Michael LaFond - CoHousing expert Berlin

Info

I am a multidisciplinary independent working at the intersections of common good and collective ownership in the urban lab known as Berlin.
My projects begin with the theory and practice of social ecology, emphasizing dialogue, self-organization and local urban initiatives.
Important to me are strategies of community development and conviviality.
I coordinate a range of educational services, networking events and publications exploring Cooperatives and CoHousing as well as related fields like Community Land Trusts and Community Gardening in the context of a post-growth, democratic urban development. Projects include the new interactive eBook SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL COOPERATIVE HOUSING, CoHousing Cultures, EXPERIMENTDAYS, CoHousing-Berlin, CoHousing Inclusive, Creative Sustainability Tours, etc.
Personally active for decades with Community-Led Housing and for years with the Stadtbodenstiftung, Berlin's CLT - a nonprofit, urban land foundation. Since 2011 involved in the development of the Spreefeld Housing Cooperative as well as the Spreeacker initiative with its edible landscapes and food forests. Happily at home in the Spreefeld’s Spree WG 1 shared-living group.

Contact

  • Dr Michael LaFond
  • id22: Project Space. Spreeacker. Spreefeld
  • Wilhelmine-Gemberg-Weg 12
    10179 Berlin
    Germany
  • Tel: + 49 (0) 179 8921 045
  • Mail: michael@id22.net
  • instagram

new eBook: Social-Ecological Cooperative Housing

Social-Ecological Cooperative Housing___ Community-based, Transformative Building and Living___ id22: Institute for Creative Sustainability (eds.)___ JOVIS / ePDF/ePUB___ English/German___ From land speculation and exploding rents to climate change and social inequality, we find ourselves in an age of overlapping crises. As… more

Michael LaFond - CoHousing expert Berlin - news

Publications

CoHousing Inclusive

Self-organized, community-led housing for all. Experimental dwelling forms—CoHousing Cultures—are entering the mainstream. But to what extent are they accessible and affordable for all, including people with more or less money, with or without refugee experience, with or without disabilities? Collaborative, social housing initiatives are already developing such diversifying, sustainable neighborhoods, and are not only supported by civil society, but also increasingly by apartment providers such as cooperatives. This book contains critical reviews of model projects representing a colorful, European movement, complemented with photos and drawings. Short texts argue how political and financial conditions can be improved to better realize collaborative housing. Finally, a range of voices offer unconventional and promising strategies.

CoHousing Cultures Handbuch und Ausstellung

CoHousing Cultures are self-organized, community-oriented and sustainable forms of housing. At the international level CoHousing projects are enjoying a growing popularity and are representative of the diversity of regional housing cultures. Interest in self-determination and cooperation as well as the passionate engagement of an increasing number of people in communities and cities is fueling this unique movement with life and energy. Innovative CoHousing is integrating and non-speculative, open to the neighborhood and motivated by a search for ecological, affordable and socially designed homes.

Stadtlabor Berlin

Die Themen des selbstorganisierten Wohnens und der partizipativen Stadtentwicklung in Berlin sind von unterschiedlichsten Seiten beleuchtet werden. Zu Wort kommen (Wohn)Experten und Engagierte, Stadtentwickler und Politik. Vergangenheit und Gegenwart werden diskutiert, bereits bestehende Netzwerkstrukturen wie z.B. das Wohnportal (inzwischen CoHousing) Berlin und das Bundesportal vorgestellt.
Es wird in die Zukunft geschaut. Trotz der im Jahr 2013 plötzlich abgesagten IBA 2020 vernetzen sich ungehindert Akteure des selbstorganisierten Wohnens und gründen Strukturen – partizipativ und aufbauend auf vielen Jahren Erfahrungen und einer Vielzahl von selbstverwalteten Wohnprojekten. Nicht die einzelnen Wohnhäuser sind in den Vordergrund gestellt, sondern im Sinne einer DIY-IBA die Bündelung von Kräften und die nachhaltige Entwicklung eines Modellquartiers. Mit dieser Jubiläumsausgabe des wohnbund Magazins wünschen wir allen Lesern, den vielen Studenten sowie Experten, Politikern und natürlich auch den Aktivisten, eine Fülle von Ideen und das Glück, selbst beteiligt zu sein am eigenen Wohntraumprojekt!