The role of co-housing. Towards a new model of a collaborative housing in Italy

Differently from other countries, the spread of collaborative housing is at the beginning in Italy. In this essay, we will describe the main results of a two case studies. We will conduct a study on two Italian groups of inhabitants, which have been active in the advancement of this practice, a model of collaborative housing aiming to turn urban spaces into new social neighbourhood places. The research has been conducted through several in depth interviews to the members of cohousing Numero zero situated in the town of Turin and to the members of cohousing Ecosol located in Fidenza. The study shows that people are strongly motivated to invest resources in collective projects to realize a model of social and sustainable life. In that way, cohousing seems to become a new model of co-residence in everyday life with particular attention to economic, social and ecological sustainability.