Co-creating Danish cohousing

Abstract

In this article, we explore how different kinds and varying degrees of co-creation have shaped cohousing in Denmark over the past half century. The first part of the article is concerned with how this is related to types of ownership and ways of establishing new communities; the second part to the role of the architect, arguing for more experimental and open processes; and the third part to resident mix and community life, which raises questions of diversity and the unfinished. The article concludes with a discussion of how the accumulated experiences may contribute to strengthening a sense of belonging and community in future cohousing during the processes of both construction and habitation.