Creative Universities has just published a new blog post diving into the world of student housing cooperatives in Europe. Authored by Anke Schwittay, this post highlights how cooperative models are transforming student accommodations, offering affordable, community-oriented living spaces as a solution to housing shortages.

The article chronicles a visit to the Collegium Academicum (CA) in Heidelberg, a student housing cooperative that opened in early 2023. After a decade of effort by students from Heidelberg University to secure funding, the CA provides affordable and self-managed living for 250 residents. The idea of cooperative living has resulted in a modern, eco-friendly building featuring innovative movable walls that allow residents to customize their living spaces.

The article also highlights a visit to La Cigüe (LC) in Geneva, which originated from the city’s squatting movement in the 1980s. LC provides affordable housing for around 800 students and promotes sustainability through shared spaces and community initiatives. The cooperative model has grown to include professional staff for management, creating a balance between governance and participatory policies.

While in Geneva, Anke participated in the Pan-European Student Housing Cooperative Association (PESCHA) conference we organized with urbaMonde and other steering committee members. The event included visits to the eco-neighborhood of Les Vergers de Meyrin, showcasing sustainable and communal student living. The conference also featured discussions among student cooperators from various European countries, emphasizing both the successes of the cooperative movement and the ongoing challenges of securing funding, managing high turnover, and fostering participation.

The final stop was the Studentendorf Schlachtensee (SDS) in Berlin, a cooperative founded in the 1950s as part of a U.S.-sponsored re-education program. The SDS has undergone significant changes since its inception, including a successful campaign by students to prevent its demolition and to ensure its preservation as a cooperative living space.

Throughout the visits, the author reflects on the challenges and triumphs of student housing cooperatives, emphasizing the importance of committed student activists, collaboration, and the need for continued political and financial support. The experiences in Germany and Switzerland inspire hope for the future of student housing cooperatives, with upcoming visits to North American cooperatives planned.

Read the full article here and discover the benefits, challenges, and unique stories of student coops making a difference in the lives of young people today.

Anke Schwittay is a professor of Global Development and Anthropology at the University of Sussex in the UK.