Explore thought leadership articles that showcase best practices across a diverse range of topics in the shared living industry.
explore Articles.jpg)
The Coliving Conference 2025 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on the changing landscape of Coliving, PBSA, Hybrid Hospitality, Flex Living and BTR models, moderated by George Sell. Panelists included Josephine Phinith, Andreea Kaiser, and Giles Horwitch-Smith. The session covered how live-work-play products have adapted and continue to evolve, responding to the demands for flexibility, community, and adaptability, with a focus on spatial design, brand evolution, and service stack innovations.

The Coliving Conference 2025 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on how coliving businesses are embedding digital solutions into their strategies, moderated by Jupiter Lucas. Panelists included Floris Lauwerier, Aleks Pes, and Johannes Peter. The session focused on how technology is reshaping coliving from investment to operations, creating fully integrated and future-proofed coliving ecosystems. From low-code agility and automation, to investor transparency, pricing ethics, and scaling community without burning out teams, technology is no longer an add-on to coliving operations -it is the infrastructure itself.

The Coliving Conference 2025 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on how coliving brands deliver affordable luxury amidst rising costs, moderated by Gosia Czwarno. Panelists included Ferran Tramuns Llopart, Sunny Lou, and Jo Winchester. The session focused on how operators are redefining value for money, offering residents substantially more than just a private room - from intelligent spatial solutions and premium shared amenities to flexible contract models that resonate with contemporary, evolving lifestyles.

The Coliving Conference 2025 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on how coliving has adapted to accommodate the workforce of today, moderated by Moyra Marval. Panelists included David Uriarte and Artūras Pitkauskas. The session focused on how the lines between residential and professional environments are becoming increasingly blurred as the workforce of today becomes more diverse. As the demand increases for spaces that are adaptable, connected, and conducive to both personal well-being and professional growth, developers and operators are now designing ecosystems that combine residential comfort with the flexibility of dynamic workspaces.
As coliving continues to grow as a scalable housing model, industry leaders are refining the blueprint for success. The second Coliving Insights Talks webinar, ‘Building the Coliving Blueprint’, brought together key figures to discuss the essential steps in creating a thriving coliving venture. From securing investment and structuring financial models to building engaged communities and streamlining operations, the discussion explored the key elements that contribute to long-term success.
What does the future hold for coliving? That was the question at the heart of Coliving Insights Talks' first webinar - ‘Coliving 2025 Trends in Review’. In this recap, we highlight the key insights shared by industry pioneers as they delved into the evolving market, shifting investment landscapes, and design innovations shaping shared living. Moderated by Bart Sasim, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Coliving Ventures, the discussion brought together Simon Chinn from the Urban Land Institute, Jo Winchester from Newmark, and John Badman of Gensler to share their expert perspectives.

The Coliving Conference 2024 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on comprehensive strategies for optimising the lifecycle of coliving assets, moderated by Aitana de Jong. Panelists included Katherine Rose, Ali Ravanshad, George Ahye, and Tim Chapman-Cavanagh. The session focused on key strategies for optimising the lifecycle of coliving assets, from initial design to long-term management.

The Coliving Conference 2024 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on the intersection of data and design in coliving spaces, moderated by Martina Pardo. Panelists included Alessandro Nacci, Marthijn Pool, Seth Rutt, and Erwin Buckers. The session focused on how to leverage data-driven design principles to foster stronger connections and more engaged communities within coliving environments.

The Coliving Conference 2024 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on the potential applications of artificial intelligence in optimising coliving spaces and experiences, moderated by José Llanos. Panelists included Lea Mishra, Dr. Hendrik Braun, and Dr. Dorota Iskra. The session focused on how AI is reshaping the landscape of shared living environments, from personalised space optimisation to predictive maintenance, revolutionising the way we design, manage, scale and experience communal living at large.

The Coliving Conference 2024 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on the analysis of the rise of Destination Coliving and its appeal to digital nomads seeking unique, immersive living experiences, moderated by Haz Memon. Panelists included Katia Dimova, Christine Bay, and Ana Sousa. The session focused on the appeal of beyond city settings for those seeking unique living and working environments, and discovering the transformative potential of Destination Coliving projects. Key discussions entailed how to bridge hospitality and community in urban hubs, and operational realities and lessons from these industry experts.
As coliving evolves, industry leaders are refining its future. The Coliving Conference 2024 panel discussion explored the shift from Coliving 1.0 to 2.0, focusing on community-driven real estate and innovative concepts like hybrid hotels and purpose-built properties. Key topics included addressing diverse audiences, navigating international expansion, and attracting institutional investors. The discussion highlighted emerging markets and the potential for senior-focused developments, emphasising the need for diversified revenue streams and community-driven products.
The Coliving Conference 2024 featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on the future of coliving and communal living in urban areas, moderated by Wouter Onclin. Panelists included Matt Driscoll, Michiel Voskamp, Russell Garnett, and Joost Kool. The session focused on the importance of designing spaces that foster community and emphasised the roles of operators and community managers in cultivating vibrant, people-driven cultures. Key discussions centered on regulatory challenges, including the need to balance housing needs with rental subsidy management and the future of coliving. The panelists envisioned the evolution of coliving over the next five years, advocating for innovative development and collaborative planning in countries like the Netherlands and the UK.
This article from the inaugural Coliving Conference 2023 spotlights the growing potential of coliving for active ageing communities. Brought to you in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it reimagines senior housing with adaptability, community, and engagement at its core. Preview how coliving is transforming senior living — read the complete piece on Coliving Insights.
This article, features a recap from a Showcase stage panel session at the Coliving Conference 2023 that brought resident experiences to the forefront. Developed in partnership with Coliving Conference, it provides a preview of how resident feedback is shaping service innovation and satisfaction in coliving spaces. Uncover the keys to optimizing user experiences — find the full article on Coliving Insights.
As part of the Coliving Conference 2023 series of articles, this recap offers a glimpse into innovative financing strategies driving portfolio growth. Created in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it showcases how alternative investments are transforming the coliving landscape. Discover the financial trends shaping the future of shared living — read more on Coliving Insights.
This article, from the first Coliving Conference 2023, redefines the boundaries of home and work through the lens of remote and nomad coliving. In partnership with Coliving Conference, it highlights the trends and opportunities that cater to digital nomads and remote workers. Explore how these communities are reshaping modern living — read the complete feature on Coliving Insights.
Discover the unique dynamics of the DACH coliving market in this article from the inaugural Coliving Conference 2023. Developed in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it unveils expansion strategies, investment prospects, and opportunities tailored to this thriving market. This recap sets the stage for a deeper dive into the factors driving coliving success in the DACH region — read the full article on Coliving Insights.
Dive into the dynamic Iberian coliving market with this article from the inaugural Coliving Conference 2023. Created in partnership with Coliving Conference, it unpacks strategies to overcome affordability challenges and adapt to rising demand. Preview how coliving is evolving in Portugal and Spain — access the complete recap on Coliving Insights.
From the Market Insights discussions at the Coliving Conference 2023, this article delves into the complexities of coliving regulations across Europe. In collaboration with Coliving Conference, it highlights strategies for achieving harmony and fostering collaboration in this diverse landscape. Unlock insights on creating consistent policies for coliving success — read more on Coliving Insights.
This article, originating from the first edition of the Coliving Conference 2023, explores the vibrant coliving landscape in Benelux. Created in partnership with Coliving Conference, it examines strategies like sustainability, accessibility, and stakeholder collaboration that are fueling regional growth. Get an inside look at the transformative potential of coliving in Benelux — find the full article on Coliving Insights.
Discover the unique dynamics of the UK coliving market in this article from the inaugural Coliving Conference 2023. Developed in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it unveils growth strategies, investor trends, and opportunities tailored to this thriving market. This recap sets the stage for a deeper dive into the factors driving coliving success in the UK — read the full article on Coliving Insights.
At the intersection of technology and shared living, this article from the inaugural Coliving Conference 2023 unveils a tech-powered future for coliving. Created in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it explores groundbreaking innovations shaping operations and fostering connections. Discover how technology is redefining the community experience — find the complete article on Coliving Insights.
Coliving is sparking social and environmental transformation, as detailed in this article from the 2023 Coliving Conference. Developed with Coliving Conference, the article delves into ESG-driven initiatives and their profound impacts on shared living. Get a glimpse of how the sector is redefining sustainability and community engagement — explore more on Coliving Insights.
Direct from the Thought Leadership Stage at the first Coliving Conference 2023, this article reveals the strategies behind scaling coliving brands sustainably. In partnership with Coliving Conference, it highlights how innovation, accessibility, and collaboration meet dynamic market demands. Dive into the key tactics shaping the industry's future — access the complete article on Coliving Insights.
This article is a recap of a panel session from the 2023 Coliving Conference, where experts explored the future of communal living through PBSA, coliving, and hybrid models. Curated in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it highlights the evolving opportunities, challenges, and transformative potential of shared living solutions. Discover how these housing models are shaping the future — read the full article on Coliving Insights.
From the first edition of the Coliving Conference 2023, this article unravels the fusion of coliving and hospitality, redefining the boundaries of how we live, work, and socialise. Brought to you in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it highlights innovative design and adaptable spaces that reflect the future of shared living. Get a glimpse into the hybrid paradigm and unlock the full insights available on Coliving Insights.
This article, part of an exclusive series from the inaugural Coliving Conference 2023, takes you deep into the transformative potential of coliving as a lifestyle. Crafted in collaboration with Coliving Conference, it explores how thoughtful community-building, sustainable design, and operational innovation shape thriving shared living spaces. Discover the core of what makes coliving a resilient and evolving lifestyle solution. Read the full article on Coliving Insights.
The coliving sector is at a crucial stage in its growth, but without clear benchmarks for the asset class, it could be stifled. In this article, Richard Lustigman, Head of Coliving at JLL Capital Markets, discusses the need for coliving professionals to evolve their products to deliver the impact they have the potential for, and the importance of setting minimum standards without suppressing innovation.
Senior living investor Jorge Fonseca discusses intergenerational coliving and the need for more hybrid typologies. Exploring the role of senior housing, he highlights pandemic-driven societal changes and envisions the evolution of coliving, urging the real estate industry to create innovative models for independent living.
There is no denying that community is at the core of the coliving concept. COVID-19 obliged us to keep a distance and to limit our interactions with each other, putting our capacity to keep the community alive to the test. In this context, does coliving still make sense? Christina Wooning-Apicella of THE BABEL COMMUNITY shares her thoughts.
Discover from Jacob Shapiro how Outpost Club adapted their business model to support New York-bound nurses during the pandemic, showcasing their agile culture and community-driven approach to overcome logistical, financial, and pandemic-related obstacles.
According to COCO Community (COCO), coliving means cool places to live, work and socialise, with ambitious talks and events dedicated to international and local colivers. The branding behind the COCO vision was created by design agency The Letter O., who helped them develop their brand since they founded in 2019. COCO aims to have a major role in developing the high-scale segment of coliving and especially coliving for international professionals, with locations in the very centre of international cities, starting with Le Marais in Paris. As finalists for the Coliving Awards 2021 in the Branding & Marketing category, Coliving Insights reached out to them to hear how their brand has evolved in the last few months and spoke with Founder Frédéric Geoffrois about how they position and market themselves in the coliving world and how their positioning is helping evolve the sector.
The winners of the Coliving Awards 2021 ‘Branding & Marketing’ category, OurDomain has developed a strong presence in the coliving and specialist real estate sectors. OurDomain is managed by Greystar, and offers 21st- century urban living for students, young professionals and all who are attracted to vibrant city life. In this article, Coliving Insights speaks with Anke Storms, Marketing Executive at Greystar Europe, about how OurDomain has developed their award-winning brand and how Greystar’s track record has helped them along the way.
Presenting your brand as people-centric is easy; following through and providing a coliving solution that addresses pressing human needs in a time of widespread isolation is a much taller task. LOFT lives up to its People First identity by offering responsive, agile and community-oriented interior solutions that are solidifying coliving’s place as the asset class not just of the future, but that which solves the issues of the present. In this article, Benjamin Hall shows us exactly how LOFT delivers on its promise and how you can, too.
Vitanovae is an impact-driven investor-operator based in France. Their aim is to make their spaces accessible to as many people as possible while guaranteeing a high level of comfort and reducing their environmental impact. They operate shared spaces – including coliving spaces, community gardens and other third spaces (e.g. open kitchens) – within the same neighbourhood to offer a network of services to their residents and to encourage exchanges and mutual support systems. In this interview with Co-Founder Fabrice Simondi, Coliving Insights explores what it means to embed impact and sustainability at the core of a shared living brand, and how that influences all design decisions, from design to operations to marketing and even investment.
Marketing your coliving brand is not just a top-of-the-funnel process; with the wide array and accessibility of high quality digital marketing solutions, your efforts can become interwoven from the start of the customer journey to even beyond its end point. By applying proper marketing techniques in combination with the right tools, you can engage your prospective (and current) residents at every touchpoint. In this article, our partners at Digital Estate take you through every step of that journey and provide a glimpse into the wide range of solutions, procedures and benefits that digital marketing can offer to help you build a high-growth shared living brand.
In order to sculpt the ideal brand identity you want your customers to associate with, you need the right tools. In today’s real estate economy, technology has an unprecedented impact on your ability to shape your brand in response to your consumers’ needs – and if implemented correctly, turn them into ambassadors. SALTO Systems’ Christian Schmitz shares exactly how a personalised customer journey, with the help of such tools, can help you leave a lasting and memorable brand impression that your customers will want to share with the world.
Technology has the amazing double characteristic of not just simply being physically instrumental, but also serving to add value to crucial intangible assets like your brand. By making your spaces safer, more integrated, sustainable and smart, you can position your offering in a variety of creative ways that only something like the Internet of Things can provide. In this article, Vince Jouan, VP EMEA at Wifirst, explains exactly how your brand can reap the benefits of current and emerging technologies in coliving.
Your brand is the spearhead of your product. By implementing strong design principles – particularly in an era of ever-changing consumer tastes and behaviours – you will be able to scale your impact, spread your message and position yourself ever closer as an industry leader in a competitive arena. However, we first must step back and evaluate all those critical elements that go into constructing an award-winning coliving model, piece by piece. Our Founding Partners at Spatial Experience explain the fundamental ins and outs of the brand development process, how an effective marketing campaign can serve to drive maximum exposure and the benefits of utilising visual imagery to communicate with your target audience. Supported by in-depth research, conversations with sector stakeholders and a wealth of experience, this trilogy of articles will guide you through your successful branding journey, step by step - with this article featuring the power of Image.
Your brand is the spearhead of your product. By implementing strong design principles – particularly in an era of ever-changing consumer tastes and behaviours – you will be able to scale your impact, spread your message and position yourself ever closer as an industry leader in a competitive arena. However, we first must step back and evaluate all those critical elements that go into constructing an award-winning coliving model, piece by piece. Our Founding Partners at Spatial Experience explain the fundamental ins and outs of the brand development process, how an effective marketing campaign can serve to drive maximum exposure and the benefits of utilising visual imagery to communicate with your target audience. Supported by in-depth research, conversations with sector stakeholders and a wealth of experience, this trilogy of articles will guide you through your successful branding journey, step by step - with this article featuring the power of Marketing.
Brussels-based coliving investor and operator Cohabs has recently been expanding to new markets including New York, Paris and soon Madrid. With 20+ locations in the heart of Brussels and more to come in Belgium and beyond, Cohabs has established itself as one of Europe’s leading coliving brands. With a strong focus on member satisfaction and happiness, Cohabs uses technology, design, sustainability and a range of services to create an improved living experience for their cohabitants. In this interview with Youri Dauber (CEO & Head of Experience), Laure Bommart (VP Customer Experience) and Lionel Jadot (Partner & Chief Design Officer), they take us through their design identity and guidelines and how their spatial design helps them stand out from the rest.
Putting the customer first’ is an oft-said motto-turned-practice for businesses of all forms in our modern, data-driven economy. However, hardly anywhere is it as applicable or relevant as in residential living; it is up to designers, in alignment with developers, property managers and other stakeholders, to execute this philosophy and deliver a truly accommodating space for coliving. As authors Martina Pardo and Riccardo Del Bello show us through their own practical experience at A Designer at Heart, knowing your customer, getting their feedback and designing with personalised intentions is the key to creating sustainable, communal and functional spaces for your clients.
An enriching and inspiring spatial design strategy should always start and ‘end’ with one main objective in mind: the experience that will be ultimately curated and felt within that space. In this article by Aitana de Jong of Spatial Experience, we are taken through the different kinds of experiences that she aims to curate when helping shared living brands design their spaces and communities. We are explained a core principle of what any coliving brand needs to understand: that experience design needs to inform spatial design, and vice versa. Once this process is understood and embedded, coliving designers, developers and operators can get a few steps closer to curating a thriving community and (spatial) experience.
Architectural and interior design can not only shape how we interact with our built environment but can also enhance how connected we feel with our surroundings and how well we feel in ourselves. The team at Conscious Coliving has always been fascinated in how designing for wellness, social connection and environmental sustainability can often intersect. They believe that coliving, with its emphasis on social connection and shared resources, has the potential to meet the needs of people and the planet. One of Conscious Coliving’s core partner architects, Wellstudio, specialises in designing for coliving and places wellbeing at the centre of its approach. In this article, they interview Tom Manwell, the Founder and Director of Wellstudio, to learn about their projects, guiding principles, and practical advice for designing for well-being in coliving.
There is a lot of theorising about what it takes to generate a blended coliving community; in this piece, OZ makes it all very concrete. By sharing their first-hand experiences with designing OurDomain in Amsterdam, they show us how they transformed a convoluted, unappealing office area into an integrated, complementary and community- oriented residential coliving space. By tapping into the core of communal living, OZ illustrates how placemaking and quality living go hand-in-hand.
While the link between access control and property design may not always be directly intuitive, it certainly should not be overlooked. As our contributors from SALTO Systems show us, there are a variety of unique benefits that having the right solution can bring from an architectural perspective to the usage, safety and sustainability of a coliving space. In speaking with Björg Halldórsdóttir, architect at PK Arkitektar in Iceland, SALTO Systems gives us insights into the interplay between design and access control solutions and what this means for enhancing the coliving experience.
The concept of Wifirst’s Room Area Network (RAN) is to offer a secure WPA2 or WPA3 encrypted connection ‘bubble’ for each room in your building. This means that guests can securely connect and enable their devices to communicate with one another within their room, safe in the knowledge that everything is totally secure anywhere. RAN is Wifirst’s response to the strong expectation of coliving residents, especially in regards to making the streaming experience easier (i.e. listening to music with connected speakers, playing on a gaming network with their console or simply using a wireless printer) and opening the possibility for IoT in the shared living model. In this interview with Wifirst’s Product Manager, Alexis Girerd, we dive into the specifics of RAN and how it can be integrated into the core of your coliving design approach.
With an aspiration to build a new coliving product or open a new location, architects, designers and other stakeholders face a challenging task – to create a functional space that will be relevant in two, three and hopefully ten years from now on; ideally, a space that can surpass an anticipated lifetime. Building something sustainable requires diligence and the right approach to set up the spaces in order to turn them into purpose-driven and meaningful places that will thrive and serve ever-growing users’ needs. This approach should not be bound to physical parameters only: in this article Digital Estate and Sowebuild explore the possibilities of turning a space into a social and spatial fabric that can adapt and scale while capitalising on the most flexible coliving technology solutions, starting at the very beginning of its development stage.
Do not underestimate the power of giving space an identity - particularly when it mirrors that of both the individual student and community residing in it. Within all the challenges that operators face in providing an optimal student coliving experience lies a human- centric solution. In this piece, Kelly-anne Watson, Head of Programmes at The Class Foundation, shows us that thinking outside the box, and not just simply ticking boxes, is the formula for designing sensational coliving experiences for students.
Understanding community means understanding its intricacies; and it is these nuances of community where the difference between operational excellence and averageness in coliving lies. In relating to the experiences of a new member, operators can better comprehend the winding process of individual growth that takes place, and accordingly facilitate this growth into a thriving community. Jay Standish – Co-Founder at OpenDoor – takes us through this very journey with a sense of clarity that can only come from years of experience, while offering his approach to manifesting the most essential elements of human interaction.
It’s one thing to speak of community experience; actualising it is a whole different ball game. It is not enough to simply lump residents together in a space and expect genuine human interactions to emerge. In this piece, Alex Chakrabarti of Together Co-Living shares the ways in which coliving operators can create an atmosphere capable of manifesting new relationships, unforgettable memories and experiences suitable for the demands of modern coliving residents.
Launched in 2019, Episode is a Korea-based residential brand that positions itself as a ‘Life Experience Producer’ providing solutions for better city life. Episode creates a variety of experienceable spaces where individuals can improve their quality of life and grow their values beyond their basic needs. As the winner of ‘Best Coliving Operator of the Year’ for The Coliving Awards 2021, we wanted to sit down with them to learn more about their ‘Living Cultural Platform’, and how they facilitate the constructive co-existence of individuals and communities. In this interview piece with Si-hyun Lim and Joo-hyun Lee of the Content Team at Episode, we explore their integrated model for the development, planning and operations of successful long-term coliving communities.
There has never been a time when technology has had so much to offer with regards to operational excellence. In coliving, it is critical to take advantage of the myriad of tools available to create the most human- centered experiences possible within and around the community. From humanising your brand to connecting individuals with their local neighbourhood, Digital Estate’s team provides unique insights and offers concrete, real-world examples of the best technology has to offer. By reminding us that technology is not the end goal, but the ultimate means to creating a thriving community, industry stakeholders can open up a world of possibilities – and a world of meaningful human experiences.
Coliving is all about community; but first, we ought to take a step back. Community cannot be experienced without first being accessible to those who wish to participate in it. From curation to onboarding all the way through to the full in-house experience itself, access control plays a vital role in providing a sense of ease to residents, while granting operators the right tools to facilitate such a journey. In this piece, Anya Doshi, Christian Schmitz and Caterina Maoilini of SALTO Systems walk us through how the right access control system can be a gamechanger for your coliving space.
Great WiFi service in coliving spaces is not simply just about a fast connection; it’s about giving operators the free reign to maximise connectivity, in the other sense of the word -- that is, authentic connections between individuals within a community. This is what makes Wifirst a leader in providing sustainable, durable and effective WiFi networks and infrastructure to residential, commercial and office space operators. By providing a couple of real world cases of these impacts, author Vincent Jouan demonstrates how communities and operators can thrive when their connectivity and other digital touchpoints are taken care of.
Environmental issues and social connectivity are two of some of the biggest topics in our world today, in light of both climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, Naima von Ritter Figueres and Penny Clark of Conscious Coliving address a vital point; how can a coliving community be fostered through sustainable practices? The authors show us that this focus can bring about a great win-win for people and the planet. Whether it’s through community gardening, developing an impact strategy or ‘community asset mapping’, this article demonstrates the importance of linking community to its surrounding environment.
Achieving scale is certainly an exciting prospect; however, reaching that scale does not come without its unintended compromises. It is crucial to stay locked in on those elements that not only keep a community intact, but perpetually improve upon the community-building process as you include more and more members to it. In this piece, Gui Perdrix, Founder of Art of Co & Director at Co-Liv, offers 10 best practices for integrating new residents into the coliving communal experience.
Building a community requires a holistic design thinking approach. This includes getting all the stakeholders around the table and developing both B2B and B2C strategies for your coliving concept. In this article, Aitana de Jong, Managing Partner at Spatial Experience, breaks down their hassle-free 360 degree approach to supporting the emergence and flourishing of shared living communities. They take us through their 5-step method of building specialist real estate concepts and brands, and the importance of a thorough stakeholder -driven approach along the way.
Building a genuine coliving community is by no means a straightforward process; it requires attention to detail and a constantly evolving process that puts the needs of the consumer at the center. In this piece, Stuart Scott of Co-Living Spaces & The Co-Living Revolution tells us about an effective, human-centered approach to community building called service design thinking. With deep research to gain insights into your consumer, continual ideation, prototyping and a perpetual fine-tuning of the customer journey, he explains how service design truly serves as a blueprint for optimising your community coliving experience.
Frame is dedicated to exploring what’s next in spatial design and is always on the lookout for what’s happening on the cusp of innovation and creativity in the design sector. They believe that better spaces lead to better lives, and if interiors help us to work, shop, relax and live better, they will make us happier and healthier. We could not agree more and this is why we have established a Think Tank Partnership with Frame, in order to merge the best of the design world with the best of the coliving world. Our aim is to showcase Frame and their curated community of design experts to our coliving audience and get some insights into the latest and greatest of design innovation along the way. In this interview we speak with Frame’s Head of Brand, Leah Heaton-Jones, to learn more about their design community and hear their thoughts on the latest design innovations when it comes to shared living and housing.
Loneliness comes in different forms and has persisted throughout history; however, it hasn’t been quite as strong as the last few decades and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This global challenge has presented real estate with a distinguished issue – how do you help tenants overcome feelings of alienation and loneliness as a collective effort to combat the crisis? The answer, according to MyTown, is community. In this piece, Jelmer Ikink, Group Director of MyTown, educates us on the importance of shared living in addressing loneliness and showcases how they have been doing so since before the pandemic and onwards.
SPACE10 is a research and design lab on a mission to create a better everyday life for people and the planet. They are supported by and entirely dedicated to IKEA – working as an independent research and design lab to bring new perspectives and design new solutions that enable IKEA to develop innovative products and strategies. Ultimately, SPACE10 researches and designs innovative solutions to solve some of the major societal changes expected to affect people and our planet in the years to come. In this interview with the SPACE10 team, they share how they are working with a community of B2B industry leaders to bring innovative solutions to urbanism, shared living and the way we generally experience our lives on planet earth.
Gui Perdrix, Founder of Art of Co and Director of Co-Liv, emphasises that technology should serve as a means to foster human connection. In this article, he shares compelling stories and insights into how innovative tech solutions can transform coliving spaces. From enhancing resident experiences to reimagining how we interact with shared environments, Gui demonstrates how coliving is poised for a radical evolution in the way we use and experience our spaces.
Coliving is not just a real estate revolution but a societal (r)evolution in its own right. Technology is a key cog in this process, allowing coliving to bring people together in ways other sectors simply cannot. In this article, Aitana de Jong of Spatial Experience explains how, by applying methodologies like Design Thinking and Growth-Driven Design, technology can take on a human-centric nature - a perfect compliment to the human-centric essence of coliving - and forever change real estate itself.
It is often said that the pandemic has turned the way we live our lives on its head; however, other societal trends have already been accelerating these changes, and coliving has proven to offer the kind of living solution most suitable for the current moment in time. As such, greater connectivity and sustainability must be continually pursued with the help of smart technologies, such as IoT, robotics, AI, contech, digitisation and more. In this article, Fanyu Lin and Alec Wang of Fluxus showcase how they are meeting the challenges of today by constructing prefabricated, energy efficient, connected and beautiful homes that enhance personal and community wellbeing.
Discover how managed WiFi solutions like Wifirst are transforming coliving and alternative real estate sectors. WaaS ensures reliable, secure connectivity, supports IoT integration, and optimizes energy use while reducing operational costs. With turnkey solutions tailored to high-density environments, WaaS enhances resident satisfaction and streamlines IT management, enabling operators to focus on their core services.
Digitalisation is transforming everything, and with real estate being the largest asset class in the world, it is inevitably at the heart of the revolution. But technology implemented without due diligence will not get your business where it wants to go. In this piece, Bart Sasim describe a variety of elements that a successful coliving business must take into account when selecting and implementing a truly experience-changing technology for all stakeholders involved.
Creating authentic community experiences is vital yet challenging for coliving operators. Naima Ritter, Head of Community & Wellbeing at Conscious Coliving, explores the business case for strong communities, common challenges, and how app solutions can address these. Drawing on research, software demos, and surveys of 30+ operators worldwide, the article highlights how technology can foster connection, streamline operations, and support vibrant coliving spaces.
Coliving consists of a wide and complex array of key actors and processes. As a result, a truly great coliving experience - at all stages of the member journey - must be facilitated by great services that can account for all these aspects - and in the 21st century, many of these services can be facilitated by technology. In this article, Christian Schmitz, Michael Steinmann and Connor Moore of Co-Liv explain how Co-Liv is working to further facilitate a stronger synergy within the Co-Liv Tech Community in order to propel the industry to greater heights than ever before, all while strengthening the interdependent community of service providers within it and helping them gain visibility throughout the sector.
Coliving continues to undergo a constant evolution as COVID-19 has shifted the sector to adapt buildings in newly functional ways - and software is here to help. Spaceflow’s Head of Marketing, Petr Boruta, explains how such technology is capable of integrating and digitising all aspects of the tenant experience; thus, transforming space itself into a connected and living sphere that can serve all of the tenant’s needs, all in one place.
Coliving and tech are a ‘match made in heaven’, according to Giles Horwitch-Smith, the founder and CEO of leading short-stay and long-stay residential software platform, res:harmonics. With 25 years’ experience in the property and tech worlds, Giles tells Coliving Insights how innovative technology can streamline coliving’s operations, enhance resident experience, boost operators’ profits and help them scale.
Technology has allowed humans to accomplish extraordinary feats; however, technology on its own is not enough. By understanding all the steps along a coliving member’s journey, you can apply technology in ways that effectively facilitate an optimal community atmosphere for that member. Rick Schols, co-founder at Sowebuild, shows us how by stimulating practical engagement, providing seamless accessibility and driving connectivity, technology can help shape a flourishing community for all its members, from start to end of their journey.
If there is one thing managers and operators of coliving spaces absolutely cannot ignore, it is the customer experience. According to Vann Vogstad, Founder of COHO, this needs to be at the heart of proptech; however, it doesn’t stop there. The right solution for providing residents with a seamless and integrated experience requires having all of your functionalities together, in one place, and thus providing tenants the ultimate hassle-free experience. In this piece, Vann shows us that property management systems have a long way to go to meet the demands of the modern coliver, and COHO is dedicated to breaking the chain to do just that.
Property management and community building, particularly in coliving, can be a complex process. However, as Group Director of MyTown Jelmer Ikink demonstrates in this piece, having the right turn-key property management system can provide an all-inclusive operations platform to give your tenants’ the ultimate coliving experience. From rental payments to property maintenance to management of key business metrics, MyTown shows how they have developed in-house technology that can simplify, integrate and organise all of your management functions, all in one place.
In this interview, our Editor-in-Chief, Matt Lesniak, speaks with The Collective’s Group Technology Director Andy Caddy and Customer Experience Director Ed Thomas to share their unique insights on how technology can be used to go above and beyond in meeting the essential needs of coliving members and fostering a strong community atmosphere. Through the power of data and continual engagement, Ed and Andy elaborate on the challenges, opportunities and benefits of exploring and implementing proptech solutions in a coliving space. From transparent reporting on operational sustainability to forming social groups with shared interests, The Collective demonstrates why they are an illustrative example of the role technology can play in optimising the coliving experience.
Technology in today’s real estate market is the difference between a standard coliving experience, and an exceptional one. But what exactly is that difference? For Hélène Maria, Product Manager at Urban Campus, it’s about a more engaged community, environmental sustainability and managerial ease. In this piece, she explains how tech serves to enable coliving operators to provide a wide variety of benefits for all stakeholders involved.
We live in a truly exceptional time period, in which technology is allowing us to turn what we imagine real estate should be into what it can and will be. Particularly for coliving operators, a whole new set of possibilities unravels by implementing technology, particularly when it comes to revolutionising what is the core of coliving - the community experience. In this piece, Carlos de la Lama-Noriega - founder of Startup Embassy - educates and inspires us to use our imagination in order to realise the many ways in which tech can push the limits of what it means to operate a coliving space in the era of digitalisation.
In this article, founders of Miele Operations & Payment Solutions provide insights into their idea of a state-of-the-art solution for laundry technology and why they believe their appWash service is a fitting contribution to the range of amenities offered by coliving operators. They take us through their European study trip and how they gathered user data to create the customer-centric laundry technology they provide to shared living spaces across Europe.
While subscription based services have been around for quite some time now, the high demand for flexible living by younger generations means it’s time for coliving and real estate to join the movement. Whether its providing consumers with a greater variety of choice or offering easy access to service and amenities, subscription-based coliving has much to offer. In this article, Spatial Experience shares insights into the opportunities, challenges and benefits of implementing subscription economy solutions to the shared living sector.
Despite the increasingly widespread need for coliving, meeting this demand is not a straightforward process by any means. Restrictions such as limited convertible spaces, existing building codes and the tension between growth and efficiency are all factors that can inhibit growth. In this article, our Think Tank Partner MyTown describes how their own experiences in the Philippines serve as a model for how operators can navigate such challenges, and thus achieve a sustainable and profitable coliving growth model.
In this interview, we speak to Fredéric Verdavaine, CEO of Private Rental Sector (PRS), and Marie-Suzanne Locqueneux, New Business Development Director at Nexity. They are responsible for developing and improving their PRS concepts, including their coliving, PBSA and senior living verticals from development to operations. In this article, they share their perspectives on recent alternative real estate trends and what the coliving sector needs to do to consolidate itself.
Starcity is a California-based owner-operator that has recently expanded to Europe and acquired another large scale coliving operator. In this article they share how they have gotten to this point and give some insights into the specific development processes involved in a few of their recent purpose-built coliving schemes. They also share how their R&D and development teams partner up with industry leaders to help pave the way for shared living policies and institutionalisation.
The past decade has seen extraordinary growth and change in shared living. The Class of 2020 was founded as a think tank to solve the student housing crisis, and has seen the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) industry take off, mature as an asset class and bring prosperity and vibrancy to European cities. To celebrate The Class of 2020’s Graduation Conference, Programme Coordinator Lily Moodey and The Class of 2020 team curated an agenda of visionary thinkers and practitioners to comment on the trends shaping the next decade of living in university cities. In this article, Lily shares the most relevant findings for coliving players as they scale from providing spaces to solutions to global challenges.
One of our main objectives at Coliving Insights is to help ensure the coliving sector becomes a fully-fledged alternative residential asset class. Fortunately for us, we are not the only ones on this mission. Susan Tjarksen, Managing Director of Multifamily Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield, is another shared living ambassador who has supported the institutionalisation of the asset class through her work delivering multifamily apartments, publishing trend reports and speaking at conferences, summits and panels. As the ‘SCALE’ chapter sponsor, Susan speaks to us on behalf of Cushman & Wakefield and shares her thoughts about what it will take to bring the shared living sector to the next level. In this interview piece, Susan shares the important part that coliving plays in keeping young urban professionals housed and connected at an obtainable rental level.
Learn from Naima Ritter at Conscious Coliving on facilitating authentic community in coliving. Explore key points from The Community Facilitation Handbook, understanding the role of Community Facilitator and creating an organic, authentic coliving environment.
Discover SALTO Systems' expert advice to enhance coliving with technology integration, streamline operations, and scale your business. Learn best practices for software integration, automate billing cycles, manage applications, and strengthen your community. Choose tailored third-party integrations for your specific needs.
What does it take to achieve communal excellence in coliving? According to Art of Co founder Gui Perdrix, the answer lies in experience creation. In this piece, Gui details what he calls the Art of Coliving methodology. By working with dozens of coliving operators and community builders, Gui has developed a variety of strategies that can be implemented to build a truly state-of-the-art coliving experience.
This article highlights Samesame, Lisbon's first Portuguese coliving space, and its ethos. It emphasises personalised service, community, and sustainability. The founders embrace creativity, and community, operating at a micro-scale to ensure a positive global impact. Samesame strives to be a cultural home and is committed to fostering a shift from an ego- to eco-based culture through shared living.
As a relatively nascent industry, coliving is full of promise - but as with any up-and-coming product, also a large degree of uncertainty. With his varied experiences in coliving and finance, Connor Moore helps to quell some of this uncertainty with what he believes to be highly promising prospects for real estate investors - even in spite of all of the challenges the world faces today. With a close eye on market trends and global currents, Connor reassures us that coliving is the right move - and with a bit of patience, will result in high returns in the future.
Chris Saunders is the Investment Director at DTZ Investors, a full service, vertically integrated, real estate investment and asset manager. In 2019, they partnered with The Collective to launch DTZ Investors Co-Living Fund I, known as COLIV, an unlisted collective investment vehicle for professional investors investing in large scale, purpose-built coliving buildings in London. We interviewed Chris for his thoughts on the current investment landscape in the shared living sector and to ask him for some insights into investment criteria and best practices in regards to the coliving sector.
From 400 pitch meetings to North America's largest purpose-built coliving project: Ollie's journey with Alta LIC, its groundbreaking success in institutional-grade coliving, and the lessons learned in scaling a revolutionary housing model.
Keys Asset Management: Pioneering Impact and Innovation in Coliving. Discover how societal trends, ESG strategies, and impact investing are shaping the future of coliving and alternative real estate assets with Claire Flurin.
Coliving developer Matt Baker advocates for small-scale "co-homes" as a viable alternative to larger, institutional coliving developments. He argues that co-homes offer quicker acquisition and development, a simpler funding model, and stronger community bonds due to their smaller size (around seven occupants is ideal). Baker highlights the challenges of scaling co-homes, including project management and maintaining consistent service quality. While easier to finance and develop, Baker cautions against diluting the "coliving" concept as a mere marketing tactic. He emphasises the importance of providing high-quality space, design, and professional management to ensure resident satisfaction, brand loyalty, and long-term success.
Noiascape, a coliving company, presented their model as inspired by London's green spaces, the Sony Walkman's design, and the UK's public libraries, which all focus on the intersection of public and private space. Challenging traditional rental models that over-allocate private space, especially with rising remote work, they propose re-directing capital to create more shared and public areas. By focusing on the daily rituals of members and their spatial needs, Noiascape's goal is to use coliving to increase urban density, facilitate social interaction, and integrate living, working, and social spaces, offering an evolved urban living experience. They argue for a re-shaping the concept of home, re-distribution of the land, macro thinking, and densification.
Wifirst, founded in 2002, is a European leader in managed WiFi solutions, offering "WiFi as a Service" to support digital transformation. The company has expanded significantly, operating in over 325,000 student accommodations and 730,000 rooms across EMEA. Wifirst's mission is to provide robust, secure connectivity essential for modern living and working environments, particularly in coliving spaces where community, lifestyle, mobility, and work demands high-speed internet access. Their innovative Room Area Network technology ensures a home-like WiFi experience in shared residences.
Explore how NREP's strategic site selection and community-centric design helped their coliving projects like Noli Studios and UN17 Village flourish during uncertain times. By combining vibrant urban locations with functional spaces, NREP enhanced user experience and positioned itself at the forefront of the Nordic coliving market. Dive in to learn more about their innovative approach and its impact on the sector's growth.
Explore how coliving offers an affordable solution for single-adult households despite challenges like outdated regulations (e.g., density controls, minimum room sizes) rooted in early 20th-century SRO concerns. Learn how adjusting policies, improving public transit, and embracing innovative construction could unlock sustainable, community-driven housing models. Dive deeper to understand the path forward for coliving’s integration into modern urban landscapes.
Explore how a "lead by design" approach rooted in industrial/organisational psychology enables self-sufficient communities, reduces operational costs, and enhances resident autonomy. By prioritising strategic onboarding, transparency, and shared ownership, operators can balance scalability with meaningful engagement—unlocking thriving, socially impactful living models. Dive in to uncover the transformative potential of these innovative community-driven spaces.
Noiascape elevates coliving through spatial innovation, sustainable value, and social bonds. Like Apple, they integrate hardware (buildings) and software (operations), communicating their unique culture through design. They prioritize experiences that foster community and connect members to local culture, utilizing renewable energy. Their goal is long-term member retention, offering spaces that support life transitions and foster mixed demographics, envisioning coliving as a modern civic typology.
Explore Venn Coliving's impact-driven approach, fostering belonging, local economic growth, and community engagement. Through measurable tools and inclusive programming, Venn tackles loneliness, supports local businesses, and empowers stakeholders to co-create impact.
Explore thought leadership articles that showcase best practices across a diverse range of topics in the shared living industry.
explore PulsesWhy it matters: Bridges' oversubscribed raise amid reduced market liquidity validates investor appetite for impact-driven, needs-based real estate during economic uncertainty. The fund's emphasis on coliving within a broader "sustainable alternatives" portfolio positions the sector alongside healthcare and logistics as a counter-cyclical, ESG-aligned asset class. With three City of London coliving assets already in Fund VI, Bridges is concentrating capital on ultra-urban, adaptive reuse opportunities enabled by regulatory tailwinds—a disciplined sectoral bet backed by pension and sovereign wealth capital.
Why it matters: This deal demonstrates lender confidence in City of London coliving as construction-ready, planning-de-risked product: Firma's facility sized at £78m for 174 units (~£450k/unit debt) indicates senior debt appetite for sponsors with delivery track record and operational intent. HUB/Bridges' decision to hold and operate Cornerstone rather than forward-sell marks strategic evolution from merchant development to vertical integration, capturing operational upside in a supply-constrained, centrally located submarket. The pair's three-scheme City pipeline positions them as the dominant coliving developer under the Corporation's Destination City policy.
Why it matters: Sentinel's entry—backed by a $9.5bn balance sheet and 55-year operating history—signals that US multifamily capital views the UK as structurally underserved and ripe for institutional consolidation. Sanderson's appointment (Aviva pedigree, IPF influence) suggests a strategy targeting policy connectivity and LP relationships rather than opportunistic deployment. The firm's integrated platform model (acquisition, development, asset management, operations) contrasts with fragmented UK BTR/coliving market structure, potentially setting a new competitive standard for scale, efficiency, and returns. If Sentinel deploys even 5% of AUM to UK (~$475m / £380m), it would rival or exceed Bridges Fund VI's entire UK living allocation.
Why it matters: TAP's public listing provides a rare benchmark for coliving operator valuation and unit economics in Asia: at $88m market cap / 3,422 rooms, implied valuation is ~$25,700/room—modest relative to European development costs but reflective of asset-light master lease model. The 94.4% occupancy and 43.6% revenue growth demonstrate operational traction in a mature, competitive Singapore market. If successful, the IPO validates coliving as a standalone, investable public equity story (vs. embedded in diversified REIT structures), potentially opening access to retail and growth capital for scaling. The 10,000-room target (3x current scale) will test whether unit economics hold at portfolio scale and across newer geographies.
Why it matters: Ballymore's UNEX approval demonstrates that mixed-tenure, mixed-use brownfield schemes can secure planning in London by embedding coliving within broader placemaking (school, workspace, park, retail). The 359-unit coliving allocation (21% of total homes) suggests councils accept coliving as a legitimate housing typology when paired with family housing and social rent, rather than a standalone, transient product. With Knights Road also in planning (implying 700+ coliving units across two adjacent sites), Ballymore is creating a critical mass coliving neighbourhood in Royal Docks—potentially the UK's largest single-developer coliving cluster. This sets a precedent for master-developer-led coliving integration vs. single-site, single-use schemes.
Why it matters: HUB's 490-unit Finsgate submission—if approved—would be one of London's largest single-site coliving schemes outside Zone 1, targeting the Old Street tech workforce with live-work proximity. The 1,200-stakeholder consultation (street pop-ups, workshops, exhibitions by Urban Symbiotics) reflects emerging best practice for securing planning in contentious London boroughs: co-design the community offer (hub, play areas, biodiversity) before submission, rather than negotiating post-refusal. The 40% biodiversity net gain and Passivhaus approach position the scheme as policy-compliant under anticipated London Plan BNG and energy standards. With Cornerstone (City) and Finsgate (Hackney) both progressing, HUB is executing a dual-track ultra-urban strategy spanning financial district (live-near-work) and tech cluster (live-in-work) typologies.
Why it matters: TAP is the second Singapore coliving operator to pursue public markets within three months (Coliwoo listed November 2025, raising $101m), signaling depth of institutional demand for scalable, digitally enabled community-living platforms in Southeast Asia. The asset-light, multi-segment model—and rapid margin expansion—positions TAP as a potential blueprint for regional consolidation, particularly as it enters Malaysia and targets 10x room growth by decade-end. Success or failure of this IPO will shape access to growth capital for similar operators across APAC.
Why it matters: The Exeter approval demonstrates that iterative, officer-led redesign can convert refusals into consents—but at the cost of extended timelines and likely compressed returns. The shift from two large blocks to seven smaller, contextual buildings reflects planning authorities' heightened sensitivity to massing and heritage in cathedral cities. The 20% affordable commitment and biodiversity net gain are now table stakes for major schemes in sensitive urban contexts, raising the bar for future applicants and tightening pro formas on brownfield sites.
Why it matters: The GLA has drawn a clear line: emergency housing measures prioritize C3 delivery, not shared living. Coliving operators cannot rely on reduced viability burdens, faster consents, or cost relief to compete with BTR or market-sale schemes in London. The exclusion reinforces coliving's position as a niche, higher-risk product in the capital's planning framework, likely steering new supply toward outer boroughs or mixed-use schemes where shared living is ancillary. Operators should engage the consultation, but expectations for near-term policy tailwinds should be reset.
Why it matters: Outpost's Northwest entry via acquisition rather than lease signals operator confidence in owning consented assets in tier-two cities, where land values and construction costs remain below London levels. The delayed disclosure suggests the transaction was structured to minimize market signal risk or valuation benchmarking ahead of close. As operators consolidate portfolios and pursue vertical integration, the line between developer and operator continues to blur—creating new M&A patterns and capital requirements that favor balance-sheet-backed platforms over pure management businesses.
Why it matters: The 9.4% unit reduction to secure planning consent underscores the trade-offs developers are accepting to de-risk approval in Greater Manchester, where coliving is still a nascent format and planning scrutiny is high. Re:shape's willingness to sacrifice GDV while maintaining affordable commitments and viability suggests strong underlying land acquisition terms or favorable debt structures. The case also illustrates how proactive engagement with officers—and flexibility on massing—can compress planning risk, a lesson for other schemes in cities without established coliving precedent.
Why it matters: Sustainability is no longer a differentiator—it is a minimum expectation for institutional offtakers and planning authorities in major UK cities. The 490% biodiversity net gain at Smugglers Way sets a new benchmark that may inform future GLA guidance, while the 60% carbon reduction at Taxi House demonstrates that coliving schemes can outperform C3 on energy efficiency when designed with shared systems and higher density. Developers unable to evidence triple-digit biodiversity gains and deep carbon cuts will face longer planning cycles and higher viability scrutiny.
Why it matters: Washington State's GMA mandate represents the first statewide regulatory tailwind for coliving in the U.S., overriding local exclusionary zoning and establishing coliving as a housing supply tool rather than a discretionary use. Auburn's minimal standards—no room dimensions, no parking mandates near transit—create a permissive environment that could accelerate development, but also risk quality dilution and neighborhood opposition if poorly designed schemes proliferate. The success or failure of early projects will shape whether other GMA cities adopt similarly light-touch frameworks or impose stricter controls.
Why it matters: TAP is Singapore's second coliving IPO in six months (following Coliwoo's $101m mainboard listing in November 2025), signalling depth of institutional appetite for community-living platforms in Asia. The asset-light model, diversified brand portfolio, and target of nearly 3× growth in five years positions TAP as a roll-up vehicle for regional expansion, with Malaysia and adjacent markets in scope. Strong YoY profitability growth and digital infrastructure underpin scalability, but execution risk hinges on lease pipeline velocity and JV partner selection.
Why it matters: London's policy explicitly deprioritises coliving in favour of conventional C3 delivery, removing coliving from the main levers of cost and process relief at a time when the capital needs ~100,000 homes per year. Operators face unchanged viability hurdles and CIL exposure, undermining competitiveness on brownfield sites where C3 schemes now benefit from streamlined approvals. The exclusion reflects persistent ambiguity over coliving's housing contribution and suggests operators must focus on design quality, operational efficiency, and mixed-use integration rather than subsidy. Long-term risk: if C3 delivery accelerates under the package, coliving demand dynamics may shift as supply constraints ease in core rental markets.
Why it matters: Exeter's approval demonstrates that coliving can gain consent on sensitive sites adjacent to conservation areas if masterplanning responds to local character, breaks massing into smaller blocks, and delivers biodiversity uplift and public realm improvements. The 20% affordable commitment and reduced building heights were critical concessions; the shift from two large buildings to seven smaller blocks mirrors Planning Officer concerns about over-development. The scheme also shows growing convergence of coliving and PBSA on shared sites, leveraging common amenity infrastructure and operational know-how. Timeline from refusal (February 2023) to approval (December 2025) underscores planning risk and the cost of design iteration.
Why it matters: This is the first reported acquisition (vs. development) of a fully consented coliving asset in Manchester, and it confirms secondary market liquidity for permitted schemes where developers exit pre-construction. Outpost's expansion into the Northwest signals confidence in Greater Manchester's demand fundamentals and reflects the operator's strategy of acquiring consented assets to derisk construction timelines and deploy capital at scale. The five-month disclosure lag suggests structuring complexity or developer preference for quiet completion. The 26,500 sq ft amenity offer (4.5% of total GIA) positions Enclave at the high end of co-working and wellness provision, a positioning that will be tested against rent levels in Greengate, where competition from BTR and new-build C3 is intensifying.
Why it matters: The 9% reduction in units in exchange for enhanced public realm, DDA-compliant riverside access, and refined massing shows how operators can navigate local planning sensitivities by trading density for design quality and amenity. The viability confirmation is critical: it implies that higher per-unit revenues (driven by river views and improved setting) offset the loss of 40 units, or that cost efficiencies in the revised form compensate. Re:shape's emphasis on collaboration with officers and support from neighbours and ward members reflects a more consultative pre-application process—likely a lesson from earlier Salford refusals. If approved in March, construction start in Q2 2026 would make this one of the faster consented-to-delivery transitions in the Northwest pipeline.
Why it matters: These awards evidence that coliving and BTR can exceed carbon targets by wide margins when developers integrate passive design, low-carbon materials, and innovative logistics early in the design process. The 490% biodiversity net gain at Smugglers Way sets a new benchmark for brownfield regeneration and may influence future planning policy requiring measurable ecological uplift. For coliving specifically, Taxi House's 60% carbon reduction and BREEAM Outstanding pathway demonstrate that the typology can compete with best-in-class C3 on ESG metrics, countering critiques that small-unit formats compromise sustainability. The fabric-first approach and post-tensioned concrete also offer replicable lessons for the sector. However, achieving these outcomes requires patient capital, specialist consultants, and sites with canal or rail access—conditions not available to all schemes.
Why it matters: Auburn's adoption reflects the GMA's state-level mandate forcing municipalities to permit coliving by year-end 2025 or face preemption—a model that contrasts sharply with London's exclusionary approach. The ordinance's light-touch regulation (no room size minimums, no parking mandates near transit, no use mixing) removes common barriers to coliving feasibility, potentially accelerating small-scale projects in car-dependent suburbs. However, the lack of dimensional or quality standards may produce operator-friendly but resident-unfriendly outcomes (e.g., very small rooms, minimal amenity) unless market competition or tenant demand imposes discipline. The December 31 deadline ensured compliance across Washington; other GMA cities will have adopted similar rules, creating a coordinated policy environment for coliving development statewide. This regulatory clarity is a structural advantage over fragmented municipal approaches in the UK.
Stay ahead in the Coliving landscape: major announcements, press releases, partnerships and upcoming initiatives.
explore News
Coliving Insights officially launches its version 2.0 to the public - an all-in-one platform built for stakeholders across the coliving and shared living industry. By merging innovation with accessibility, the platform provides tools and resources designed to help businesses and professionals thrive in the quickly developing sector.
Amsterdam, 05/12/2024 – Coliving Insights is proud to announce the launch of Coliving Insights 2.0, marking a groundbreaking evolution from a publication-centric platform into a comprehensive media platform & business intelligence hub tailored for the growing and dynamic coliving and shared living industries.
With an intuitive interface and robust features, Coliving Insights 2.0 addresses the sector’s varied needs - fostering collaboration, streamlining marketing operations, increasing transparency, consolidating the currently fragmented industry landscape as well as driving success in the coliving ecosystem at large. Available globally, the platform is set to reshape the way stakeholders approach innovation, networking and industry growth.
“Coliving Insights 2.0 is the result of analysing the industry’s evolving needs and delivering a platform that provides actionable intelligence for stakeholders. By integrating advanced modular functionalities, we aim to address key challenges in market visibility, transparency within the sector, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making,” said Bart Sasim, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Coliving Ventures BV (venture developer powering Coliving Insights). “This platform is built to empower coliving businesses and professionals with thought leadership, data-driven tools and curated resources, fostering informed choices and unlocking opportunities for scalable growth in an increasingly complex operational real estate landscape.”
This transformation represents a significant milestone, both for Coliving Insights and for the global coliving community, reinforcing our commitment to supporting industry professionals with the tools, data, curated content and connections they need to thrive in the ever-changing industry.
The coliving and shared living sector has lacked a focused space where stakeholders can connect, learn and grow together. Coliving Insights 2.0 solves this by merging technology and industry-specific expertise to offer tools for emerging, established and scaling businesses, making informed decisions and fostering meaningful collaborations.
At the core of Coliving Insights 2.0 is a modular platform designed to empower stakeholders with specialised resources, each designed to serve a specific purpose:
For emerging entrepreneurs or experienced professionals; from start-ups, through SMEs to established enterprises and scale-ups, Coliving Insights 2.0 caters to diverse needs: from gaining insights into market trends to finding the right partners for new projects. By joining the platform and becoming a member, the users can enjoy tailored features like access to event discounts, enhanced visibility through promotional tools and a showcase of thought leadership through publishing listings and articles.
This expansion therefore positions Coliving Insights 2.0 as the centralised hub for industry insights and business intelligence, addressing the need for accessible, actionable data in a sector that is rapidly maturing and diversifying.
We invite all industry actors - whether representing established businesses, emerging brands, or organisations of all sizes- to experience the power of Coliving Insights 2.0. Discover how this platform can amplify your business impact, foster valuable connections, and provide the actionable intelligence you need to lead in the coliving space.
“Built on years of collaboration and insights from the incredible community we have cultivated, Coliving Insights 2.0 is a platform designed to support everyone in the industry.” added Aitana de Jong, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Coliving Ventures BV. “It’s about providing the tools and connections to make a real impact and keep driving the future of shared living forward.”
For more details, explore the Coliving Insights platform to discover its new solutions and modules. If you’re seeking further guidance, request a free personalised live demo to explore the platform further.

Living and working together in sustainable co-spaces - this is what the first POHA House in Düsseldorf offers. At the end of 2026, the POHA House on Kölner Strasse in Oberbilk with 175 residential units on an area of almost 5,000 sqm, which offers space for up to 215 people. In addition, there is the POHA Office, a co-working space on around 300 sqm for residents, but also for guests who can rent one of the 36 spots. It will be the fifth POHA House of the start-up of the same name, which, in addition to the first location in Münster, runs three other houses in Aachen.
The range of residential units is wide and ranges from big studios to flatshare. However, highlights are the many community areas that make up the character of the POHA Houses: in addition to the POHA Space, a dining room and a fitness, yoga, media and art room, there is a huge roof terrace, the 115 square meter as a meeting point for the House community serves.
“In the POHA House Düsseldorf we offer our most diverse apartment mix with WG rooms, studios and maisonette apartments. Our residents can choose their favourite living space, change, upgrade - depending on the wish and life situation.” says Lea Mishra, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at POHA House.
The innovative living concept of Poha House is aimed at the sharing economy, which is becoming increasingly common, united and united under one roof. The apartments are fully furnished and equipped with fast internet. They are an offer for young working people and expats who move new to the city and are quickly looking for connection. University employees and students are also addressed.
“As a NRW startup, we look forward to bringing POHA House to Düsseldorf. A city that we love not only for its creative flair, but also for its innovative spirit.” says Yianni Tsitouras. The Co-Founder & CEO adds: “POHA House is more than just a home. It offers a community where nobody has to feel alone and that connects to the city. We do not define the future of living by the walls that separated us earlier, but by promising a house that combines and connects us.”
The combination of living, work and community experiences under one roof that are also offered by active community management makes it easier for people to start in a new city. The POHA makers are convinced of this.
Living in the POHA House is completely digitised: rental contracts are concluded online “unbureaucratically”, residents can view all community spaces and events via the POHA app and book, arrange services and keep an eye on the rent payments. The entry and extract is organised via the app as well as the appointment for sports or cooking with other residents.
POHA House is sustainable not only because the sharing of individual space consumption is significantly lower than with other forms of living. The ecological footprint also plays an important role in the selection of materials for furniture and cleaning as well as in the design of the events and culture in the community. For this purpose, the company will network strongly in Düsseldorf and work for events, food and cultural offers with local partners.
The POHA House Düsseldorf is being built in the “Life at the Sonnenpark” project. On a total of around 17,600 sqm, the landmarks realise the living space family - half of them publicly funded - as well as a supermarket and a drugstore for local supply in the district.

Senior Coliving is gradually becoming a trend to resolve the concerns for not only the current silver generation but also the upcoming ones, who are planning for their ‘after retirement’ stage.
We all know that when individuals get older, various disadvantages limit them from fulfilling their lives to the greatest, including loneliness and changing health conditions. Additionally, finding housing nowadays is a challenge for everyone, not just the elderly. As an organisation advocating for coliving as a solution to the current housing challenges, we are delighted to partner with the Senior Housing and Healthcare Association - an ecosystem of companies and professionals who care and are willing to take the lead in shaping the future of qualitative senior housing, and in particular Senior Coliving.
Industry Partnership between SHHA and Coliving Insights
The Senior Housing and Healthcare Association (SHHA) and Coliving Insights enter an Industry Partnership in 2023. Both organisations have had a strong relationship in the past, driven by the efforts to bring more attention to coliving, and in particular for the senior demographic. The partnership will allow to bring more awareness to this sector and join forces for the common purpose.
SHHA’s main driver is to create alignment in the value chain and build continuous awareness in regards to the senior housing asset class; through thought leadership, SHHA aims to positively impact its development and future outlook. The partnership between both organisations will strengthen the national expertise in selected European countries as well as growing the network across Europe and beyond. Both organisations have a strong alignment in mission, vision, purpose, DNA and values as well as drive in undertaken thought leadership activities.
Furthermore, Coliving Insights will support SHHA in bringing more awareness in regards to what Senior Coliving may offer to the current outlook of the senior housing sector. As mentioned by Ron van Bloois, “Due to the ageing demographics, the senior living and long term care markets are booming and are important for our society in terms of liveability, wellbeing and healthcare spendings. Senior Coliving as part of an integrated city and rural developments are needed to empower inclusivity, increase independence/mobility, mitigate loneliness and psychological vulnerability, upgrade quality of life and downforce healthcare spendings. Based on this analysis, senior coliving could be the biggest residential market with outreaching social impact. A close and successful cooperation between operators with their residents, investors and stakeholders such as local governments is needed, as well as developing new, attractive schemes and community models. Creating alignment and efficiency in the value chain is the only way forward to tackle the biggest, residential and healthcare challenges of the coming decades.”
The partnership between SHHA and Coliving Insights is part of a wider collaboration between SHHA and Coliving Ventures, which are establishing a Strategic Partnership at large.
“We are delighted to announce and execute our strategic partnership with Coliving Ventures to speed up the crossover with coliving for seniors.” Ron van Bloois, Co-Founder & Chair at SHHA
Strategic Partnership with Coliving Ventures & beyond
Fostering innovation in the shared living sector will lead to creating better products, services, and ultimately, a better quality of life for its residents and wider stakeholders. SHHA and Coliving Ventures will establish a Strategic Partnership to strengthen their common positioning in both the coliving and shared living sectors.
The collaboration between SHHA and Coliving Ventures will also support the further understanding of the Senior Coliving concept and exchanging thought leadership, know-how and business intel to build further recognition and awareness across the real estate industry.
During MIPIM 2023, a leading industry event focused on bringing together the most influential players from all sectors of the international real estate industry, SHHA celebrates its 3rd year anniversary and launches their Annual Report. Coliving Ventures has contributed to the report with a thought leadership piece on Senior Coliving. Read more about the session organised by SHHA during MIPIM here.
As part of the strategic partnership, Ron van Bloois, Founder & CEO of MI and Co-Founder and Chair of the SHHA, will also continue his role as lead judge of the Senior Coliving category in the Coliving Awards 2023.

Following the success of our first two editions, Coliving Insights proudly released its third publication, Impact & Sustainability in Coliving, exploring the critical themes shaping the future of shared living.
This edition dives into how coliving operators, investors, and thought leaders integrate impact and sustainability principles into their developments, policies, and communities. Structured into five key chapters—Social Value in Coliving, Policy & Investments, Wellbeing & Sustainability, Social & Economic Impact, and Technology & Innovation—this publication highlights innovative approaches and measurable frameworks to drive positive change within the real estate sector.
The cover story, Social Value in Coliving, unpacks emerging concepts like biodiversity net gain, biophilic design, and nature-based solutions while emphasizing coliving's potential to deliver high-impact results for people and the planet.
Additional highlights include:
Contributors include 30+ experts, from international operators to policy specialists, showcasing diverse solutions and best practices for creating sustainable shared living ecosystems.
Update December 2024: Impact & Sustainability Now Live on Coliving Insights 2.0
Originally released in 2020 as Coliving Insights No. 3: Impact & Sustainability in Coliving, the themes of measurable impact, wellbeing, and sustainability remain as relevant as ever. Today, these critical insights are no longer confined to a static publication format but have been seamlessly integrated into the Articles Module of the new Coliving Insights platform.
Members can now explore key topics such as social value frameworks, impact-driven investments, and innovative design solutions—all tagged for easy access and deeper exploration. Articles like “Social Value in Coliving” and “Top 5 Sustainability Innovations in Real Estate” are now part of a dynamic, searchable resource designed to empower industry professionals with actionable knowledge.
With Coliving Insights 2.0, we ensure that thought leadership remains accessible, relevant, and adaptable to the evolving needs of the coliving sector. Explore how you can join this growing platform as a member today.

We are excited to announce the release of Coliving Insights Magazine No. 2 (Q2 2020). Following the success of our first publication, which helped establish Coliving Insights as a leading research platform in the industry, this long-awaited second edition is packed with insider knowledge and thought-provoking perspectives to answer the question: Is Coliving Here To Stay?
As the global landscape of real estate and shared living continues to evolve, this edition dives deep into the health and future of the coliving sector, particularly amidst the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring contributions from thought leaders across various fields, including real estate developers, architects, and intergenerational housing providers, the magazine aims to provide a holistic view of the industry at this pivotal moment.
This edition includes:
This edition of Coliving Insights highlights that while the world of coliving is facing challenges, the sector is proving to be resilient—and in many ways, essential—for the future of housing.
Update December 2024: The Continued Evolution of Coliving Insights 2.0
Since the release of Coliving Insights No. 2, the landscape of the coliving industry has continued to transform. The insights and analysis featured in this second edition are now part of the digital evolution of Coliving Insights 2.0.
With the Articles Module now available to Coliving Insights members, you can easily access and explore relevant articles from all our publications, including the thought leadership pieces from Coliving Insights No. 2. Our intuitive tagging system makes it easy to search for specific topics, such as operator case studies, PropTech advancements, or the future of intergenerational living. This growing digital resource empowers members to stay up-to-date with the most prominent industry developments and dive into key areas of interest, all while ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of the coliving market.
As the platform continues to expand, the information housed within Coliving Insights 2.0 will only become richer and more accurate, providing valuable knowledge to industry professionals, investors, operators, and innovators alike. Explore how you can join this growing platform as a member today.

We are pleased to announce the release of Coliving Insights No. 1 (Q1 2020), the first publication by Coliving Insights. This comprehensive 150+ page publication offers an in-depth exploration of coliving as an innovative housing solution, aimed at addressing the increasingly dynamic societal and environmental challenges we face today.
As our built environments evolve, so too must the ways in which we live and share space. This research delves into how coliving offers part of the answer by improving both the human experience and the sustainability of our living spaces. The study, conducted by a diverse team of industry experts, provides a unique bottom-up analysis of the coliving market, including a comparative look at 28 key operators globally.
The report covers the following essential areas:
Additionally, the report includes an Outlook on the future of coliving, forecasting how current models, consumer types, and urban environments will shape the next phases of coliving’s growth. The publication closes with a Benchmark Overview, providing a detailed study of the leading operators such as Hmlet, Node, The Collective, Zoku, B-Hive, Urban Campus, Outiste, and Coconat. Each operator is analysed in terms of model, positioning, locations, lease terms, pricing, amenities, and a SWOT analysis.
Update December 2024: How Coliving Insights 2.0 Continues to Evolve
Since the publication of Coliving Insights No. 1, much has evolved within the industry. While this report was a significant benchmark in analysing the early state of coliving, today, with the digital power of Coliving Insights 2.0, we are able to provide even more up-to-date, dynamic, and comprehensive resources. The detailed benchmarks and market insights featured in the first publication can now be integrated into our platform, allowing Coliving Insights members to access the most recent and relevant information on coliving projects, operators, and brands across the globe through the member-driven Showroom module.
Moving forward, Coliving Insights 2.0 offers a more comprehensive and searchable experience through our Articles Module, where you can find relevant articles from all our publications, easily organised with an intuitive tag system. This allows you to always find exactly what you're looking for—whether it’s about operator models, market trends, or emerging coliving solutions.
By joining the Coliving Insights platform, you gain access to an evolving knowledge base, and as more members engage, the richness and accuracy of this resource will continue to grow. Discover how to become a member and join a growing community of coliving & shared living professionals worldwide today.
Discover the newest job openings within the coliving & shared living industry and list your vacancies.
explore JOBS
Known for being the rule breakers in hospitality, TSH is a fun, creative and inspiring environment where everyone can work, stay, learn and play and most importantly – be themselves. As an employer we look, act and think like a hotel, but instead we offer a lot more. Think student accommodation, long and short stay options, gyms, talks, events, rooftop bar and eat & drink escapes as well as community and coworking spaces. Located in The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the UK, with several new openings on the way, this hybrid hospitality concept may take root in the heart of Europe, but our plans are set for going global.
Mason & Fifth is a London-based lifestyle brand that set out to reimagine how we can live well in the city, with flexibility at the heart.
Designing beautiful guesthouses, hotels and residences for people to stay, work, dine and train, all underpinned by flexibility, hospitality, wellbeing and community. Championing beautiful design that's rooted in sustainability, with everything you need taken care of. All our sites offer private ensuite studios, large communal areas and outdoor spaces, whether guests are staying for one night, or settling in for longer.
weVLC transforms undervalued properties in Valencia into high-quality, fully furnished homes designed for young professionals seeking more than just a place to stay — a place to truly feel at home. Through our private investment platform, we renovate spaces with thoughtful design, offer flexible living options, and carefully match people to live together, fostering vibrant, like-minded communities. Our goal is to make living in Valencia as easy and welcoming as the city itself.
Our mission is to bring hundreds of quality homes back to the market, improving housing supply while delivering strong, stable returns to our investors. With over €20M already invested and a roadmap to deploy €100M+, we are scaling fast — combining design, operations, and investment to shape the future of housing in one of Europe’s most amazing cities to live in: Valencia.
Stay connected with the latest industry events, from conferences to networking opportunities, all in one place.
explore EVENTSEXPO REAL is the most important trade fair for the real estate industry and therefore offers a fully comprehensive overview of developments, topics, innovations and solutions in the real estate industry. In this way, it provides the necessary orientation in a time of upheaval.
MIPIM is the world’s leading event for real estate professionals, bringing together decision-makers, investors, public authorities and industry innovators to co-create the future of cities and the built environment.Over five intensive days, MIPIM drives and accelerates the transformation of the property and urban landscape through:- High-value face-to-face networking- Conferences, panels, and keynotes with global thought leaders- Opportunities for project development, capital, and sustainable partnerships- A world-class exhibition of real estate and urban innovation
Step into the spotlight with the Showroom module, a platform designed to boost your market visibility and benchmark your projects for success in the shared living industry, helping you make informed decisions.


Experience the full power of Coliving Insights with access to premium features, including unrestricted access to available modules, profile customisation and more!
