Contents
Introduction
Persona
People of Exploration P.10
What is co-living? P.4 Social Interaction & Spatial Need P.12
Design Proposal
Mapping: Urban Lifestyle Urban Lifestyle 1
A Flexible Home
A Guide to the Night
P.14
Life in Taipei P.18
Urban Lifestyle 2 Practice to Build a Home P.16
Places Suitable to Live for Longer Period P.20
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
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wit o t e ting for
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to ffor
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"Once the working life begins, it is not hard to find that renting a house might be more realistic than buying one. After all, no one wants to be bound by big mortgage in the rest of their lives."
Unbearable house price for common people In Taiwan, the value of a person might not worth a house. The growing rate of youth income has only grown for 20 percent and most of the youths are struggling with low salary around thirty thousand NTD per month. However, the total cost of a house has soared nearly four million dollars, the soaring margin of which has reached 54.1 percent and the house price to income ratio had climbed 178 percent. In 2019, the house price to income ratio has reached 8.66, meaning that after deducting the basic living cost, an office worker with average salary has to spend 30 percent of the rest salary for mortgage, demanding at least 27 years to buy a common house.
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Buying a house has become a delusion, what about renting one? Living in a society where the house price keeps souring year after year, people can only view buying a house as an unreachable dream. People have no choice but to rent house, hoping to find a temporary shelter to avoid the rain and storms outside. Nevertheless, following the elevating house price, the rent price has also inflated. Under the pressure of high rent and low income, it is really hard for common people to rent a qualified but affordable single studio or room. Many people can only live in the rooftop which is humid, narrow and provides low quality. Many rooms are just like stocking rooms, surrounded by gambling sounds, unbearable noise and even bad neighbors interrupting your life and space. All these problems make people who rent houses feel constrained like a prisoner.
wit o t e ting
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to ffor
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Introduction
What is Co-living? *normal ratio of house price to income in developed country is between 1.8~3.5
By
Hung Hao-Lun
n gr n T i ei re ever eo e t ere one rent o e
ver ge o e ri e in T i ei NT
renter o
tion
eo e
i ion m r et v
e
Alternative imagination of living Escaping from the inferior living quality becomes the goal of the youths. Compare to small studio, renting an apartment has been considered as a more practical way for living. Apartments offer wider and more comfortable space as well as well-equipped kitchen. Roommates in the apartment can share the rent, take care of the environment and accompany each other while one is lonely. Though it is possible that a little more rent has to be paid for the entire space, living in the apartment does give people security one can't have when living alone and offers a certain living quality even if you are under money pressure. Since the concept of sharing economy has been more popular recently, people start to rethink about the value of apartment life, hoping it is a way to raise peoples' living condition.
comparison between average cost of different room type and average space
e r
distribution graph of co-living space in Taipei
Co-living is a concept that exists in modern society. It emphasizes not only apartment's layout but the interaction between apartment members' interests and life experiences. Under this concept, people expect to build a highly cooperative social network within the apartment.
People's ideal scene of coliving As a new option for the renting group, co-living apartment and coliving becomes popular searching
Co-living searching trend and founding time of Taiwan co-living brand
key terms—more and more people are paying attention on this subject. Many co-living reality shows also emerge because of the trend. The concept of Coliving aims to solve peoples' living issue, but what kind of experience do people expect to gain in the co-living apartment and what
ideal co-living service and experience for renting group feel like home entering publice space
cleaning service for public space
new roommate welcoming party
borrow non-daily used of appliances
meet roommate with same interests
online co-living app service
learn about other roommate's activity
sharing home tasks and necessities
hope to meet new friends in co-living space
fully functional furniture and enough space great sound insulation
sufficient storage
cleaning service for public space
well equipped kitchen
pictures do they see when talking about co-living? According to two-hundred surveys given out randomly by the co-living brand "9floor", we investigate these peoples' needs in co-living, discovering that functional furniture with good condition and enough space for storage are what almost everyone needs. The aspiration that people want to move in the house immediately with only few of their own stuffs explains that they are unsatisfied with the ant-like living condition, expecting the way of co-living can be the solution. Beside peoples' consideration on hardware of the house, the ratio of positive responds to the item "feeling like back home once entering the co-living space" has reached 85 percent, showing
that people indeed are eager to social lives. In this cold real world, people need a warm and happy community which can be a harbor for the lost people to rest in or a playground where you can party with your intimate friends. People are looking for apartment members that can not only help sharing economic burden, but also fighting for lives together.
to the limited income and aspiring to meet new friends with same interests and to experience a more exciting life. Freelancers also plays a crucial role in the co-living life. Their flexibility of time does bring others some stimulations to try different lifestyles. Most of the members age between 25 to 32. While some of these young adults may want to experience some more craziness before their stable family lives, other lonely single youths are longing to find a sense of belonging in the group life. Despite the average age, a certain degree of middle ages is still willing to move in. Of course, it is not young peoples’ privilege to experience a different life. Different life experiences can also bring more diversities for the coliving members.
The actual circumstances of co-living After introducing people's imagination of co-living, let's unveil the co-living life by knowing the members of "9floor" co-living apartment. In terms of occupation, most of the members have stable jobs. The gathering of these members can be attributed to the following two reasons: hoping to find a less expensive choice due
people combination of 9floor co-living apartment
ratio of long/ short term renting
occupational composition
6 months
regular worker
1-3- months
academic
- months 4-5
freelancer unemployed other self-employed
gender
age
female
age- 25-32
male
age- 15-24 age 33 or more
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
Introduction Reclaim Your Own Living Pace Through Co-living When we asked about peoples' initial intention about co-living, apart from budget and space, the most frequently mentioned answer is "Lifestyle". People move into the co-living apartment with a dream, expecting to realize the lifestyle that they have always wanted to try. Due to the limited renting choices in the past, most of the people had to live in the prison-like studio, where the furniture layout was already decided by the landlord. Though we all had our own uniqueness, we were forced to compromise and live standardly only to meet the basic needs. However, the emergence of Co-living apartment gives people a new possibility, in which you can reclaim your own living pace. As people truly have a life in their living place, houses then becomes not only commodities, but a harbor where you can rest in. To descript more clearly about the lifestyle that co-liver pursuit, we take "discover", "resilience" and "sense of belonging" these three subjects as this zine's main structure, leading readers to understand the coliving scene under these terms and ponder again whether they have the same quest of life.
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
Christian
"Since I won't stay in Taiwan for too long, I want to spend more time with the people
C ri ti n ome from t te of
here. The best way to join a community
ington
n
n n i
when moving to a new place is living with
t
others."
gro n
T iw n niver it t
——Christian
in
i He i goo
n g it r n mo nt in
How do you describe your recent life?
I think this period of time is an experimental phase I challenge myself. I used to live in home and never tried living outside. However, after time passes, I found that there are many things that I hadn't tried and my life seemed to be restricted by others. I want to observe how other people live their lives and search for the lives I want in the future in this half year.
Persona People of Exploration
e
Q2
Any Interesting co-living experience?
Since now I am a freelance, I can organize my day freely. An experience that really impresses me was that I worked as a mover with my roommates on a very idle day. I haven't done anything like this before and I am able to experience all these cool stuffs during this blank period of time that I gave to myself.
Q3
o n t
noeing
i e ogging n
im ing
What is your opinion of your social mode during coliving?
There are many new chances to interact with others during coliving. I once met a Hong Kong girl that really liked traveling. However, you might meet many confrontations at the same time— no matter it comes from culture or value. As roommates come and go, life is consistently changing. It is necessary to adjust the way you interact with people.
Guan-Rong n- ong t
ie in
e ign in niver it
What do exploring type of people really care about? What do they learn from the co-living experience in the city? From the perspective of freelancer, artist and students, let's see what their requirements and opinions of co-living are about.
n to
w in t e f t re He
ive in t te of Co or ng
Q1
Now
ing C ine e in N tion
i
n rti t fo
to i in
ome
tri
n now
ing on t e t e e
o i ng T i
t
e
ng n
T i ei for ome mo nt of time Her o eo e
i i tening to ot er tor
new t ing
we
tr ing
Q1
What does co-living means to you?
Close, active and simple. Since you have to stay with these people all the time and once you are the party holder in the apartment, of course you will be active. But even it appears to be like home, deep down you still know that you will not stay here forever.
Q2
Why did you choose the coliving life after coming to Taiwan?
I won't live with strangers in America mostly because of the security problem and partly because we worship individualism, which makes us very picky on our roommates. But I have lived with different people in the same room since young. Furthermore, I found people here very polite when I arrived. As a result, I naturedly think that it is a possible option.
Q3
How do you usually form your own community?
The first thing is to open yourself and step out. At first my friend's classmates were good at holding parties and when he left, I decided to inherit his will. As you start doing this, you will know more and more people and then become the guy that hold activities. As time passes, people will come and ask, "Hey, are we having a party this week."
"As roomates come and go, life is consistently
Tsai Yu-wen
changing. It is necessary to adjust the way you interact with people."
T
i
een wor ing
for
on e wor ing in tr
ing n
m n f
tr
t ring in
vi ite
ietn m M
Mongo i
t n
g ri C
——Tsai Yu-wen
o r
ong time n w
r
i n
e
nite
"Libraries are where I can know more about
e nm r
Taipei. Since every library has its own topic such
om ni i of
ing om
as art or photography, I will go to different ones
e
to borrow books and learn more about Taipei."
ove tr ve ing n i intere te in it to ring re ent
——Guan-Rong
Q1
Which place will you go buy materials?
Sometimes I will go to local market to buy things for the sake of field research. I will purposely ask local residents, “Which vendor should I go if I want to sew this cloth?”. By asking their preference, I can discover some local stories.
Q2
Will you hit it off with locals or is there a clear boundary when gathering stories?
Most of the time I chat with them during their break time or meal time, trying to interact with them during their free time. But sometimes I also visit them while they are at work. For example, I once visited an old woman making pastry and listened to her stories. These stories might not be used in my work but do help me understand more about them.
Q3
Which place do you usually visit in Taipei?
Libraries. Libraries are where I can know more about Taipei. Since every library has different topics such as art or photography, I will go to different libraries to borrow books and learn more details about Taipei.
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
old friend
roommate
family m fro nt rta po im
resisdent
le op pe
working partner
s er ng ra st to
local worker
artist high frequency interactive person
Persona Social Interaction
normal frequency interactive person non-daily connection
To realize the vision of community innovation, field workers first have to make a good relationship with the locals. They visit neighbors' houses every day, chatting and drinking tea with them; sometimes they hide besides and observe these peoples' working situation and the interaction. On holidays, they visit local museums, meet other artists and share their inspiration on creating. Speaking of roommates, they almost have lunch every day. During lunch time, they enjoy the characteristic local food and exchange their opinions of Taiwan. It is already late night when they finish their work and arrive home but they still chit chat and complain their for a bit before they each go to rest.
Large table for multi-user
#being good friends with neighbors #Field-Immersed Interaction #The community of local worker
front desk/bar
It's unpredictable what will be brought
To create an interface for community
back to work next time. It might be a
interaction, the front desk and the bar
collage of 100 photos, soil samples, or
could provide different functions at
five interviewees. In short, a large table
different times. Also used as a check-
would make the tasks easier.
in point for activites or a snack area during non-activity periods.
Persona Spatial Needs To make community residents willing to come, field workers put many efforts on the arrangement of the public space. There is a projection screen at the end of the living room. In front of it is a big long table with chairs sitting neatly in a row. Pieces of worker's art works are hung on the white wall around. There are baking machines, induction cooker and all kinds of equipment in the kitchen for people to utilize during community reunion dinner. Private place is the studio for field workers to organize their research files. It is more cozy but also tidy and clean. Two big bookshelves are placed in the corner, storing files and books for reference.
# research documents collection / creation materials' source #open space as a platform for interaction #exhibition space and inter-industrial opinion exchange
painting display wall
There must be activites to create interaction. The display wall is a catalyst between the fieldworker and the community. It can gather the community, and the activities that residents participate in can also become part of the display forming a positive cycle
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
Design Proposal: A flexible Home
Adjustable Time and Flexible Circumstances
Big sofa
Balcony as extened living room
A big sofa is the soul of a home. When friends come and visit, they can lay on the sofa and watch movies or chat with each other.
As you open the French window, the balcony merges with the living room and becomes a bigger space.
Furniture with multiple functions You can assemble several working tables into a big long table as a preparation place for events.
Scenario 1
Heartwarming Home Theater
Co-living life gives people with different life mode a chance to live together. Imagine an office worker living with a person with nomadic lifestyle in the same house; different lifestyles may surprisingly match with each other.
When office worker go out for work, they can leave the house work for nomadic worker so that their free time can be fully utilized. Nomadic worker can instead experience the lifestyle of local people, meet new friends and enjoy the flexible and tidy working environment.
resting spot for couchsurfing
sleep
Wow! You place is big enough for party!
We're running out of alcohol. Should we go get some from the store?
Is it nearly ten years since we last met?
flexible sharing working space
wake up, have breakfast
leave home, commute work
heartwarming home theater
home activities half-settled type
nomadic worker type sleep
wake up, have breakfast, work from home
half-settled type
free time
nomadic worker type
Office worker leaving home for work on time As the office worker leaves home for work on time, the entire place can be used by nomadic roommates.
The staggered time
Roommate's flexible role Nomadic worker can be the role like housekeeper. When something need to be fixed or packages need to be received personally, they can help.
Full utilization of the balcony
Roommates are still asleep, enjoying the benefits of flexible lifestyle.
Scenario 2
French window can be used to divide the balcony and the conference room.
Couch surfer-friendly When friends come from some further places, they can sleep right on the sofa and don't need to worry about the time.
Organic space Dining table can be the working table.
Flexible Sharing Wokring Space
Let's check the schedule again next week...
Could you help me get the package delivery today?
Scenario 3
A Resting Spot for Couchsurfing
I stay too late today. Fortunately I can sleep at the living room.
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
Design Proposal: Practice to Build a Home
A customized home creating belongingness
Explain the regulations Senior roommates can explain the regulation of the apartment to the new one and show them the environment around.
Individualized room A new tenant can decorate the house with his or her important small things to create a home-like feeling.
Even renting a house outside, we can still try to build our own home. Can you imagine that furniture is not decided by the landlord but chosen by ourselves according to our taste and habit? Is it possible that we can actually get along with roommates without relying on cold regulations and even become friends who can celebrate holidays together? We have a chance to merge into the city instead of being a passenger. Co-living apartment is the starting point of new lives and also a way to build a home. The new tenants moving into a new apartment can be unfamiliar with the city. Since that, a half-settled roommate can be an important guide to demonstrate the city. After they accompany each other for some time, they may become each other's partner. Gradually, the new tenant may become a half-settled roommate and find out his or her unique lifestyle. When the previous half-settled move out to seek for another goal, the people who stay then take over the guide role and are responsible to welcome the new tenants.
I'm so excited for exchanging gifts!
half-settled type
new city resident type
new o roomm te e -in ttern
e rN
f- ett e t new it re i
e rN n
move get m rrie
e ent t
rrer tr n ition
e
f- ett e t new it re i
e ent t
e
We need everyone to keep public area clean together!
We need more furniture for storage. Oh! And also a bean bag...
Celebrate holidays together Senior and new roommates can create Christmas atmosphere together. While enjoying hot pot and chatting, they can feel the warmth of the home.
Intelligent customization When you move in, there is no arranged furniture. Tenants can use app to select the furniture they like online and create a home which corresponds to one’s taste and habit.
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
Mapping: Urban Lifestyle Urban Lifestyle 1
A Guide to the Night Life in Taipei Flexible life means that you don 't need to worry whether you have to clock in at 9 during work days. Your own life is under your own control: once you are tired, you can just go somewhere and have fun. In this case, some night entertainments in Taipei are the best option for people to release their pressure and gather with
By analyzing Google map's data, we find out some places where most people love visiting such as bars, izakaya, barbecue shops and pub. These places can represent the up roaring and exciting night scene of this city that doesn't sleep.
friends. Meanwhile it is also a good opportunity to meet new working partners.
Eccentric Night Wonderland for Youths and Tourists Ximending Behind Ximen red house exists several open-air bars attracting people of all kinds. Since many large KTVs are located in Ximen, young people would love going there and sing for the whole night.
sparse
dense Nightlife Spot
The Late Night Scene of Japanese Izakaya Zhongshan, Shuanglian These areas have inherited the culture from Japanese ruled era. There are many middle and high class izakayas here, the Japanese neon signs of which flicker in the night of Zhongshan.
Fuxing, Dunhua, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Xinyi High class bistros are located along MRT blue line and around city hall. There are many night clubs and DJ events in this area so you can always see trendy people lining up to enter in the middle of the night.
East District's Night Map A City with Unstopping Party
Xinyi Anhe and Liuzhang Li Close to central business district such as Taipei 101 and Taipei world trade center, making them suitable spots for white collars to hang out after work. There are many luxurious but low key bars hiding in the streets and alleys in this area.
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
Mapping: Urban Lifestyle Urban Lifestyle 2
Places Suitable to Live for Longer Period
Small space community
It is hard to rent a house with an expectation to stay long. First, it is hard to find friends that will not have conflicts. Second, Even the house renting market is big, it's hard to find an entire renting apartment suitable to live in. This makes us wonder which area of Taipei is suitable for living?
Zhongshan, Shuanglian, Zhongshan elementary school and Xingtian Temple These are old Taipei communities where you can hear the airplane sound. They offer complete live function and owns history and culture. They are also close to old business buildings on Nanjing east road, Minsheng east road and Minquan east road. It is convenient if you are heading to these places.
We use the data of 591 house renting network to draw out a map which shows where entire renting apartment are distributed. We also use the supermarket data of google map to distinguish which area offers a better living quality. Through the analyses, we figure out which area is easier to find a suitable apartment and which neighborhood offers a better living quality for a long period stay.
Old Taipei market community Guting, Dongmen These areas are young peoples’ prior choice when finding entire renting apartment. The location is convenient and there are markets and different kinds of restaurant around. Compared with central business area, the rent price here is rather affordable.
Multifunctional areas without more renting houses Wanhua district The second low average rent price area in Taipei. There are traditional markets and traditional stores in this place but also this area is very deficient in houses.
Nanjing Sanmin, Minsheng Community This place has its own style because it is separated from other areas by Taipei Airplane factory. It is a little bit inconvenient to go to Taipei city hall and the east district by MRT but these places are close if you take the bus or ride a motorbike.
Sonshang, Nangang area
Yongchun, Houshanpi These two areas are not as convenient as Guting and Dongmen but are close to the east district. You can go to work place and entertaining places from these areas easily. There are supermarkets, traditional markets and sport centers here. The living environment is really good.
Border living area surrounding business center Xinyi Anhe, Liuzhangli, Wuxing Street and Xinhai The average rent price here is lower than the price in administrative area. It is harder to arrive these places by MRT but it is convenient re
to go to business area by motorbike or bike. These places offer good living functions and the commodity price here is cheaper than the price in business center.
en e ome ti renting o re
Home for Tomorrow: New Co-Living Movement
erm r et