Collaborative living unpacked – book launch

Collaborative living is experiencing a revival in The Netherlands. In the midst of an unprecedented housing crisis, more and more people turn to collective self-organisation to provide housing that is community-oriented, environmentally sustainable, and affordable. But why is it so difficult for these initiatives to get off the ground? And what can be learned from other European countries?

The open access book “Together: Towards Collaborative Living” addresses the following questions: why is collaborative living relevant, how can we realise such forms of living, and who should take which actions for collaborative living to contribute to more sustainable cities and regions? The book illustrates the dilemmas and opportunities to move towards a new paradigm on how to live in the twenty-first century, together.

Project Together!

The book builds on the knowledge programme developed by Project Together! in the autumn of 2021. Over a six-week period different activities were organised around three themes: why collaborative living matters; how collaborative living comes about; and the required action to create a more collaborative city of the future. Doers and thinkers – both Dutch and international – shared their knowledge and experiences during three debates, a panel discussion, an exhibition and three seminars.

The book presents a collection of essays, data and cases from The Netherlands and other European countries, which unpacks the current wave of new collective self-organised living projects that aim to be inclusive, affordable, and sustainable. 

During the book launch the authors will explain why collaborative living is experiencing a revival and what best housing practices enable this living form. Together with collaborative housing advocates and with practitioners and policy-makers in the Dutch housing sector, the authors will discuss the future of collaborative housing. Who can take a main lead in the co-creation of housing? What projects can already be celebrated? And what can the Netherlands learn from other European examples? 

More information

• The book is authored by Darinka Czischke, Marije Peute and Sara Brysch of the department Management in the Built Environment and will launched at Pakhuis de Zwijger on 24 October, 20.00.
• For more information about the launch event and to register to attend, click here.  
• The book can be downloaded at: DOI.
• The book can be pre-ordered in print at nai010.
• The Together! Project was a knowledge programme of the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment in partnership with the municipalities of Delft and The Hague, Inbo Architects, Platform 31 and the Dutch Ministry of BZK.