Whether you’ve heard of the term ‘CoHousing’ before, or this is the first time you’ve come across it, in this post we’ll give you a little bit of background about what CoHousing means at Mojo.
cohousing: a definition
What is CoHousing? The classic definition of CoHousing originated in Denmark in the 1960s, and is the following:
“An intentional community of private households clustered around shared spaces, which typically feature a common house, common recreational spaces, laundry facilities, dining areas etc. Households have independent lives, but collaboratively plan and manage community activities and shared spaces.”
Today, the concept of CoHousing is rapidly evolving and is predicted to expand rapidly in the next few decades as both individuals and families seek to live more sustainably and create more intentional communities.
The words ‘community’ and ‘intentional’ are keys when it comes to defining CoHousing. Going a step further, here’s how we would define the modern concept of CoHousing:
An approach to creating a community of people living in a way that they themselves have intentionally designed, or intentionally chosen to join.
CoHousing is when people come together to live with like-minded people with whom they share particular values. These values are generally linked to a shared vision for living life in a certain way.
How Cohousing is different
While defining the meaning of CoHousing, it’s important to also clarify the differences between other similar living arrangements.
Cohousing vs coliving
One of the main differences between these two is that CoLiving involves much more sharing of common spaces, including bathrooms. CoHousing, on the other hand, tends to have individual, free-standing units each with private bathrooms and kitchens.
Another difference is that while CoLiving communities are generally geared towards a very specific audience (ie: only remote workers, only families, etc.), CoHousing communities are more often formed by different people that don’t necessarily share the same lifestyles or careers, but enjoy living communally.
cohousing vs commune
While CoHousing is meant to encourage community living, it is very different from a commune. Residents have their own private living space and as much personal privacy as they want. CoHousing is not about forcing people to interact every day or imposing strict rules! Residents are free to choose how much they want to interact and engage with the rest of the community whenever and however they want.
cohousing vs cooperative
These are two completely different concepts! A housing cooperative is an ownership and management model, while CoHousing is a type of community living.
Cohousing at mojo
If you read our previous post about Mojo CoHouse’s Founder, Giuseppe Arici, you’ll know a little bit about how the idea of Mojo came about, and the philosophy behind the name.
CoHousing at Mojo means immersing yourself in a place full of art, diversity, and conviviality, in the heart of Palermo and Sicily. You will have a chance to discover the local territory in the most authentic way through our events and through the eyes of the other cohousers you will meet.
Come visit us to relax, work remotely, develop some art projects, or simply to enjoy the good vibes of Palermo, at the centre of the Mediterranean flow.
