In biology, a habitat is the set of environmental conditions in which a specific species lives, be it an animal or a plant. In a figurative sense, it is a stimulating environment for the inclinations or tastes of each individual. A hub is a connecting device, a nerve center, a nucleus. "Co" is a prefix that highlights the values of community and sharing.
Cohubitat intends to combine these three components to create new formulas for sustainable housing. These environments are a nerve center for the community itself and for the territory and the local community where they are located.
We want to propose and experiment with housing models that can be replicated and adapted to different locations combining the concept and experience of co-working and co-living with new perspectives to promote social innovation policies, territorial and demographic development. These experiences redefine mobility, services, and the rigid and functional structure of the workplace. Besides, they propose concrete bases to think about productive-residential systems based on local resources' enhancement, generating a powerful socioeconomic impact for the territory.
The territories in which we work range from inland areas to small and medium cities, rural or peripheral areas. The lower population density and business activities hinder private companies' development and public services in these areas. However, these areas are critical to solving many of the significant social challenges. Rural areas in Europe are rich in resources. They can become more attractive if they provide jobs and essential services, such as health and social care, Internet coverage and access, smart transport, energy solutions, and a climate conducive to entrepreneurship.
Cohubitat was born to allow these places to be repopulated by promoting the development of new communities, giving those who live there the possibility of networking and generating business opportunities in the reference area. Our concept of community wants to make these areas more attractive and thus contribute to their regeneration.
Co-founder Public Policy & Communications, Marketing
How did the idea come about?
Our project was born in 2020, in the context of a global health emergency that has further highlighted the need to rethink our ways of working, our housing models, and our priorities, accentuating an increasingly vital need to reconnect with nature and with ourselves. Without, however, renouncing a social and community dimension.
Despite the emotional destabilization and upheaval of our daily lives, we are also faced with a great opportunity: to slow down our pace, to be able to dedicate more time to ourselves, to be able to listen and reevaluate many of our life choices. We questioned how we have always conceived the home and the professional space: the pleasure of reconnecting with one's own needs and the physiological need for sociability.
Like us, many other people in that period matured their own needs and their own desire to reverse habits and return to living in greener, more spacious, clean, and quiet areas.
In addition to sharing the same ambitions for a more sustainable life, we often shared the same fears. We feared making an extreme change, being isolated, not connecting with the local community, or not imagining a different future in a realistic and balanced way, without giving up the professional possibilities and networking opportunities that cities offer. For many people, it was therefore not a question of a return to origins, but a change, a conscious choice, even for those who have never lived in suburban contexts.
That is why we decided to create Cohubitat to propose a concrete response to this need and to be able to experiment with new housing models that could be part of or even trigger a much broader process of social innovation.
Who is it for?
Cohubitat wants to play a fundamental role in a territory's dynamism, retaining and attracting skilled professionals, freelancers, people of all ages, startups from innovative sectors, makers, and regular and occasional remote workers, digital nomads.
Our experiences are aimed at:
Those who dream of a life more in contact with nature and a more conscious dimension. Being close to nature is a stimulus to take care of it and respect it.
Those who simply want to try living in extra-urban contexts for a short period, experimenting with this solution before opting for a definitive change.
Those who want to rediscover a sense of community and take advantage of an international and dynamic organization.
Those who want to be an active part of a movement for regeneration and social innovation.
Those people, organizations, and projects that seek a positive change in the world through an alternative and a more sustainable way of life.
Those who want to contribute to the repopulation and revaluation of rural or extra-urban areas.
Those looking for a workation: when work and holidays coincide! The ideal option to work in a dream place, enjoying time for yourself and your leisure at the end of the working day.
Those looking for an age-friendly environment that also allows differently young people to actively participate in their community’s life, promoting active aging so as to no longer be spectators of life that passes by but protagonists of a social, cultural, and civic mechanism.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
