Vita Collettiva
- Collective Living for the New Roman
The current landscape of co-living exists in two extremes; the traditional co-housing communities of Scandinavian design and the novel new apartment blocks for the young and socially mobile. The intense communal environment of traditional co-housing, while not always desired, is diluted to a social calendar in the new co living apartment blocks. More problematic though is the homogeneous communities current co-living scenarios create and perpetuate. The benefits of co-living - community, sustainability, affordability - are more than compelling for the future of city life, but how can this bella vita be furnished for more populations? Perhaps what co-living needs now isn’t flashy or new, but a re-imagined way for diverse groups of people to make a home in a shared space within the city. Vita Collettiva creates space for the nuovo Romano, the single parent, the young couple just starting out, the single man living with a disability, the elderly couple retiring, the student, and everyone else in between.
Sustainability & Affordability
As part of the initial project stage Kollectivo Design Group recognised an affordable housing area within the city boundaries of Rome. It had to include a derelict apartment block open to be redeveloped so by recycle and reusing the greatest amount of space and services could keep the building footprint at its lowest.
The building was transformed into a sustainable development by implementing natural resources as its new energy system (such as solar power and passive housing building techniques). Also, by redesigning the outdoor space with a greater green infrastructure the garden provides a positive impact on the inhabitants mental well-being as well as encourage community activity and future self-sustaining methods i.e vegetable growing.
Source: google.com/maps
Social & Inclusive
As our research findings evolved community living came to show that it is not only about open living spaces and group activities. Instead, co-living people and families often prefer to have a choice of when to interact with other residents. Having this in mind, we paid close attention to the transition from public to semi-private, and private space when planning the layout of the facility.
Finally, considering the future prosperity of the Vita Collettiva living concept we integrated flexible indoor space for business opportunities, community activity and a locally driven nursery. Additionally, by leaving out common borders such as a fence around the building we opened up the garden and outdoor playground for all residents and surrounding neighbors, all to encourage inclusive community life.
Public | Nursery, Flexible Co-working / Community space
Semi-private | 4 shared kitchen and common spaces connected by a spiraling accessible walkway, Roof top garden
Private | 32 residential units in varying sizes (studio to two bedroom each incl. small kitchenette and bath), 4 shared guest rooms, 4 shared laundry rooms and a management office.
Total complex: 4 livable floors + roof
Project Details
Location: Rome, ITALY
Client: Bee Breeders Architecture Competition ‘Rome Collective Living Challenge'
Date: Spring 2019
Mission: Re-imagine the traditional co-housing model and make it attractive to the mass.
Vision: A place where a diversity of people can live well together, have access to high quality communal spaces and an architectural construction that fosters natural connections.
Keywords: Community, Sustainability, Affordability and Inclusive co-living.
All images are created by and property of Kollectivo Design Group if nothing else stated.