sustainable lifestyle in a city increasingly affected by heat. The project has been certified with ECOMETRO and has been designed with high energy efficiency standards, incorporating renewable technologies such as solar panels on the roof.

The Entrepatios building is proof of the possibility of housing that is free from speculation, resilient to climate change, and fosters cooperative and communal living in a vulnerable neighborhood of a large metropolis.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Masoveria Urbana, Vilafranca, Spain

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Masoveria Urbana, Vilafranca, Spain

Mismatches Vulnerable groups Vacant housing
Policies and regulations Local policies Regulation Participatory processes
Promotion and production Private promotion Self-management
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

In the global North, there's often a misconception that access to affordable housing is limited to either ownership or renting. However, historical precedents suggest otherwise. Vilafranca leveraged an ancient land ownership and possession scheme permitted by their traditional private law to devise a solution for affordable housing: the concept of "masoveria”. In Catalan tradition, "masoveria" entails an agreement wherein a property owner grants the use of a house in the countryside to a tenant at no cost. In return, the tenant assumes responsibility for maintaining and cultivating the land and fields associated with the property. This concept has been adapted in urban contexts through initiatives known as "Urban Farmhousing" or "Masoveria Urbana." In these initiatives, buildings in need of renovation and often left vacant are temporarily leased by the owner to tenants at no charge. In exchange, the tenant undertakes necessary rehabilitation works to improve the property.

Date

  • 2017: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Vilafranca City Council

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Spain

Description

Vilafranca del Panadès, located in the same region as Barcelona, is considered part of its metropolitan area despite its position on the frontier with the countryside. As the capital of wine in Catalonia, Vilafranca boasts a rich tradition of agriculture. Interestingly, this tradition has become pivotal in addressing the city's urban challenges.

Within the framework of the ALT/BAU URBACT network, Vilafranca identified a significant number of vacant buildings in its city center. The objective was to restore these buildings to tackle the city's most pressing issue: the housing crisis. Following the economic downturn of 2008, finding affordable housing in Vilafranca became increasingly difficult, with prices soaring. Meanwhile, many vacant buildings remained in need of refurbishment, offering potential solutions that could benefit younger residents.

In the rural areas surrounding Vilafranca, there exists a particular type of unused contract known as Masoveria. Under this arrangement, a landowner grants a "masover" the use of the land for agricultural purposes, allowing the landowner to retain ownership while the "masover" benefits from cultivating the land. Recognizing the potential application of this concept in the housing sector, Vilafranca sought to adapt it to their urban challenges.

The proposed solution operates on a simple premise: property owners lacking the financial means to renovate their vacant buildings lease them to younger individuals, who take responsibility for refurbishing the properties. In exchange, the tenants have the right to use the house unit with the condition of improving it. This arrangement not only addresses the housing crisis by providing access to housing without exorbitant costs but also benefits property owners by ensuring their properties are maintained and improved.

This system allows people without house to access one (without paying the market prices!). And then, people with vacant houses earn someone maintaining it and improving it. Central to the success of this initiative is the support of the local council. The municipality actively promotes this model through its website and press releases, maintaining a list of interested owners and tenants. Potential matches are facilitated through initial meetings, with the municipality offering assistance in drafting leasing contracts and navigating the process. Additionally, the municipality serves as a mediator if necessary, fostering collaboration between owners and tenants.

To further promote awareness and engagement, the city council organizes festivities in areas with vacant buildings, featuring music and family events on weekends. These events aim to attract citizens to these areas, allowing them to explore the vacant buildings and appreciate their heritage value. Ultimately, the goal is to empower citizens to make use of these opportunities and contribute to the revitalization of these spaces.

This project exemplifies two key insights: firstly, the innovative utilization of traditional legal frameworks to provide affordable housing without significant public expenditure, and secondly, the proactive role of the public sector in facilitating collaboration among stakeholders, positioning it as a leader in urban development rather than merely a provider of services.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Cireres

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Cireres

Mismatches Financing Functional adequacy Services Cultural suitability Diversity Climate change
Policies and regulations Local policies Land Public-private initiatives
Financing Financial actors
Urban Design Environments Quality Liveability
Promotion and production Public-private partnerships Participatory processes Self-management Self-promotion Cooperatives
Ownership and tenure Shared ownership Protection of social housing Land ownership

Main objectives of the project

Cireres is a housing project whose goal is to build a cooperative housing that avoids speculation and the market dynamics. Thanks to a leasing of public land, a group of people in search of affordable housing could form a community with sustainable and top-tier housing units.

Date

  • 2022: Ganador
  • 2022: Construction
  • 2017: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: SostreCivic (Coopertaiva Cireres)
  • Promotor: Barcelona City Hall
  • Constructor: La Constructiva
  • Architect: CelObert
  • Matriu
  • Col·lectiu Ronda
  • Fiare
  • Arç

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Barcelona
Country/Region: Barcelona, Spain

Description

Cireres is located in Roquetes, a popular neighborhood of Barcelona, with significant levels of vulnerability. This neighborhood has undergone considerable urban improvement since the 1990s. Originally, it was formed as a neighborhood of informal housing. Over the years, these dwellings have been integrated into the urban fabric and living conditions have improved. Today, the neighborhood faces new challenges. Mainly, housing speculation has entered fully into the daily life of the neighbors. For this reason, an investment in social housing is necessary. However, social housing is often expensive for the administration and has no roots in the neighborhood.

Cireres wants to solve the above problems. The project follows the logic of cooperative housing in lease of use. The public administration leases a municipal lot to a cooperative for a long period of time. In exchange, the cooperative builds the building and its members have the right to use the housing. In this way, the municipality does not lose public land for affordable housing. On the other hand, tenants have secure tenure and are part of a larger community integrated into the neighborhood, with the agency to build and decide on their project. To move in, each cohabitation unit has had to make an initial returnable capital contribution and then monthly payments, including services and utilities, which are below city rents.

Cireres also goes a step further. The objective is to generate a community that can build the entire project and live thereafter from the social and solidarity economy, not linked to the speculative market. Thus, the financing comes from Fiare, an ethical bank. The insurance company, the construction company, the management company... and all the agents involved are non-profit cooperatives. In this way, the value of use is put in front of the value of exchange, demonstrating another way to build affordable housing. In addition, the project includes a social economat, a working cooperative of residents dedicated to the trade of agro-ecological products.

The community life of Cireres is structured in an assembly, linked to the realities of the neighborhood and the residents. Its 32 dwellings are organized around common spaces. Thus, the idea is to be a single house, erasing the distance between the public and the private, integrating community life in the residence. For example, the houses are structured around a landing where neighbors can go out to hang the laundry, play... There are also communal indoor spaces. The communal project has an ideology that everyone must respect, the framework from which the activities, complicities and constructions of relationships, group and building are developed.

The site is a plot of 428 m2 located in the street Pla dels Cirerers, 2-4, We wanted to have shared spaces of quality, which allow to release functions of the interior of the private spaces to give them to the community, so 190m2 of buildability of the site are no longer exhausted by the commitment to make community spaces. We have built reduced private living spaces (50 m2 on average), which are compensated by 771 m2 of space for community use. The material used in Cirerers is mainly wood, and also lime mortar on the facades and plasterboard in the interiors. All of them are biodegradable materials with a low ecological footprint, since their production, transport and recycling involve very low CO2 emissions.

The building has won several awards: Advanced Architecture Awards 2022 in the Sustainability category - REBUILD, European Social Innovation Competition (EUSIC) and finalist of the MINI Design Awards 2022 - Madrid Design Festival.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

La Balma

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La Balma

Mismatches Location Financing Functional adequacy Cultural suitability Diversity Vulnerable groups New family structures
Policies and regulations Local policies Land Governance Public-private initiatives Participatory processes
Financing Financial actors
Urban Design Quality Liveability
Promotion and production Public-private partnerships Participatory processes Self-management Self-promotion Cooperatives
Ownership and tenure Shared ownership Rental and temporary tenure Protection of social housing Land ownership Public-private partnerships

Main objectives of the project

La Balma is a housing cooperative on public land. Through a system of rights on land ("cesión de uso"), the municipality leases the land for a long period of time. In exchange, a cooperative of people who meet the requirements to build social housing builds their cooperative. About thirty people live in La Balma, with 20 cohabitation units.

Date

  • 2021: Construction
  • 2017: En proceso
  • 2016: Ganador

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Sostre Civic (Coopertiva La Balma)
  • Architect: La Boqueria
  • Architect: LaCol
  • Constructor: La Constructiva SCCL
  • Constructor: Arkenova
  • Barcelona City Hall
  • Fiare Banca Ètica
  • Òmnium Cultural
  • Coop57
  • Punt de referència

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Barcelona
Country/Region: Barcelona, Spain

Description

La Balma is located in the Poblenou neighborhood of Barcelona. The neighborhood is an old industrial center of the city, which in recent years has become the first district of technological innovation in the country. It is called 22@. This project was intended to generate a technological district while maintaining the residential-industrial mix characteristic of the neighborhood. The reality has been more complex. The neighborhood has suffered a clear process of gentrification. Housing prices have skyrocketed and many of the traditional premises are no longer there. Thus, one challenge is to maintain a population involved in the neighborhood and that can afford to live in it.

It is from this logic that La Balma was born, a cooperative housing made on public land. Being part of the cooperative requires an initial contribution and the payment of monthly installments that are derived from the costs of acquisition, maintenance and operation of the cooperative housing project, and not from the situation of the real estate market. Thus, one does not acquire the land nor does one acquire the housing. Being part of the cooperative you have the right of use (or the transfer of use) for a long or lifetime period, without real estate market rises and without possible speculation. In this way, the municipality does not lose public land for affordable housing, only leases it without the cost of building social housing. On the other hand, tenants have a secure tenure and are part of a larger community integrated into the neighborhood, with the agency to build and decide on their project. To move in, each cohabitation unit has had to make an initial returnable capital contribution of between €28,000 and €38,000. The monthly payments, which include services and utilities, range from €512 to €800 per dwelling. The financing of these amounts has been made possible thanks to Fiare, an ethical and community bank.

The community at La Balma is heterogeneous and intergenerational. There are 30 people living in 20 units. We find single-parent families, couples, couples with children, cohabitant adults and individual units (from young people to retired people). Many of these people are lifelong residents of Poblenou. In fact, the community was formed prior to construction, participating in all phases of the project, from design to move-in. It also includes a pioneering social project. One of the homes is destined for two young people in exile, thanks to a joint program with Punt de Referència, an organization that works to promote the emancipation of these young people in vulnerable situations, and financed by the Libres Project (Coop57, Òmnium Cultural and ECAS). In addition, these young people participated in the entire design process of the project and participate in the democratic management of the building. To promote the interrelationship with the neighborhood, we also have a first floor space shared with associations and individuals to promote their projects. On the other hand, we are committed to ecological consumption, linking the cooperative with consumer cooperatives in the surrounding area and to self-production with vegetable gardens on the roof.

As far as the building is concerned, it has flexible and multipurpose spaces that evolve with the group according to the changes of both the living units and the people who will inhabit the building: incorporation of new members, births, growth processes of children-adolescents, aging processes of adults ... Thus, the typologies start from a basic module of 50m2 and from the annexation of living units of 16m2 (considered common space for private use in legal terms) allow to grow and shrink the houses. These units are ceded by the cooperative to the family units that need them at any given moment, therefore, it becomes a mechanism to manage changes as an alternative to rotation. This proposal is viable due to the fact that the management of the building is the responsibility of the community itself. The dwellings reduce their surface area (5-10%) to share services such as laundry, study, guest rooms or storage rooms, thus allowing that the collectivization does not involve a cost overrun, but rather the opposite, a saving and a gain in surface area and quality of life.

The architectural project has 225m2 of interior area destined to communal spaces, plus semi-exterior and exterior areas, where we find the following uses: living room - dining room, multipurpose room, library and work space, a laundry per floor, health and care space connected with auxiliary rooms, guest rooms, common and individual storage per floor, equipped deck and outdoor living area, bicycle parking, tool space and workshop area.

In 2016 the competition for the construction was won and in 2021 the building was move-in ready.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Affordable Housing for All - Budapest

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Affordable Housing for All - Budapest

Mismatches Diversity Vulnerable groups Vacant housing
Promotion and production Public promotion Public-private partnerships
Ownership and tenure Shared ownership Public-private partnerships

Main objectives of the project

AHA Budapest strives to achieve 'Affordable Housing for All' by employing an integrated strategy that not only boosts the availability of affordable housing but also introduces innovative solutions to assist individuals vulnerable to housing insecurity. A key aspect involves repurposing an unutilized non-residential public structure into energy-efficient social housing. Concurrently, a data-driven early detection system is being implemented to pinpoint households encountering challenges such as rental arrears and energy-related financial strain. This facilitates the testing of new support services, fostering extensive collaboration among public utilities, social service entities, and municipal districts.

Date

  • 2021: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Budapest Municipality
  • Budapest Brand Nonprofit Plc
  • Metropolitan Research Institute
  • Architect: Popcode Developments Ltd
  • Architect: NART Architects Studio Llc
  • From Streets to Homes! Association
  • Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre Foundation
  • Energiaklub Association
  • European Urban Initiative

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Budapest, Hungary

Description

Like numerous cities across Europe, Budapest grapples with an energy crisis that exacerbates an ongoing housing affordability dilemma, exposing new social groups to energy poverty and housing insecurity. Moreover, the city's social housing sector has long been marginalized, shrinking, and dilapidated. To confront this challenge, Budapest aspires to cultivate a more appealing, resilient, and inclusive social housing system.

AHA endeavors to craft an integrated service model that encompasses repurposing an idle non-residential public edifice into nearly zero-energy social housing, alongside implementing a distinctive early warning system to pinpoint and aid households vulnerable to energy poverty and housing exclusion. An experimental support scheme advocates for flexible housing options, such as cohabitation and flat exchange arrangements for at-risk households. For instance, homeowners residing in oversized dwellings can share their space with those unable to afford their own homes. Additionally, a revolving fund is being piloted to provide retrofitting grants with a focus on energy efficiency.

The engagement of tenants and other local residents is actively encouraged, notably through the inclusive design of low-cost, visually appealing modular interiors intended for the new social housing inventory.

Ultimately, AHA aims to showcase a scalable solution for addressing the challenges of energy poverty and housing exclusion, thereby repositioning social housing as a financially stable, environmentally friendly, and aesthetically pleasing sector. The AHA consortium, along with its extensive partnership, encompasses a diverse array of stakeholders, including academic institutions, professional NGOs, and private entities (such as real estate firms and banks), with the aim of fostering progressive housing initiatives that appeal to private investors.

The AHA project is still an ongoing project, financed by the European Urban Initiative, being one of their selected projects. The ERDF budget is €4,985,110.40

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Strasbourg strategy against empty houses

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Strasbourg strategy against empty houses

Mismatches Vacant housing
Policies and regulations Global frameworks Governance Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact
Financing

Main objectives of the project

Addressing housing concerns encompasses not only individuals without homes but also properties without occupants. In response, Strasbourg Eurométropole (Metropolitan Area of Strasbourg) initiated a strategic approach aimed at transforming vacant dwellings into accessible housing options. This initiative reflects a meticulously devised policy grounded in comprehensive data and knowledge, designed to bolster the city's social housing sector while providing viable solutions for owners of unoccupied properties.

Date

  • 2015: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Strasbourg Eurométropole

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: France, Strasbourg

Description

Strasbourg recognized the pressing issue surrounding vacant housing: many properties could easily be repurposed into social rental units. However, understanding why these properties remained unoccupied proved challenging. Thus, an assessment program was initiated. Leveraging the Ministry of Economy and Finance's list of vacant homes, city hall corresponded with listed owners, arranging interviews to delve into the reasons behind the vacancy. The focus was primarily on small landlords, who often cited concerns such as unpaid rent, property degradation, and cumbersome administrative procedures as deterrents to renting out their properties. The result of the meeting was that the existing systems lacked clarity, exacerbating the situation. Some owners had previously rented out their properties but encountered difficulties, ranging from tenant disputes to necessary but unaffordable building repairs.

Armed with insights into the issue, the city swiftly moved toward solutions. A comprehensive 'toolbox' was developed, comprising easily understandable documents and accessible financial assistance to guide owners through their options. Free advice is now available, covering property valuation, heritage significance assessment, and eligibility for grants. The National Habitat Agency steps in to assist landlords in connecting with new tenants or mediating disputes with existing ones.

To incentivize owners to make their properties available for social housing, the Eurometropole offers grants of up to €3,000. This incentive, disbursed on a 'half now, half later' basis, provides €1,500 upon removing the property from vacancy and offering it for social housing, with an additional €1,500 granted if the tenancy lasts at least two years. Each municipality within Strasbourg Eurometropole manages the disbursement, tailoring the system to local needs.

Furthermore, the city negotiated preferential rates with banks, resulting in zero-interest loans for owners undertaking building improvements to make their properties tenant-ready. To assist owners in finding suitable contractors, the city compiled a categorized list of companies operating in various service areas.

These initiatives aimed at small landlords are driving an increase in affordable rents while aiding struggling families in managing their real estate assets. Since May 2016, the Eurometropole has spent €320,000 (€1400 per dwelling). It has mobilised 230 vacant dwellings (all rented at social rental rates), 87 of which were rented through rental intermediation (40%). Ten municipalities are involved and over 500 landlords have been met.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Anti-eviction Office in Palma, Mallorca, Spain

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Anti-eviction Office in Palma, Mallorca, Spain

Policies and regulations Local policies Governance Evictions Price control

Main objectives of the project

Established in 2015 in response to Mallorca's housing crisis, particularly in Palma, the Anti-eviction Office has become a beacon of hope for struggling families facing eviction threats due to unaffordable mortgages and rising rent prices. Financed by the municipality, the office's primary goal is to prevent evictions by offering legal aid and guidance to affected families. Acting as a mediator between tenants, owners, and financial institutions, it strives to find solutions and emergency housing alternatives when mediation fails. With its transdisciplinary team, the office provides comprehensive assistance, streamlining housing support previously fragmented across different governmental levels.

Date

  • 2015: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Palma City Council

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Palma de Mallorca
Country/Region: Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Description

In Mallorca, Spain, the 2008 crisis was above all a housing crisis. Mortgages could not be paid and rent was rising while luxurious houses and short-term rental tourist apartments were on the rise. In this context, Palma, its city, faced a wave of evictions. The result could have been homelessness and a social emergency situation. However, in 2015, the Anti-eviction Office was created.

The main goal of the office was to stop all the eviction processes they could. Financed by the municipality, the Anti-eviction Office offers orientation and legal aid to all the families struggling to pay the rent or threatened for eviction. Its aim is mediating between owner and tenant or between owner and financial institution. In case the mediation is not possible, the municipality tries to find an “emergency housing alternative”. The office also does a work of prevention and education, helping families to manage their rent and services. The team behind it is transdisciplinary, helping te citizens from different angles.

The biggest virtue of the Office is becoming a one-stop office regarding housing issues. Before its creation, housing was divided in three different administrations (national, regional and local government), each one with its own procedures and areas. The Office was a way to help all citizens from the same office for any issue regarding housing and eviction in a situation of emergency. In the last 8 years, the office has stopped nearly two thousand evictions, representing the 65% of the cases. Moreover, similar schemes can be found in Barcelona and other major cities of Spain.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Porto 15 - Cohousing for young people

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Porto 15 - Cohousing for young people

Mismatches Location Services Vacant housing
Promotion and production Public promotion Self-management Cooperatives Site&services
Ownership and tenure Rental and temporary tenure Protection of social housing

Main objectives of the project

Porto 15 stands as a pioneering example of collaborative residence for individuals under 35, marking one of Italy's earliest ventures into cohousing with full public support. This innovative project entails the rehabilitation and subsequent leasing of 18 units within a building owned by ASP - City of Bologna, situated in the heart of the historic city center. Its proximity to the vibrant cultural hub known as Manifattura delle Arti, home to the Museum of Modern Art and the Film Library, further enhances its appeal. The residence offers common spaces for inhabitants to utilize, fostering a sense of community and encouraging active participation in communal life. Residents are invited to engage in this novel form of collaborative living, aiming to create a dynamic and inclusive environment within their shared space.

Date

  • 2017: Construction

Stakeholders

  • Porto15 APS
  • Promotor: ASP - Public Company for Services of the City of Bologna
  • Promotor: ACER-Bologna
  • City of Bologna
  • Constructor: Società Cooperativa SuMisura

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Bologna, Italy

Description

The roots of the Italian cooperative movement date back to the mid-nineteenth century, with Bologna serving as a hub for numerous such initiatives. In 1884, workers from a tobacco company in Bologna formed one of the earliest housing cooperatives, marking a significant milestone in community organization. While the fascist era interrupted this model, the post-war period witnessed a resurgence of cooperative endeavors.

Bologna's housing landscape has recently been overshadowed by a pressing crisis, exacerbated by factors like soaring rental costs, which spiked by nearly ten percent the previous year. The city's mayor has acknowledged the urgency of the situation, attributing it partly to the lingering effects of economic downturns and phenomena like Airbnb, which diminish the availability of long-term rental properties. In response, the city has undertaken measures such as signing the Evictions Protocol to support families facing eviction due to financial hardships.

Despite these efforts, young people continue to struggle to secure affordable housing. Recognizing the potential of cooperative models, Porto 15 emerged as a pioneering venture. As the first public housing initiative in Italy exclusively for individuals under 35, Porto 15 represents a significant social innovation, particularly in a country where around 67% of this demographic still resides with their parents.

Located in the historic city center, the building is structured around 5 floors of residence in the center of Bologna, 18 apartments for rent to live in, 49 potential inhabitants, 5 common spaces for meetings, parties, activities, workshops… Access to Porto 15 involved self-nomination and a selection process based on compatibility with available accommodations. Concurrently with residency, the inaugural group of cohabitants established Porto 15 APS, a social promotion association aimed at supporting collaborative living and engaging in community activities at local and broader levels. The association is the one responsible of the cooperative ethos of the project.

A defining feature of Porto 15's model is residents' active participation and decision-making, exemplified by the creation of a "charter of values" outlining mutual expectations and responsibilities. This collaborative approach not only benefits residents but also enriches the broader community through organized activities and contributions, such as childcare support systems and ecological initiatives.

Moreover, Porto 15's location in the historic center serves as a bulwark against the encroachment of touristification, safeguarding the area's vibrancy and livability for residents. In fact, the agreement among residents include a commitment to give something back to the local community, by organizing activities. For example, tenants might set up a homework club, or do something ecological such as caring for public gardens. This innovative housing project is part of Bologna's broader efforts to redefine cooperative housing, culminating in the city's distinction as the first in Italy to establish a formal definition of cooperative housing and actively encourage private and citizen-led initiatives to repurpose unused city-owned buildings for similar purposes.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Tenant’s democracy in Denmark

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Tenant’s democracy in Denmark

Policies and regulations Building capacity Participatory processes
Promotion and production Self-management

Main objectives of the project

In numerous European countries, social housing landlords have established mechanisms for tenant involvement in governance, with Denmark leading the forefront in this domain, where it has evolved into what is commonly referred to as "tenant democracy." Within this system, tenants of housing associations possess the ability to wield substantial influence over estate management.

Date

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: BL- Danish Federation of Non-Profit Housing

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Denmark

Description

Denmark boasts a rich history of equitable housing policies spanning over a century. In 1919, through broad political consensus, Denmark pioneered a national public social housing system accessible to all. Unlike public housing models elsewhere, social housing in Denmark is not confined to low-income households but is open to all residents. Nonprofit housing organizations, where tenants are associates, develop and own the buildings, while residents actively shape their living conditions through a system of tenant democracy. Regulated extensively under Danish welfare policy, nonprofit housing development encompasses stringent controls over financing, design, construction, and management, including waiting lists for housing units. Danish law allows each municipality to allocate up to 25% of its social housing stock for marginalized communities such as refugees, the unemployed, and people with disabilities. Social housing comprises approximately 20% of Copenhagen's housing stock, while market-rate rentals and private co-ops constitute 43% and another significant portion, respectively.

A cornerstone of tenant democracy in Denmark lies in tenant boards. Each housing estate annually elects its tenant board, which subsequently forms part of a larger assembly. This assembly convenes annually to elect a board, approve budgets and rents, determine maintenance and renovation projects, and establish local rules. Tenants hold substantial power in decision-making, with the board having the final say, even on major renovations. Disputes are resolved through municipal assistance mechanisms when necessary, ensuring equitable outcomes. While tenants maintain the majority on the organization's board, municipal representatives often occupy seats as well. Thus, participatory methods, reinforcing local power and horizontal governance are the main features of the model.

To further empower tenant boards, housing associations offer various tools and resources. These include dedicated web portals for board members and a range of courses, such as an annual weekend seminar for local housing company chairpersons and chairwomen, along with meetings held in local settings with high-level executives from the housing associations.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Swedish Tenants’ Union

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Swedish Tenants’ Union

Mismatches Price
Policies and regulations National policies Regulation Building capacity Price control
Ownership and tenure Protection of social housing

Main objectives of the project

In most countries globally, rent prices are primarily dictated by market forces. However, Sweden, shaped by its history of progressive ideals and left-leaning governance, has upheld a unique rent model grounded in the concept of "use-value." Here, rent isn't subject to market fluctuations but rather negotiated between landlords and tenants, taking into account the specific attributes of the property. This system stems from a longstanding regulatory approach in Sweden that treats all rental housing equally, regardless of form or tenure.

Date

Stakeholders

  • Hyresgäst­föreningen

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Sweden

Description

In the housing sector, a significant challenge arises from the unequal distribution of power and information among stakeholders, leaving tenants particularly vulnerable in an imperfect market environment. This concern prompted Sweden to organize tenants into mass grassroots unions as early as the 19th century. The primary objective was to enable tenants to negotiate rent and housing conditions with property owners. Following the establishment of the welfare state, the methodologies of negotiation developed by these Tenant Unions were formalized into law.

Presently, all tenants in Sweden, regardless of whether housing is provided for profit or not, possess the right to participate in negotiating rents and tenancy conditions. This right is reinforced by tenant mobilization and active campaigns advocating for tenant rights. With a membership of 500,000 individuals, the Tenants' Association has not only become one of Sweden's largest grassroots movements but also the world's largest tenants' association. The Association, alongside representatives of landlords, engages in negotiating tenancy agreements. In instances where landlords refuse to negotiate with tenants, a statutory Rent Tribunal holds the authority to impose arrangements regarding rent levels and tenancy conditions.

Currently, the largest tenant union negotiates rents for three million tenants residing in 1.5 million apartments. These apartments are situated across 300 municipal housing associations and 45,000 private rental properties. Approximately 4,000 elected members participate in rent negotiations.

The system mirrors the process by which wages are determined in Sweden, characterized by broad sector-based negotiations between organized labor and employers' organizations. This system operates on the principle of "bruksvärde," or "use-value," which aims to both model market rents and ensure fixed tenure and reasonable rents for tenants. Rent is established based on various factors including the size, design, location, and physical condition of the apartment in question.

In addition to negotiations, the Tenant's Union advocates for policy innovations such as rent regulations for housing in the free market and the promotion of cooperatives or social housing.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España