Together with the city of Potsdam, a research consortium investigated two questions. What opportunities do new forms of communal living offer for urban development? What instruments could be used to promote and implement these new forms of housing? New forms of housing were analysed nationwide; Potsdam was chosen as the laboratory city.

Projects and initiatives for communal living make an important contribution to the development of sustainable housing and living concepts in the city. By actively participating in the design of their living environment and representing principles and values such as solidarity, democracy and sustainability in the living environment, but also in the neighbourhood or district, they take on a pioneering role.

Together with the city of Potsdam as a case study and other local partners, the project investigated the possibilities offered by new forms of communal living for urban development in Potsdam and the instruments that can be used to promote and implement them.

The following research questions were addressed:

  • What are the social, ecological and economic potentials of community housing?
  • How is the issue of community housing dealt with in different cities? Is it part of the municipal housing policy there?
  • What coordination mechanisms are used in cities to promote community housing?
  • What are the synergy potentials of community housing projects (e.g. combination of housing with forms of joint association activities, neighbourhood work, mutual support)? How can these synergies be developed in a targeted way?
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