History of Cohousing

The Global Story of Cohousing
Past, Present, and Future
CSShride
Apr 22

Cohousing is an innovative housing model that brings together private homes with shared community spaces, designed and managed by the people who live there. It blends the autonomy of private ownership with the intentionality of collective living. This blog takes us through cohousing's history from its start in Denmark in the 1970s to newly forming communities like Gratitude Village Colorado and includes references for deeper learning as well as brief overviews of several successful communities around the world.

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What Is Cohousing?

Cohousing is an innovative housing model that brings together private homes with shared community spaces, designed and managed by the people who live there. It blends the autonomy of private ownership with the intentionality of collective living (intentional communities have been around since the 6th century BCE - check out the Intentional Communities Timeline* at the end of this article). Cohousing communities are often intergenerational, eco-conscious, and rooted in principles like sustainability, shared governance, and mutual support. While each cohousing project is unique, most are built around a central common house, shared meals, participatory decision-making, and a culture of neighborliness. At its core, cohousing is a response to the isolation, affordability challenges, and disconnection often found in modern neighborhoods.

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The Birth of Cohousing in Denmark
The modern cohousing movement began in Denmark in the late 1960s, sparked by a visionary article titled Children Should Have One Hundred Parents written by Bodil Graae. The article resonated with many Danes who were frustrated by the lack of connection in conventional housing. Two separate groups of families inspired by Graae’s ideas went on to create what are now considered the first two cohousing communities: Sættedammen, completed in 1972, and Munksøgaard, a later example near Roskilde. These early communities were built around the idea that people should design their own neighborhoods to foster mutual support, shared resources, and strong relationships.

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Danish cohousing was heavily influenced by social democracy, with its emphasis on equality, collaboration, and thoughtful planning. Residents contributed to everything from architectural design to long-term governance. These principles have remained at the heart of cohousing as it has spread worldwide.

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For a deeper look at cohousing's Danish roots, visit the Cohousing Association of Denmark (in Danish).

The Introduction of Cohousing to the U.S.

Cohousing came to the United States thanks to Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant, two American architects who studied in Denmark and were deeply inspired by its community-oriented housing model. In 1988, they published the groundbreaking book Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, which introduced the concept to a wider American audience. The book combined theory, philosophy, and practical advice, and it became the cornerstone text for what would become the U.S. cohousing movement.

Muir Commons image by Taylor Scott Nelson published in his article https://taylorscottnelson.com/eco-road-trip-muir-commons-cohousing-davis-domes/

Durrett and McCamant went on to help design and support dozens of cohousing communities across the United States, including Muir Commons in Davis, California—the first cohousing community in North America. Their work has emphasized the importance of participatory design, shared decision-making (often through consensus or sociocracy), and the power of architecture to shape relationships. Today, both Katie McCamant and Charles Durrett continue to be leading voices in the movement, offering training, consulting, and thought leadership on cohousing, aging-in-community, and neurodiverse housing.

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To learn more about Charles’ work, visit The Cohousing Company and check out his latest book, One Life, Live It, about the neuroinclusive community of Solheimar in Iceland. Katie’s company, Cohousing Solutions, along with a full menu of consulting services, created the 500 Communities Program, which is a 12-month course designed to train collaborators to meet the expanding need for professional support in creating new communities.

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Cohousing Around the World
While cohousing has taken strong root in Denmark and the United States, it has also flourished around the world. The Netherlands has embraced cohousing under various names, including “Centraal Wonen,” with strong support from government policies encouraging communal housing. Dutch cohousing communities often include social housing components, allowing lower-income residents to benefit from the model. Dutch Cohousing Resource (in Dutch) provides insights into how the movement is evolving there.

In Sweden, Norway, and Germany, cohousing is also closely aligned with progressive urban design and ecological development. Germany’s “baugruppen” (building groups) are similar in philosophy to cohousing but often focus more on cooperative ownership and sustainable construction. Meanwhile, Sweden and Norway are seeing new cohousing projects geared toward seniors and aging-in-place.

In the UK and Australia, the movement is growing steadily, with dozens of projects in planning or development stages. The UK Cohousing Network (cohousing.org.uk) supports new groups with information, advocacy, and connection. In Canada, organizations like the Canadian Cohousing Network (cohousing.ca) are working to support the growth of inclusive, multigenerational communities in cities and rural areas alike.

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Some of the most innovative cohousing projects are emerging in New Zealand and South Africa, where housing cooperatives are exploring how to adapt the model to local cultures and economic conditions. As the climate crisis, housing affordability, and social fragmentation intensify globally, cohousing offers a hopeful, human-scale solution.

Notable Cohousing and Intentional Communities Around the World
To better understand the impact and potential of cohousing, it’s helpful to look at some notable examples that have thrived across different cultures and contexts. These communities offer models of inclusion, sustainability, and innovation that continue to inspire new projects worldwide.

The Solheimar Ecovillage in South Iceland. Published on the website Visit South Iceland.
Solheimar, Iceland

Solheimar is one of the world’s longest-running neuroinclusive intentional communities, founded in 1930 and located about an hour outside Reykjavík. Though not technically a cohousing development, its structure and values strongly align with cohousing principles: shared work, ecological stewardship, and inclusive living. Solheimar is home to adults with and without disabilities, who live, work, and grow together in a beautiful natural setting. It has served as a powerful inspiration for the "One Life, Live It" philosophy described by Charles Durrett in his recent book. The success of Solheimar demonstrates how intentional community design can support both independence and interdependence, particularly for neurodiverse individuals.

Learn more: https://www.solheimar.is

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Sættedammen, Denmark

One of the original cohousing communities, Sættedammen, remains a vibrant multigenerational neighborhood more than 50 years after its founding. Located just outside Copenhagen, it includes 27 households and a strong culture of shared meals, collaborative work, and collective decision-making. Residents are deeply involved in running the community, and it continues to serve as a model for cohousing groups across Europe and beyond. Sættedammen proves that community-designed and -managed neighborhoods are not just idealistic—they’re sustainable and enduring.

More about its history: https://bofaellesskab.dk/

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Muir Commons, United States

Muir Commons in Davis, California, is often cited as the first cohousing community in North America. Completed in 1991 with help from McCamant and Durrett Architects, it includes 26 private homes and a large common house. Over the years, it has become a national model for cohousing success, offering a vibrant social life, shared governance, and environmental responsibility. The community’s layout encourages frequent, casual interactions among neighbors—one of the key benefits of the cohousing model.

Community profile: https://muircommons.org

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Nevada City Cohousing is another model cohousing community in the United States. There are 345 cohousing communities listed on the CoHoUS website.

Petaluma Ave Housing in Sebastapol, CA as published in the July 2012 article Cohousing: The secret to sustainable urban living? in Grist.

Baugruppen Projects, Germany

In Germany, Baugruppen (or “building groups”) are a close cousin to cohousing, often featuring private condos and shared amenities, developed cooperatively by future residents. A standout example is Spreefeld Berlin, located along the Spree River. This urban cohousing-style community emphasizes sustainability, low energy usage, and shared public spaces open to the surrounding neighborhood. Another notable German example is Kalkbreite in Zurich, which combines residential and commercial spaces to support urban affordability and ecological innovation.

Explore: https://www.spreefeld.org

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Cohousing Harbourside, United Kingdom

Located in Bristol, Cohousing Harbourside is one of the UK’s best-known senior cohousing communities. Designed for people over 50, it promotes aging-in-place with dignity, purpose, and companionship. Residents are actively involved in managing the property and organizing social and wellness activities. The community emphasizes autonomy while offering shared meals, mutual support, and environmental awareness. It’s a strong example of how cohousing can meet the needs of older adults in a society where isolation in later life is a growing concern.

Visit: https://cohousing.org.uk/project/harbourside-cohousing/

Another community in the UK is Marmalade Lane, Cambridge's first cohousing community.

Crystal Waters Australia. Published on the website https://ecovillagebook.org/ecovillages/crystal-waters/
Crystal Waters, Australia

Crystal Waters in Queensland is a pioneering eco-village and intentional community, established in 1987 with a strong foundation in permaculture principles. While not strictly cohousing, the layout, shared resources, and participatory decision-making reflect cohousing values. Home to over 200 residents, Crystal Waters includes a bakery, community markets, forestry, and sustainable housing, offering a model for integrating ecological living with community connection. It has won multiple UN Habitat Awards for its innovative design and approach to sustainable development.

Learn more: https://crystalwaters.org.au Also in Australia is Narara Ecovillage

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These communities—across continents and cultures—show that cohousing works. Whether in the forests of Iceland, the cities of Germany, or the eco-villages of Australia, the values of collaboration, sustainability, inclusion, and intentional design shine through.

 

Why Cohousing Works
Cohousing is more than a housing type—it’s a social innovation that reshapes how we live, connect, and support one another. By design, it fosters casual, everyday interactions, reducing isolation and strengthening resilience. It promotes economic efficiency by sharing resources like tools, gardens, childcare, and even cars. It’s environmentally conscious, often incorporating solar energy, green building techniques, and low-impact landscaping. And cohousing communities are frequently at the forefront of inclusive design, creating homes and spaces accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

Because the community is planned and operated by the people who live there, cohousing promotes deep investment and a sense of ownership. Residents are typically involved in governance, using methods like consensus or sociocracy to make collaborative decisions. This process builds trust and teaches valuable communication and leadership skills.

Perhaps most importantly, cohousing creates belonging—a place where neighbors are more than just people who live nearby. They’re friends, collaborators, and co-creators of a shared life.

Resources for Learning More

If you’re interested in diving deeper into the world of cohousing, there are many excellent books, websites, and organizations to explore:

Videos

Cohousing 101 as recorded during The Commons, a monthly meeting of cohousers and those curious about cohousing

Live Life Connected a short video by CohoUS

Books

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves by Charles Durrett & Kathryn McCamant

Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities by the same authors

One Life, Live It by Charles Durrett (focused on neuroinclusive housing)

Websites

Cohousing Association of the U.S.

Canadian Cohousing Network

UK Cohousing Network

Organizations & Consultants

The Cohousing Company – Charles Durrett’s consulting firm

Cohousing Solutions - Katie McCamant's consulting firm

SAGE Cohousing International – focused on senior cohousing

Local meetup groups, Facebook groups, and regional networks

The Future of Cohousing
Cohousing is not a trend—it’s a return to something essential: community. As more people seek meaningful alternatives to isolated, high-cost, and unsustainable living, cohousing offers a way forward that is grounded, joyful, and full of possibility. In a time of deep social and environmental challenges, cohousing provides a model for resilient, equitable living that honors both individual freedom and collective care.

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As Gratitude Village continues to grow and welcome new members, we carry forward the wisdom of these trailblazers, proving that it is not only possible—but profoundly meaningful—to live in community, by choice. From its roots in Denmark to the growing movement across the U.S., Canada, and beyond, cohousing is proof that people everywhere are longing for places where they can belong, contribute, and thrive.

Gratitude Village Colorado is proud to be part of this global story—and excited to help shape the future of community-focused living right here at home.

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Intentional Communities Timeline*
6th Century BCE through the 1900s

6th Century BCE: Pythagoras founds Homakoeion, a vegetarian commune based on intellectualism, mysticism and equality of the sexes. Also, followers of Buddha in India join together in ashrams to live in a productive, spiritual manner.

2nd Century CE: Essenes communes, based on the morality of the Hebrew Bible, flourish in the area of the Dead Sea.

4th Century CE: The first Christian monasterial communities are established.

12th Century CE: The heretical Waldense sect founds many communes in France.

Middle Ages: The Brethren of the Free Spirit and others attempt to create secular communes in various parts of Europe.

1527: The foundation of the Hutterian Brethren by the Anabaptist movement leads to the establish-ment of numerous spiritual communes, from which the modern-day Hutterites and Bruderhof communes are derived.

1530s: The entire German city of Munster becomes an Anabaptist commune, sharing wealth, housing and even spouses.

1540s: The Mennonites, a radical Anabaptist sect, begin living in communities based solely on the Bible.

1649: The Diggers rebel against the aristocracy and live communally on crown land.

1698: The Amish create communities based on a strict interpretation of Mennonite principles.

1727: Herrnhut, a Moravian-Pietist commune is established in Saxony. (Australia’s first successful commune, also called Herrnhut, was founded by a German Moravian-Pietist in 1852.)

1774: The Shakers found communal groups, pursuing spirituality, dancing and singing, inventions, handicrafts and celibacy.

1794: The Shaker commune Sabbathday Lake, the oldest communal group still in existence, is founded.

1825: New Harmony is established in the US by Robert Owen to show that modern technology can support humane social life through non-religious communal living.

1841: Brook Farm is started in Massachusetts as “an experiment in humane living to be achieved through education and discussion”.

1848: Oneida is founded by J H Noyes in New York as a commune based on the practice of “complex marriage”.

1855: Amana Colonies are established in Iowa by German Protestants seeking Christian community.

1874: Bon Homme, the Hutterite commune that remains in existence to this day, is founded.

1889: Hull House is established in Chicago by Jane Addams as a “human community offering protection against the anonymous city”.

1910: Deganya, the first kibbutz, is founded near the Sea of Galilee. It is still going strong today.

1913: Gould Farm is established as a “community environment” for the treatment and rehabilitation of emotionally disturbed people.

1920: The first Bruderhof community, Darvell, is founded. Darvell is based on a life of Christian brotherhood and is still in existence.

1920s: Following the Communist Revolution in Russia, thousands of communes spring up, only to be suppressed later by Stalin.

1937: The first co-op house is started in Michigan. The co-op was a fore-runner of the Inter-Cooperative Council, which is a network of student housing co-ops.

1940: The Camphill Movement of therapeutic communities is founded.

1948: The Fellowship for Intentional Community, originally named the Fellowship of Intentional Communities, is founded.

1950s: More than twenty thousand communes are set up by the Communist Party of China, none of which are still in existence.

1958: Yamagishism Life, a movement of some thirty agricultural communes mainly located in Japan, is founded.

1960s: Hippies found several thousand communes, mostly short-lived.

1964: The first L’Arche community for the developmentally disabled is founded.

1968: The Catholic commune movement Integrierte Gemeinde is founded in Germany.

1972: Co-housing, a new form of urban community living, is conceived in Denmark.

1992: The first eco-villages are founded in the US and Russia.

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*The content above was originally published by Peace News and author Lauren Kelley and can be found in the online library at the Foundation for Intentional Communities https://www.ic.org/timeline-of-intentional-communities/ It is based on the timeline “Milestones in the History of Communal Living: Intentional Communities Through the Ages” by Geoph Kozeny in Communities Directory 2000, and lectures by Dr Bill Metcalf and Professor Yaakov Oved of the International Communal Studies Association.