Community Spirit: The Neighbours Who Became Family
In the city of Malmö in southern Sweden, a purpose-built communal housing block is the happy home of 100 cohabitants
Sara Norrman
11 April 2016
Living in an apartment block surrounded by people doesn’t mean you have anything in common with your neighbours, or that you even recognise them. But in these blocks of flats in Malmö, southern Sweden, the residents knew each other even before they moved in. And they all hold the conviction that living communally, sharing tasks such as cleaning and cooking, is the way forward.
Co-housing might not be a new invention, but what’s special about Sofielunds Kollektivhus is that the building project was funded by the local council, and that the residents all have their own self-contained flats and use the communal areas as and when they please.
Houzz went to explore this community spirit, and caught the building during a rare period of stillness.
Co-housing might not be a new invention, but what’s special about Sofielunds Kollektivhus is that the building project was funded by the local council, and that the residents all have their own self-contained flats and use the communal areas as and when they please.
Houzz went to explore this community spirit, and caught the building during a rare period of stillness.
With views over the city of Malmö, the two buildings that make up the Sofielunds Kollektivhus contain 45 apartments in total. They were finished in December 2014, with the first residents moving that month into what was still something of a building site. But the project had been planned for some years before completion, and the 100 residents knew each other beforehand.
Hilda Gustafsson, chair of the residents’ association, explains how the project came about. “The association was founded in 2009, and the members were automatically placed in a queue for a home in the building-to-be. The architects, Kanozi, drew up plans together with us in the residents’ association, and the whole concept caught the attention of local building company MKB, who are owned by the city of Malmö.”
Hilda Gustafsson, chair of the residents’ association, explains how the project came about. “The association was founded in 2009, and the members were automatically placed in a queue for a home in the building-to-be. The architects, Kanozi, drew up plans together with us in the residents’ association, and the whole concept caught the attention of local building company MKB, who are owned by the city of Malmö.”
Before they moved in, the residents signed an agreement to take part in cleaning of the communal areas on a rota, as well as cooking dinner in the giant dining room, pictured, that seats them all. The food team dishes out dinner three days a week, and there are plans to serve a more festive meal once a month.
It took some time for the residents to get used to the industrial-size kitchen and to cook for so many – each meal is planned to satisfy up to 65 people. “Sometimes we make mistakes with the cooking. Sometimes there isn’t enough food…” Gustafsson says. “Nobody is a professional chef, so it’s important you have the right attitude to live like this. Sometimes someone complains, but that’s always balanced by those who are positive.”
It took some time for the residents to get used to the industrial-size kitchen and to cook for so many – each meal is planned to satisfy up to 65 people. “Sometimes we make mistakes with the cooking. Sometimes there isn’t enough food…” Gustafsson says. “Nobody is a professional chef, so it’s important you have the right attitude to live like this. Sometimes someone complains, but that’s always balanced by those who are positive.”
Why did Gustafsson, pictured, choose to live this way? “I thought it seemed really cool. As I work full time, there was always so much hassle sorting out my social life. Here, that comes naturally – I meet people every time I step out of my flat.” But there also is a political thought that forms the backbone of the commitment to live here. “For many of us it is vital that the house should be socially, ecologically and economically sustainable.”
Out of 100 residents, 20 are children, and the ages range from newborn to 75 years old. The architecture itself stimulates social life, with the stairways and passages between the apartments cutting through the outdoor space and balconies for every apartment, to encourage passersby to stop and chat.
The residents are a mix of newcomers to communal life and those with plenty of experience. Vera Rastenberger, pictured, is a veteran when it comes to communes. “I’m a revolutionary rather than a veteran,” she says. “I was there during the famous occupation of the Mullvaden houses in Stockholm in 1977.” (This was an incident in which 300 people moved into a block of flats to stop them being demolished, and stayed for almost a year.)
She was a single mother and wanted her son to have some company, so she chose to live in a commune – and kept on doing so for the next two decades.
She was a single mother and wanted her son to have some company, so she chose to live in a commune – and kept on doing so for the next two decades.
The best thing about this kind of home is that you’re never on your own, Rastenberger says. “Since I’m blind, it’s good to know there’s help at hand. I can cope just fine on my own, but the other day I was pan-frying some food and the fire alarm went off. I couldn’t shut it off, so I stepped out on the walkway and hollered for help until people came running. If I lived anywhere else, I would have had to called the fire brigade, which would have been unnecessary,” she says.
“Before I moved here, I lived in a beautiful house in Malmö, and everyone was so quiet and well behaved. There were no children, and I was the only one making a lot of noise!” This is Rastenberger’s living room.
There are about 45 purpose-built communal houses in Sweden today, according to Ulrika Egerö, chair of organisation and pressure group KollektivhusNu. “Denmark leads the progress in this kind of housing,” she says, “but Sweden comes in a good second place. There are also strong movements in Germany, Holland and the US.”
The first communal houses in Sweden were built in the 1930s, but they had external employees who came in to run the restaurant, do the washing and look after children. During the liberal 1970s, many chose to live in communes, which resulted in housing associations building specific homes that suited the lifestyle.
“It’s a movement that’s continually growing, though it flattened out for a while during the 1990s,” says Egerö. “But at the moment, we’re noticing a sharp increase in interest from the public again.”
The first communal houses in Sweden were built in the 1930s, but they had external employees who came in to run the restaurant, do the washing and look after children. During the liberal 1970s, many chose to live in communes, which resulted in housing associations building specific homes that suited the lifestyle.
“It’s a movement that’s continually growing, though it flattened out for a while during the 1990s,” says Egerö. “But at the moment, we’re noticing a sharp increase in interest from the public again.”
The residents have organised themselves into eight different teams, including those who look after the maintenance of the building and the cooking rota. Many meetings take place in communal rooms like this. Since the council, who own the building, don’t have to pay a janitor to look after the property, the rent can be lowered somewhat.
“Each flat saves a few hundred kronor (approximately $40-50) per month,” says Gustafsson. “We also look after sending out the bills for rent, pay the electricity bill and perform other administrative tasks. This makes a building like this attractive to the landlord, the council and the city of Malmö.”
“Each flat saves a few hundred kronor (approximately $40-50) per month,” says Gustafsson. “We also look after sending out the bills for rent, pay the electricity bill and perform other administrative tasks. This makes a building like this attractive to the landlord, the council and the city of Malmö.”
Next to the dining room is this reading nook, with a bookshelf kept stocked by a resident librarian. Everybody is welcome to come here and use the space, whether for homework, some solitary time or to chat with others.
The carpentry workshop has tools and workstations for repairing or making furniture.
The big loom sits close to the workshop. There is also a textiles group, who knit and sew.
The film room has a real projector and can be booked up or used on an impulse. When a kids’ movie is scheduled, all the children in the house congregate, even sitting on cushions on the windowsills. Parents appreciate using the room to host birthday parties, and friends from school are also welcome.
“Everybody enjoys living here for different reasons,” says Gustafsson. “For single mums and dads, it’s great to sit down for a cooked meal three times a week, while the elderly never have to feel lonely.”
“Everybody enjoys living here for different reasons,” says Gustafsson. “For single mums and dads, it’s great to sit down for a cooked meal three times a week, while the elderly never have to feel lonely.”
The apartments are completely self-contained, with all mod cons, kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedrooms. They also all have access to an outdoor space of some kind, from a balcony to a patio or courtyard. This kitchen is in Gustafsson’s apartment.
Gustafsson lives in one of the bigger flats, which she shares with four friends.
Has there ever been an instance when a resident has opted out of the work they sign up to do when they moved in? “We have rules and regulations about what happens if somebody falls ill or pregnant, for example,” Gustafsson explains. “And during our monthly house meetings, we try to talk through any difficulties that arise. It’s much better to get it out in the open – we’ve noticed it’s much easier to misunderstand one another via email, where people mistakenly read between the lines, so we’re working on that. The debate can get quite heated, but board members keep trying to solve tricky situations, so everybody’s satisfied.”
Has there ever been an instance when a resident has opted out of the work they sign up to do when they moved in? “We have rules and regulations about what happens if somebody falls ill or pregnant, for example,” Gustafsson explains. “And during our monthly house meetings, we try to talk through any difficulties that arise. It’s much better to get it out in the open – we’ve noticed it’s much easier to misunderstand one another via email, where people mistakenly read between the lines, so we’re working on that. The debate can get quite heated, but board members keep trying to solve tricky situations, so everybody’s satisfied.”
If the tasks that all who live here are required to do are left undone, the erring party would be asked to leave, though this has never happened. “Well, we do have a contract,” says Gustafsson, “and if it’s not fulfilled, we could end it.”
So are there no downsides to living this way? “It’s like living with an extension of the family, which can be tricky if you’re not used to such intimacy,” Gustafsson says. “But just like with family, it’s the hardest parts that also happen to be the best.”
TELL US
How would you feel about living in a community such as this one in Sweden? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Two’s Company: Putting the Community Spirit Back Into Housing
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Canadian Houzz: Eight Adults Share a Home Inspired by Spain
So are there no downsides to living this way? “It’s like living with an extension of the family, which can be tricky if you’re not used to such intimacy,” Gustafsson says. “But just like with family, it’s the hardest parts that also happen to be the best.”
TELL US
How would you feel about living in a community such as this one in Sweden? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Two’s Company: Putting the Community Spirit Back Into Housing
Telltale Signs You Live in a Share House
Canadian Houzz: Eight Adults Share a Home Inspired by Spain
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As long as I am not cooking. I could manage maintenance.
It is the sort of concept that would be fascinating to 'try before you buy'. Lots of skills to learn and perfect but what a great experience. I agree that cooking for 65 would be daunting initially but once sorted - what a skill to have mastered and you would have learnt how to minimise stress! Great article.
Very good. It shows that a particular community is more prepared to live in communal harmony and not just me and mine way. Similar experiments are being done in India in Vrindaban by Sadhvi Ritambhara