While traditional housing mainly fulfils basic needs – shelter, food and a sense of security – coliving goes further. As
Coliving is not a micro-agency. It builds on community and the new housing economy
Coliving is often mistaken for mere micro-apartments in the Czech environment. In fact, it is a completely different type of housing, based on shared spaces, community and a specific layout. Coliving brings a new logic to the design and economics of projects: it is not the rental price per square meter that is decisive, but the yield per unit or bed
Coliving is therefore an attractive form of housing, especially for generations that prefer experiences to ownership. Typical target groups of coliving projects are students, who often stay for only one semester, young professionals and expats or digital nomads, who change cities and countries typically after about one year. For all these groups, however, the living experience is more important than the facilities themselves.
The architectural design of coliving is therefore fundamentally different from conventional apartment buildings. The private units are very purposeful and aesthetically neutral, so that basic comfort is provided, but there remains room for personalisation by the tenant. Common areas, on the other hand, receive the most attention – they are the centre of life and provide an identity for the whole specific project thanks to their distinctive architectural design. They become its brand that sells.
A typical floor in a coliving house has a different composition than that of a conventional housing development. Approximately half of the floor space is occupied by private units, about a third by common areas and the rest by service facilities. If we were to assess this ratio by traditional measures of efficiency, it would appear lower than in standard apartment buildings. But coliving works with different optics. What matters here is not the rental price per square meter, but the yield calculated per unit or bed. Thus, a smaller area per unit allows for up to one-third more occupants for the same gross floor area, and thus different economics for the entire project.
Shared services
That’s why it’s crucial for coliving projects to look for the most efficient floor plan layout and its smart use. This makes it possible to offer not only more units, but also larger and better quality common spaces – from coworking centres and study rooms to community kitchens and cafes to laundry rooms, cinemas, game rooms or outdoor terraces. Every square metre has its importance and must be used meaningfully to bring maximum benefit to residents and investors alike.
In the Czech environment, coliving is sometimes mistaken for mere micro-apartments – small units without added value. But coliving is about something else. It is based on the shared use of the aforementioned spaces and thus on community, without which coliving would be meaningless.
As the Zoku project in Copenhagen shows, the spatial composition and functional use of coling projects can be very varied. The private units here range in size from 16 to 40 m² and offer four types of private options – from compact studio apartments to more spacious lofts. The smallest unit contains everything you need in a minimum of space: bed, bar, bathroom and sophisticated storage. With thoughtful details, sophisticated storage systems and flexible interior features, they are full-fledged living spaces that adapt to each individual’s needs.
In the Czech environment, interest in this type of housing is still rather marginal, yet it may be an answer to the challenges related to the overall availability of housing in the future. Coliving shows that houses can be more than just a collection of flats. They can become an organism that connects individuals into a community and sets a new standard for housing.
