Coliving is the future of housing, it will soon spread in the Czech Republic, believes Ján Antal

Coliving is experiencing a big boom abroad, but in the Czech Republic it hasn’t really taken off yet. How do you explain it?

First of all, it’s certainly good to be clear about what coliving is – personally, I consider it an institutional form of rental housing that is run by the investor, either alone or with the help of a manager. Coliving is revolutionising the way we think about housing. It combines privacy with the opportunity to be part of a community, which is ideal for today’s dynamic lifestyle. Young people are increasingly moving for work, changing cities and countries and don’t want to be fixated on long-term mortgages. Coliving allows them to live flexibly, sharing the cost of common areas while having quality facilities with a community spirit. In addition, in Western countries, coliving has proven to be a good option not only for young professionals but also for seniors who are looking for social contact and an active lifestyle.

What does a typical coliving building actually look like? How does it differ from a typical rental housing?

Coliving is all about cleverly connecting private and community spaces. A typical coliving unit is around 25-30 m² and includes a private bathroom and a small kitchen. But the key element is the added value of the communal spaces – for example in our own project, the competition proposal coliving in Smíchov, on the ground floor you will find a lounge, café or coworking area where people work or relax. On the roof we placed a community kitchen with the possibility of booking lounges (for example for a larger party) and on one of the floors there was a wellness zone with a swimming pool. The building management keeps all the shared spaces clean and functional, so residents have the convenience of hotel service but still feel at home.

Who is coliving for? Isn’t it just something for students?

On the contrary. Although in the Czech Republic we tend to perceive shared housing as a student affair, in the world it has long served a wider range of people. Most often, coliving is used by young professionals in their thirties, often before starting a family. They want to focus on their careers, but they also don’t want to live alone in a small apartment. Seniors are also an interesting segment – for example, in the Netherlands and Scandinavia there are a growing number of coliving projects aimed at them. It makes sense – older people get community, social connections and shared services that enable them to live an active life.

Why don’t big coliving projects like in London or Amsterdam exist in the Czech Republic yet?

There are several reasons. Culturally, after 1989 we have historically gravitated towards owner-occupied housing because in the past collective housing was associated with socialism. After the revolution, people wanted to indulge in individual housing, which led to the massive development of owner-occupied housing and mortgages. Today, however, the situation is changing – the younger generation either no longer sees ownership as a necessity, wants mobility and flexibility, or simply does not have enough money to buy property. Therefore, the first coliving projects are gradually appearing on the market, which have been working with this concept from the very beginning. In time, this model will spread to the Czech Republic. At the moment, however, there are only coliving projects in the Czech Republic that have been created by rebuilding an originally different typology – for example, a hotel or a hostel. We, as the Perspektiv studio, have already designed two large coliving projects with hundreds of units, and one will soon start construction.

What do you think are the main advantages of coliving?

Coliving is the future of housing because it offers the best of both worlds – privacy and community. Residents get fully furnished apartments with professional management, but at the same time have the opportunity to use shared spaces, meet new people and be part of a dynamic environment. The benefits are also economic – instead of paying high rents for a small apartment, you have access to luxurious common areas and services you couldn’t otherwise afford. And last but not least, coliving is more sustainable – shared resources and efficient management mean a lower ecological footprint.

So do you believe that coliving has a future in the Czech Republic?

Absolutely. We see that people increasingly value flexibility, community and quality of service. Coliving reflects the changes in society – from the digitalisation of work to the new approach to ownership, as well as the price developments in the property market. I believe that in the coming years we will see more projects that take full advantage of this concept and bring a new level of housing to us. This can already be seen in the upcoming generation of architects, who are often considering coliving solutions in their residential projects at university.