Aleksandra Milošević Pantović
https://doi.org/10.60152/b35wlx7s
Abstract: Cohousing communities represent a distinct housing model that integrates private and shared living, with the aim of fostering daily interaction, mutual support, and a sense of belonging. This paper seeks to identify the characteristic spatial principles that enable the formation of community in everyday life, as well as their potential applicability in other urban contexts. Through an analysis of physical structure and spatial logic, the paper explores how architectural form can serve as an active agent of social cohesion. The case study focuses on the Marmalade Lane housing development in Cambridge (UK), with particular attention to spatial patterns that support a balance between individual space and communal life. Special emphasis is placed on the design of transitional zones, shared courtyards, informal gathering areas, and the organization of movement, examining how these elements enable spontaneous and unobtrusive social dynamics. The aim of the paper is to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of architectural design in creating sustainable and socially oriented housing models, and to offer a critical framework for rethinking contemporary practices of collective living.
Keywords: cohousing, architectural typology, social sustainability, community-oriented design, spatial patterns, collective housing
How to cite this Paper (Harvard referencing style):
Milošević Pantović, A. (2025) ‘The Architectural Language of Togetherness: Spatial Patterns in the Design of Cohousing Communities‘, in R. Bogdanović (ed.) On Architecture — Crosscutting and Fusion of Disciplines, Proceedings. Belgrade, Serbia: STRAND, pp. 307–313.
See publication On Architecture (2025) Conference Proceedings