Current systems of tenure limit housing design possibilities because they prioritize speculation over the needs and desires of residents. In contrast, cooperative housing schemes, both in formation (Co-housing, Centraal Wonen, Baugruppen), and in land ownership (Cooperatives, Community Land Trusts) offer alternative approaches in development, funding, materiality, unit arrangement, circulation, and common space. Perhaps more importantly, these models reframe housing as not only a product or shell, but rather a neighborhood and home to live in forever.

Nominal has an ongoing passion in exploring the design potential that cooperative housing can unlock. Part of this inquiry was kickstarted by a travel fellowship that afforded Sam Naylor the opportunity to visit over 100 cooperative projects in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, Switzerland, the United States, and Uruguay.

That fellowship was supported by the Harvard Graduate School of Design & The Bertram A. Druker Charitable Foundation

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The research took place over three years, dozens of interviews, and many shared meals. The field report will share lessons learned from residents, developers, and designers of formative projects constructed from the 1970s to today. Insights center around space, function, and form as defined over time, by consensus, and often left open ended. This favoring of provisional architecture is enhanced by designs which incentivize spontaneity, sharing, and negotiated modifications. Furthermore, longevity in tenure is secured through resident customizations and resident movement—flexibilities that are only possible in co-managed developments, designs, and maintenance regimes.

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