Dr Jennifer Duyne Barenstein, Breakout 2: Community-led models

The role of housing cooperatives in the provision of affordable housing in Zurich, Switzerland Annual Congress of ÂŤThe Academy of UrbanismÂť, Eindhoven 19-22.06.2019 Jennifer Duyne Barenstein, PhD |

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The context of Zurich: population § Population : 428’737 § 49.9% one- person households § 14.4 % two person househols § 13.7% households with children § 4% single parents with children § 32.3% foreign citizens Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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The context of Zurich: overall housing situation § Dwellings: 220,000 § Av. 1.9 inhabitants/dwelling) § 30,000 dwellings are owner-occupied (13.6%) § § § § § § § §

190 k rental housing of which: 72 k belong to private persons 42 k to businesses 39 k to cooperatives 14 k to the city 11 k to association and foundations 10 k to pension funds 2 k to other non-profit organisations Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Origin and evolution of housing cooperatives in Zurich § 1892: First housing cooperative emerges in a context of rapid industrialisation, acute housing shortages, poor housing conditions and excessive rents that threatened public health and social order § 1910: City approves low to support housing cooperatives through sale of land and provision of mortgages at very favourable conditions § 1914: First cooperative garden city with strong influence on housing cooperatives that follow § 1930-60: Rapid growth of housing cooperatives § 1960-90: Stagnation § 1990: Emergence of new generation of housing cooperatives in response to acute housing shortage (vacancy rate of rental apt: 0.08%) Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Current role of housing cooperatives § Total number in Switzerland: approx. 2000 § Total number of dwellings owned by HC in Switzerland: 185’000 (5%) § Average size: 90 dwellings (ranging from over 5000 to only 3 units) § 38% of the housing cooperatives are in the canton of Zurich and 23% in Zurich city § 26% of the housing stock in Zurich is nonprofit of which 19% owned by cooperatives § City committed to increase non-profit housing stock to 33% by 2030 à Revival of HC

Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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What is special about housing cooperatives in Switzerland? § Affordable non-commodifiable housing § HC are not social housing and are inhabited by mixed communities § Commitment to the mixed and cohesive communities § Architectural innovation and high quality housing § contribution to the development of entire neighbourhoods § commitment to the creation of socio-demographic mixed communities § promotion of sustainable lifestyles § Participation § Activism and strong political influence Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Affordable rents ยง Housing cooperative apply a cost-rent ยง In most cases inhabited by their members ยง Rents in average 20-30% lower than similar housing offered in the market ยง Rents remain stable ยง Difference between rents offered by housing cooperatives and the market increase over time | 31 July 2019 | Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Provision of non-commodifiable housing § HC withdraw land and housing from speculation § Many housing cooperatives obtain land on lease from municipality § To benefit from public support (access to land and loans) they have to adhere to the “Charter of non-profit housing providers” which ensures a durable commitment to its values and principles.

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Active promotion of participation ยง Participation in decision making starts already at the planning stage ยง All cooperative inhabitants are members and have the right to participate in decision-making ยง Cooperatives apply the one member-one vote principle ยง Indoor and outdoor communal spaces are used for collective activities ยง Cooperative members can participate in community life through working groups

Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Commitment to the creation of mixed and cohesive communities ยง Many cooperatives have strict rules to ensure a good social mix that reflects the demographic structure of the city or neighbourhood ยง Some cooperatives reserve a quota of apartments for socially disadvantaged groups (e.g. migrants, single parents, etc.) ยง Collaboration with various association and municipality to provide housing to people with special needs or challenges ยง Solidarity fund to support residents in difficulty Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Architectural innovation ยง HC have historically been innovative and committed to high quality housing ยง Much importance given to communal indoor and outdoor spaces and services ยง HC are responding to changing household compositions and lifestyles through a wider range of housing options (from small cluster apartments to very large apartments for cohousing) ยง To benefit from government support to adhere to high environmental standards and architectural competition Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Contribution to the development of high quality neighbourhoods ยง HC are committed to contribute to the development of liveable neighbourhoods ยง HC create space for services (e.g. pre-school facilities, cinema, restaurants, community centres. medical services, etc) for the entire neighbourhood ยง HC are influential partners in urban development

Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Promotion of sustainable lifestyles ยง Energy efficient constructions and renovations ยง Commitment to low-carbon lifestyles ยง Only allow 32 m2 private space per person ยง Compensated by wide range of communal spaces ยง No private ownership of cars allowed in several HC Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Example: The “Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich” (ABZ) § Largest housing cooperative in Zurich; contributed to the development of entire quarters § Founded in 1916 by a group of workers, today counts 8234 members § Houses over 12,000 people § Strong commitment to sustainability and social inclusion § Very low rents in older housing stock § 177 members participate actively in various commissions § Collectively owns 73 buildings with a total of 4912 apartments of which 425 completed recently § Strong collaboration with other HC § Runs a solidary to fund for its members and is engaged in international cooperation Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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ABZ

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Example: The Kalkbreite § Founded in 2007 is one of the most prominent and innovative new generation HC § Participatory planning process § Owns residential and commercial building with 97 apartments of various types § Created a pulsating neighbourhood in a formerly desolate quarter. § Strong commitment to social inclusion and sustainability § One of the only five in Switzerland certified as ”2000 Watt site in operation” Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Example: HC “mehr als wohnen” § Established in 2007 by 50 well-established HC § Entire quarter with 13 buildings built on 40’000 m2 land in lease from city, § 370 Apartments, 1215 inhabitants § Participatory planning process involving citizens, HC members and a team of 5 architects § Innovative experimental architecture (cluster apartments v. large apartments for co-housing § Committed to social inclusion, participation and sustainability (2000 Watt certification) § Collaboration with foundations to include socially disadvantaged people § Promotes co-housing and co-working § High number and variety of communal spaces, 40 commons groups § World Habitat Award 2017 Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein

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Key lessons: is the Zurich model replicable? § Many key features of the Zurich HC (e.g. provision of affordable housing and neighbourhoods) evolved in a specific historic and political context and depend on the conditional political support from the national and municipal government and related regulatory frameworks § Thousands of people visit HC in Zurich each year, in particular the «young» ones; Some of their characteristics can inspire developers and be replicated or adapted in different contexts |

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Thank you for your attention!

Jennifer Duyne Barenstein, PhD duyne@arch.ethz.ch

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