How did cohousing get started?
In the late 60 s a group of Danish families, dissatisfied with existing urban and suburban living options, decided to create their own resident developed neighbourhood as an alternative to traditional housing models. They wanted a community where they would know their neighbours, that would be alive with adults talking and children playing, and that would be safer because people would look out for each other and strangers would be easily noticed. It would reduce the stress of their busy lives by easing day to day burdens such as child care and cooking. It would be a place where people could pursue their individual goals while living in a supportive community. They wanted to reduce their impact on the land and create communities that were environmentally sensitive and sustainable. They called their solution bofoellesskaber literally translated as living communities . Today, 10% of all new housing construction in Denmark uses this model and the concept has been spreading to other parts o
