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Collective Housing in Belgium and the Netherlands: A Comparative Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Els De Vos

    (Henry van de Velde Research Group, University of Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Lidwine Spoormans

    (Architectural Engineering + Technology, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Collective housing (CH) is undergoing a revival in Belgium. Since 2009, the Flemish Government Architect and his team have been advocating CH, stressing its importance as a task for architects given the demand for affordable housing and the need to reduce the environmental impact of housing. This support for CH has converged with the work of the non-profit citizen organization Samenhuizen (“Living together”) and the ad hoc initiatives taken by individual households and architects. In the Netherlands too, where there is a longer tradition of CH, the phenomenon is once more on the rise because of the housing crisis. As it is a developing topic, the terminology used for CH is also evolving. Drawing on publications on the subject in both Belgium and the Netherlands as well as on interviews with relevant stakeholders, this article sheds light on two widely published cases in both countries (pioneering and current, greenfield and conversion). These cases are compared in regard to thematic areas, based on an extensive literature study on collaborative housing by Lang et al. (2018). In addition to such aspects as the balance between “individuality” and the “collective,” we compare the role played by architects in both countries. Besides similarities, we show that the historical context, and especially the housing policy of each country, has a great influence and that the role of the architect is essential in the development of older and contemporary cohousing projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Els De Vos & Lidwine Spoormans, 2022. "Collective Housing in Belgium and the Netherlands: A Comparative Analysis," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(1), pages 336-348.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:urbpla:v:7:y:2022:i:1:p:336-348
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wouter Bervoets & Hilde Heynen, 2013. "The obduracy of the detached single family house in Flanders," European Journal of Housing Policy, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 358-380, December.
    2. Wouter Bervoets & Hilde Heynen, 2013. "The obduracy of the detached single family house in Flanders," International Journal of Housing Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 358-380, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yael Allweil & Gaia Caramellino, 2022. "The Terms of Dwelling," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(1), pages 193-196.

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