Architectural Design in Rethinking the Future of Co-Housing in Malaysia

Co-housing is a collaborative housing concept designed to foster close social bonding and sustainable communities. With the rapid population growth, urban sprawls and housing prices in Malaysia, this concept has gained traction in the housing sector as a viable housing alternative to the existing property market due to its social, economic and sustainability benefits. This paper aims to establish a set of design best practices by conducting a qualitative study on three selected Malaysian co-housing locations and design providers (DP). The methodology consists of interviews, literature reviews and case studies where data gained from the interviews are reviewed with data from the literature and case studies. The resulting analysis recommends that co-housing should focus on the following design aspects: demography size, surrounding context, spatial configuration, space design, “environmental psychology theory” and sustainability considerations. This paper concludes by providing several potential co-housing issues and recommendations for enhancing the benefits of co-housing in Malaysia.