Sam Brown is an architect and coordinates the Live Projects Programme at the University of Sheffield School of Architecture. Together with young professionals participating in the programme, he will talk about their unique collaboration with OpHouse to provide pre-design services for forming groups and developing project briefs, which can otherwise present a barrier for new groups starting out. Originating as a ‘live’ element of an academic programme, the Live Projects Programme has evolved into Live Works, an off-campus project office offering ongoing services to groups as they acquire land and move into the development phase. In focusing on participatory process and continuing community engagement, the model offers a means to support the community-led housing sector in a context of uncertain and short-term government support.

Tim Riley from Property Collectives in Australia will discuss their collaborative model utilizing impact investment to create citizen-led cohousing communities. Since 2010 Property Collectives has established itself as the leading deliberative development group in Australia. They focus on development advisory for build-to-hold clients; impact investment; and an at-cost, citizen-led, building group model which is developing 80 homes across 10 projects in Melbourne.

Updates from the USA, CAN, GBR, AUS and NLD.

Leslie Shieh from TOMO will discuss the “Cohousing-lite” model her company has employed for Our Village, an urban community in Vancouver BC. And the challenges that she experienced employing other models.

Sarah Arthurs from Cohousing Connections will share how her company has adapted cohousing to the rental market, particularly for the senior housing market.

Kristopher Stevens of Cohousing Options will talk about their collaborations with Indigenous Housing Resources.

In the past decade following the first International Cohousing Summit, several countries have passed legislative and planning policies to encourage the development of cohousing schemes. We will hear from In the past decade following the first International Cohousing Summit, several countries have passed legislative and planning policies to encourage the development of cohousing schemes. We will hear from Angelica Rojas-Gracia (IncluDesign, Australia) along with Nanju Do and Yunhwa Chung (Seoul Metropolitan Government) on their initiatives.

Community led housing initiatives have gained popularity around the globe. We will hear from individuals from Australia, South Korea, Italy, and the UK. Helen Jarvis will start us off with her personal experiences in CoHUT in Newcastle, UK and Chiara Casotti will share about Montesole Cohousing in at Montaldo Torinese (Italy). We will hear Nanju Do’s personal experience with cohousing in Seoul, South Korea and about Eugenie Stockman’s scheme at Kyloring Housing Co-operative (Australia).

Skilled facilitation can smooth the development process for both professionals and community members while laying the foundations for strong community relationships going forward. Karen Gimnig, a process consultant in the US, will share her experience of partnering with design and development professionals. She’ll share a few ideas for professionals as they support communities in making the thousands of decisions involved in development.

Cohousing Pioneer Katie McCamant (Cohousing Solutions) will discuss the most common US cohousing development models. Joren Bass (UD+P) will share specific examples from around the US.