ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the influence of the Nordic idea of co-housing in the UK, using as a case study the formation of a pioneering co-housing project for the over-50s in London. It focuses on resident participation in the planning and design of individual homes and shared spaces on Featherstone Lodge. Co-housing refers to the concept and practice of intentional communities now familiar in Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Germany and the United States, where there are many hundreds of such groups. Co-housing can be seen as a progressive challenge to mainstream dwelling choices and ways of living, particularly for older people in the city. The idea and practice of co-housing have their deepest roots in northern Europe, particularly in Scandinavia. Co-housing, which is self-managed and often premised on ecological principles, would seem to be well suited to self-build, which accounts for only about 10 per cent of new homes in the UK.
