1. Growing old together: senior cohousing and successful ageing in the city
Me,
Berlin, initial interest,
Why not in the UK?
 Phd
Jim Hudson,
PhD candidate, Dept. of Geography, UCL

2. Cohousing is… designed as an intentional neighbourhood
comprised of self-contained homes, but with a common space and facilities that are shared and used by all the community’s households
of a suitable size to support a viable community dynamic – ideally not less than 10 and no more than 40 adults
fully controlled and managed by its residents
Drawing on McCamant and Durrett (1988), Fromm (1991) and Field (2004)
A bit technical… The physical things you need to encourage a community
For older groups, 4th point is key
+ living in a mutually supportive community
+ living in housing that suits your needs, downsizing etc
Where?
Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands – state supported, most widespread
Emerging in the US, mainly private
Emerging in Germany, from multi-gen model
But minimal in the UK. OWCH to be the first

3. Last year, short study of two groups, talking to members, both moving forward but not yet complete
Cohousing Woodside,
Muswell Hill,
Hannover,
part of larger development of housing for older people
Pros: surely ideal, no financial risk
Cons: total loss of control
Cohousing Woodside (architect: Pollard Thomas Edward)

4. Cannock Mill Cohousing
Cannock Mill, Colchester, originally Hannover
Pros: total control
Cons: the money / being a developer
GO ON ….
Cannock Mill Cohousing
(architect: Anne Thorne Architects)

5. Cannock Mill Cohousing
But my interest is the social:
WHO ARE THEY?
WHAT IS THE APPEAL?
Mainly 55 – 75, couples and single women, BOOMERS
THIRD AGE – active, often still working, planning for a NEW PHASE OF LIFE
Planning for practicalities of later life, and disabilities present, BUT NOT AS THE FOCUS OF THEIR plans
Social isolation a factor, avoiding distance and faff as they grow older
Also, small, urban not isolated sites – exisitng friendships maintained
Wish NOT TO BE LIKE PARENTS, not thinking, living in big houses
 same with their kids
A N D A G A I N ! ! !
Cannock Mill Cohousing
(architect: Anne Thorne Architects)

6. Cannock Mill Cohousing
BUT ABOVE ALL, nothing else appeals as a good way to live in later life
Retirement communities – McCarthy and Stone – rejected
BOOMERS important – genuinely different from their parents generation
NOT ALL wanted age segregated, but
A – no choice with Hannover
B – lack of choice of groups … but everyone happy
But many heard it about the group, not about cohousing
… all suggests there’s real demand out there
FINALLY, NOT WHAT THEY SAID, BUT… strong links between mental and physical wellbeing, sociability and health
______________________________________________
BUT IN THE UK THESE GROUPS ARE JUST EMERGING
My interest is also in how groups work out in the longer term, once established
Cannock Mill Cohousing
(architect: Anne Thorne Architects)

7. Spreefeld, Berlin BERLIN Early days…
But more widespread, and Baugruppen / Cohousing is very high profile
And Germany / Berlin has a stronger culture of community housing, historically
Spreefeld – a new, hip architectural…
Spreefeld, Berlin

8. Allein Wohnen in Gemeinschaft (Al WiG)
Allein Wohnen in Gemeinschaft – Living Alone in a community
It’s retrofit – early 1970s estate in Neukoelln
Allein Wohnen in Gemeinschaft (Al WiG)

9. Allein Wohnen in Gemeinschaft (Al WiG)
[ PEOPLE SHOT, LAUGHING – BORIS AS F S?]
Also searching for groups that have evolved into cohousing
Allein Wohnen in Gemeinschaft (Al WiG)

10. AND BERLIN’S CURRENT SUPPORT…
Berlin State has set up Stattbau GmbH
Lawyers and developers specialise…
EXISTS AS A LEGAL AND CONTRACTUAL MODEL

11. Some key thoughts…
Older people doing cohousing might represent far larger numbers, whose needs are currently unmet
Avoid assumptions about older people and their needs – the groups are planning a new phase of life, not a care package
Fundamentally community-led – cohousing can’t be provided by others (but it can be made easier)
And although it’s not the goal, it will ease the burden on care services

12. Google “UCL alternative forms of housing report”