Abstract

As cities and populations grow and develop, so does the need for housing that is environmentally, culturally, and socially sustainable. This Independent Study focuses on one solution– Danish cohousing, or bofællesskab. These community-oriented living environments are characterized by private houses centered around shared outdoor space and a common house. While families live in their own homes, the common house serves as a space to share meals and strengthen community relations. Through ethnographic interviews, I investigate the unique social outcomes that result from cohousing, as well as the factors that contribute to those outcomes. Across twelve interviews, consisting of twenty residents from eight suburban Copenhagen cohousing communities, trends of connection between social interaction, national and local culture, and design filled gaps in the literature. Design impacts all levels of a cohousing community, from physical proximity facilitating the formation of intimate emotional connections, to the self-governance model and intentional flat-hierarchical organization ensuring a sense of equality across community members. Further, design in the form of social agreements results in benefits for children, single people, families, and the elderly. Values held by cohousing residents contribute to emotional proximity, voluntary interaction beyond expectations agreed upon in the community, and high levels of sharing.

Advisor

Mariola, Matthew

Department

Environmental Studies; Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Sociology | Urban Studies and Planning

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Alice K. Markey