Co-housing growing as option for over 60s women
LONDON: Co-housing is now the fastest growing trend in the over 60s female housing market.
Interest in establishing a sustainable community within South Canterbury has ramped up ahead of a talk by the founder of New Zealand’s first eco-neighbourhood.
Eco-architect Robin Allison will be speaking to her new book, Cohousing For Life, about her “challenging, interesting, exciting journey” building a 32-home neighbourhood sharing spaces and resources in west Auckland about 25 years ago, at Timaru’s No 5 George St on Thursday night.
“I have pulled out the key things we’ve learned along the way, for people who want to do something similar,” Allison said.
“I’m really hoping that people realise it’s possible to organise a slightly different form of housing that meets their needs. I’m hoping it [the talk] is interesting and some people get inspired to give it a go.
“I think this could work anywhere that there’s enough people who want to live in a more co-operative way.”
Timaru woman Jayne Blakemore, who is hosting Allison’s talk at her building, said she heard from “three different lots of people” interested in establishing an eco-neighbourhood in the region since announcing the event.
“There’s good interest not just in Timaru, but surrounding areas like Temuka and Geraldine.”
Allison said co-housing involved people owning a home but sharing facilities, resources such as an orchard garden, and a common building with others in their neighbourhood.
“It’s a way of having your own home, but you also get a lot more,” she said.
“Co-housing can be rural, urban or suburban, high-rise – the basic principles are the same for all of them.”
She said the concept was suitable for all ages, from babies to the elderly.
“In a way, it’s how we used to live. It means more connection with each other.”
Allison’s free talk, which starts at 7pm, is part of her South Island book tour.
“I’m travelling parts of the country, connecting with people who want to live in this co-operative way.”
