| Austrias first CoHousing-Project, the eco-settlement „Lebensraum“ is situated in an agricultural area north-east from Vienna. Intended common activities: mutual baby sitting, common meals, growing your own vegetables, work parties, bulk-purchasing, sharing of resources and equipment as well as singing, dancing and celebrating. We have democratic structure, take decisions on a majority-basis and jointly ensure maintenance of the settlement. As in other CoHousing-communities, there is no shared community income.
Lebensraum (living space) consists of 32 clustered homes, each with private terrace and small garden. There are vast common facilites like kitchen, dining room, laundry, children playing grounds, large pedestrian meeting areas. In the next step we plan a health food shop with café, offices and ateliers. The settlement is car-free, a fine place for children because of secure and safe surroundings and lots of green space. The building is ecologically constructed in passive house standard, equipped with alternative energy sources, effective water management and use of land due to higher-density sustainable development which ensures extremely low energy costs.
Part of the construction was finished and occupied in winter 2004/5 the whole building was finished and inaugurated in June 2005. Our residents are people of all ages and a wide variety of talents, interests and professions. We aim at pro-environmental behavior and interaction with other communities. We hope that the “living space” will prove to be a place to feel at home. Status: completed | |
Population Child Members: 32 (further childbirths expected) Open to new adults: Yes (further appartments planned in a couple of years) Open to new children: Yes (further appartments planned in a couple of years) Gender Balance: 35% M 65% F Open to which gender(s): All genders welcome | Government Decision Making: By majority rule (We have agreed on a 75% majority, in financial questions we shall try to achieve consensus.) Identified Leader: No (No identified leader) Leadership Core Group: Yes (We have a management committee and different work groups, we are still experimenting what works best.) | Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: No Labor Contribution: Expected (we have a list of tasks (maintaining and cleaning) things to be done and people chose their tasks. Community workdays 2-3 times a year) Join Fee: Yes (Members have to purchase their share of the ground.) Regular Fees: Yes (There is a small annual membership fee for each adult.) | Land and Buildings Small Town (We are on the outside of a small town (Gaenserndorf) and 20 km away from Vienna. Surrounded by fields, small houses and wood.) Area: 4.2 acres (1.7 hectares) (17,000 square meters) Land Owned By: Individual community member(s) (every member buys each share of land.) Number of Residences: 32 (There are appartments (small ones with ground floor, largers ones with a first floor). Each with private garden and terrace.) | Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 1-5% (Most people work outside, but some like to grow their own vegetables. Very helpful: our very neighbour is an organic farmer with a big varienty of excellent vegetables and herbs.) Share Community Meals: 2-5 times/week Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual (We cook mostly vegetarian in the common kitchen.) Dietary Practice: Primarily vegetarian Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Seldom used (Common house and common grounds are non-smoking areas) | Social Factors Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members: Yes Restrictions on Romantic Relationships (between consenting adults): No (Romantic connections are considered entirely personal.) Shared Spiritual Path: No Which Spiritual Path(s): Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions) Educational Style(s): Public schooled | |
