Housing the Co-op

by Sascha Delz (Editor), Rainer Hehl (Editor), Patricia Ventura (Editor)

Since 2008, there has been a renewed search for alternative forms of housing production that can move beyond speculative interests and are based instead on models of co-ownership, co-production, and co-management. Hence the concept of the cooperative has experienced a true renaissance in recent years. This book explores how cooperative housing construction and forms of self-determined building production might offer effective solutions to the global housing crisis, moving us closer to a more equitable and sustainable future through systematic change. With case studies from Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Uruguay, Ethiopia, and China, as well as a glossary of important terms.

Genres: Urban Planning, Essays

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Laura Linsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important topic and good intention, clear manifesto and initial build up, but essays generally feel under-edited, difficult to follow at times, there is a very deliberate structure to the book but in reality, it is not as easy to grasp as has been the intention so it becomes somewhat counter-productive. Good for source material on the topic.

[Rafa Ch GS · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great reference for those who are interested in alternatives for housing issues from the perspective of cooperative actions. It has an interesting structure of manifesto principles, co-op example and city trends. Through the lense of co-ops, this review takes us to different times and cities to understand how co-op experiences (or the lack of) have played out. I learned a lot, especially of the power squatters and informality have had on shaping the housing landscape everywhere. I recommend it. Having said that, the chapters have diverging quality and research depth and not all are easy to read. I'm not an expert on the topic, and I understand the intention was to be brief so there's not enough space for deep nuance, but some chapters felt very biased towards romanticizing co-ops

[Oliver Cope · Rating 2 out of 5]

* 2.5 * Some great essays, some less good - many are way too stuck in the specificity of their example projects, and others are either too vague or only very loosely about housing or cooperatives (which given what the book is called and purports to achieve is a little disappointing)

[Dino · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

[Ee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of critical essays and examples of grassroots alternative housing movements around the world.

[M DeNardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

still reading and re-reading. the only book we find sharing solutions to the dilemma of housing and the inequity of contemporary governance.