Manifesto by Uwe Allgäuer
Purpose and goals
The main purpose of this project is to cater for wellbeing and enable people to live in a community environment. The vehicle that allows the above, is to build a self-sustaining community village1 with a strong emphasis on community, that offers private living quarters, as well as, community buildings to cater for a lively group of people who like to interact, flourish and grow together. The fun factor along with personal growth and business elevating events shall allow a long-term establishment for people and families alike. We invite people who seek to establish close bonds with likeminded entrepreneurs and people who prioritize personal development with a clear intention setting. You are welcome to join if you seek a permanent base, second home base, alternative place to live, investment option, owning shares of the project, or a rental option that you may want to use a couple of months a year. The common space will allow to host and organise community events, sports-, health-, and other activities that cater towards the wellbeing of the community and its members. To share, learn, develop, and strive is the motto that shall be the basis of the Community Village. We know from experience that the person and their environment mutually shape each other, thus creating the environment that supports and offers means for our wellbeing is what we want to achieve.
We want to address the challenges of the current way of living and bring outstanding individuals together to form a vibrant community that allows interactions that are otherwise not feasible. Instead of living detached and on one’s own, a community village can offer an environment that enables each member to grow in a community with the intention to elevate each other, and at the same time offers room for solitude and privacy. The growth potential is limitless. The scale of the community enables us to create shared facilities that you may not be able to have, or may not be able to afford otherwise. This will allow and enable its participants to pull the resources together in order to create access to higher end tools or environments, like establishing a Maker Space (a workshop with 3D printing, CNC mill, laser cutters and alike), a recording studio, recreational hall with sports equipment to support a healthy lifestyle, or additional benefits for its members. For instance, creator facilities and machines that will offer opportunities for creatives and makers to work and create your own furniture or other items in need.
Goal
The goal of this project is to plan, finance, and build a sustainable community village with houses that offer living space ranging between 80–120m² and a surrounding private garden in an active and moderated community compound with participants who are eager to interact within an active community. Building at scale has benefits such as:
a) Lower cost associated with comparable real estate (similar to a tiny house),
b) Low emission, self-sustaining and thus environmentally friendly housing;
c) A community space with a self-owned property;
d) Moving to a rural location with less restrictions and regulations.
Building a community house village is more sensible, as the economy of scale will lower the cost and effort for each unit drastically. The location of such a village is crucial. The economic and the political environment, travel friendliness, ease of living (fewer restrictions, more freedom), option to grow, are some important factors that we want to take into account.
Vision (how we achieve the purpose)
Using the principles of whole system design — which emulates the efficient structures and processes found in nature — we’re planning a flexible, resilient system that can adapt both to the broader environmental context and to the specific needs of our community members. A key aspect of this approach is our commitment to live in harmony with nature, drawing our water directly from the land and using a smart water management system for both fresh and waste water. This emphasis on eco-friendly living is not only environmentally responsible but also critical to our community’s autonomy. With energy costs on the rise, self-sufficiency becomes a crucial pillar for sustainability and resilience. As part of our autonomy strategy, we’ll be employing photovoltaic and thermal solar technologies to generate our own power and heat our water, thus reducing dependencies and long-term costs.
Our mission is to build a community-first housing village
By addressing current issues and solutions we also state the values of the project that will offer a community with aligned intention and values, and furthermore, housing and accommodation options for people who cherish the location independent lifestyle and who carry the entrepreneurial spirit of modern times. By allowing people to opt-out of current systems (Game A versus Game B, see details here) and participating in building and living new systems we free ourselves of old dogmas and enable us to live purposefully and self-reliant on a very basic level. This manifesto acts as a guideline and an inauguration paper to bring this idea closer to people who are new with the topic, and establishes a reference for planning and decision-making during the entire lifecycle of the project.
Community focused approach
Our philosophy centres around the concept that a supportive and connected community is vital for individual happiness and well-being. We place great importance on the coherence and unity of the group, drawing inspiration from instances where individuals or smaller groups have achieved extraordinary feats because of the empowering nature of the community they were part of. In an intentional community like ours, there’s an incredible potential to uplift and enable its members. We fully acknowledge the significance of social connections and aim to foster a sense of belonging for all residents. This shared community experience can significantly enhance life quality and foster positive mental health outcomes. Furthermore, our community serves as an incubator for collaboration and innovation, offering a nurturing environment for members to engage in new ventures.
Needs and well-being over profit
Our community-first approach is centered around the needs of our residents, rather than maximizing profit or personal gain. We prioritize the well-being of our community members above all else, and strive to create a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
We support collaboration
Mutual aid, cooperation, and collaboration are foundational principles of our community. We believe that by working together, we can achieve more than we can on our own. We encourage all residents to participate in community activities and to support each other in times of need.
We foster a sense of belonging
We believe that our community should be inclusive and welcoming to people from all walks of life. We celebrate diversity and recognize the value of different perspectives and experiences. We strive to create a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Regenerative approach
As a community, we recognize the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and economic issues. We are committed to promoting sustainability, environmental responsibility, and social justice in all aspects of our community. We strive to minimize our impact on the environment and to create a more just and equitable society.
Setting the right priorities
Access to affordable, high-quality housing is a basic human right. We believe that everyone should have access to safe, comfortable, and affordable housing, regardless of their income or background. We prioritize the needs of our residents above all else, and work to create housing options that are accessible and affordable to everyone.
Support for growth
We believe that personal and professional growth is essential for individual well-being and community development. We provide resources and support for our residents to pursue their goals and aspirations. We encourage lifelong learning and personal development, and strive to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential.
Open communication and transparency
We believe that open communication and transparency are essential for building trust and fostering a sense of community. We promote open and honest communication in all decision-making processes, and encourage residents to participate in community discussions and decision-making.
Maintaining a welcoming environment
Creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment is essential for community well-being. We strive to create a community where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. We work to create an environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.
Commitment to continuous improvement
As a community, we are committed to continuous improvement and evolution, in order to best serve the needs of our community. We recognize that our community is constantly changing, and that we must be flexible and adaptable in order to best serve the needs of our residents. We are committed to learning from our experiences, and to continuously improving our community for the benefit of all.
Intention setting
In our collective pursuit of community, we strive for a balance between diversity and coherence. Our community thrives when we accommodate a range of individuals, each bringing their unique contributions, thereby laying the foundations of a vibrant community. Elements such as belonging and active participation play critical roles. Full membership in a collective is achieved only when individuals partake in the creative processes that shape it. However, these aspects require careful guidance and nurturing, underscoring the importance of intentionality. A shared intention is a beacon that keeps us aligned and prevents us from veering off into potentially unhealthy directions.
Introduction to the project
Land and environment
We are seeking for a piece of land that offers a clean environment, good quality of air, quiet and in the rural areas of Bulgaria that are strategically located on the axis of the ancient trading and traveling routes. Accessibility to the airport and other facilities that will afford access to health care, shopping, and generally easy access for visitors and members alike. Certain areas are gifted with natural hot mineral water and thus offer the possibility to establish hot outside pools that are filled with the healing powers of the natural hot springs. A river or other water source should be available for an autarch living space. The quietness and accessibility to a forest or natural reserve park shall grant for an active lifestyle that the participants can enjoy to their liking.
Private and Community buildings
Prefabricated modular homes are the goto option in order to lower costs and to satisfy the demand in a timely manner. Suppliers with good history and high build quality, with good insulation for low maintenance costs, are key for sustainable and affordable living. This will also allow the owners to pick houses that suit their needs and offer an option of changes of the layout of their house.
Individual homes
Other than shared spaces, like many of the coliving spaces offer, we opt for individual housing options with separate collaborative and community spaces where people can meet, organize events, or hang out together.
Community spaces
Different buildings will allow to host community events, such as workshops, events, parties, or other fun activities. A maker space will allow production and fabrication of e.g. furniture, or allow users to create. Common space is crucial to allow for interactions such as meditation, sports, and healing. Spaces that allow spending meaningful time together. The idea is to allow participants to shift the mindset from consumer to producer, or cocreator.
Food and health aspects
The ultimate goal is to support an autonomous lifestyle where participants can grow their own food, or where a community garden will supply the entire community with fresh and organically grown food. Aspects like healthy food, autonomous and independent regenerative efforts shall benefit the community with a healthy, free, and independent lifestyle.
Financial aspects of the project
Prove of concept
The proof of concept (PoC) for our Intentional Community Cohousing Village hinges on two pivotal milestones. First, it requires the sale of at least fifteen units to innovators and early adopters who are committed to the cohousing lifestyle. Second, it entails securing upfront investment to purchase the land and engage initial contractors. Achieving these milestones not only validates the financial feasibility of the project, but also demonstrates the existence of a community ready to actively participate and invest in this sustainable vision.
A) Full Ownership
Participants are encouraged to buy and own their home.
B) Renting or part time use of accommodation
Renting homes as an alternative to own housing will be an option for participants who are not willing to buy, or who do not have the means to pay upfront. This will allow participants to use accommodation temporarily. They will have the chance to rent a place and therefore have the ability to check the community and find out if they like it or if they are a good fit.
C) Group purchase
If a group of friends want to buy an individual dwelling they can do so and therefore share the cost and use of the building.
D) Financing models
Together with investors we will be able to offer fair loans, rent to buy, or other financial models that help participants to finance their home within the community.
E) Affordable living space
Off grid environmentally friendly solutions shall be implemented. The houses shall be powered and heated by means of harvesting the sun. Photovoltaric, as well as, Thermo Solar shall deliver power and hot water to the houses within the compound. These measures shall assure an affordable living space with minimal ongoing costs.
F) Alternative financing options
We can investigate to adapt alternative options or a mix of different financing options. For instance we could allocate a certain number of units to participate in DAO’s and NFT’s, offer units in a rent-to-buy package, or sell units to people who have funds readily available.
Living within the community
Intentional Community centred (intention, purpose and value driven)
We set clear intentions for our community and align our values and purpose.
Benefits within the community
Economy of Scale and Affordability: Co-housing communities offer a smart economic choice due to the principle of economies of scale. As resources and responsibilities are shared among a larger group, individual costs decrease significantly. This extends to shared communal facilities, utilities, services, and maintenance tasks. Through pooling resources and shared responsibilities, co-housing provides a high quality of life at a more affordable price. It’s an appealing, cost-effective solution in today’s challenging housing market.
Makerspace: A well-equipped makerspace fosters creativity and innovation. It’s a place where residents can design, prototype, and manufacture projects using various tools and machinery. It can also serve as a learning hub where skills and knowledge are shared.
Woodworking or metal Workshop: A community workshop allows residents to build their own furniture, promoting self-sufficiency, creativity, and craftsmanship. Besides the practical output, woodworking is a satisfying, therapeutic hobby that enhances a sense of accomplishment.
Community Garden and Greenhouse: These spaces offer the opportunity to employ a gardener or for residents to grow our own food, promoting health, sustainability, and the joy of gardening. This also serves as a learning opportunity about organic farming and permaculture.
Outdoor Recreation Spaces: Green areas for sports and outdoor activities, such as a sports court, hiking trails, and open spaces for yoga and meditation, cater to physical health and relaxation.
Event Spaces: These areas can host a variety of community events, workshops, and celebrations, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging. They can be used for anything from concerts to art exhibitions to cultural festivals.
Art Studio: A dedicated space for the visual arts helps residents to explore and develop their creative skills, while also enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the community with local artworks.
Shared Workspace: A shared office or coworking space fosters collaboration and offers residents a quiet and productive space to work on their personal projects or remote work tasks.
Education Centre: A place for learning and development contributes to the personal growth of residents. It can offer a range of classes, from languages to technology to sustainable living practices.
Library/Book Exchange: A place to share books and other resources can stimulate intellectual growth and offer residents a quiet place to relax and read.
Health and Wellness Centre: Facilities for fitness, yoga, meditation, and other wellness activities help maintain physical health and promote stress reduction.
Animal Farm/Pet-Friendly Spaces: For those who love animals, having pet-friendly spaces and even a community farm with animals can bring much joy, teach responsibility, and offer therapeutic benefits.
Kids’ Zone: Spaces designed for children, such as a playground or kid-friendly creative spaces, cater to the needs of families with children, fostering early social interaction and active play.
Embrace the Sharing Economy: Shared assets such as cars, bikes, or tools can significantly reduce individual costs and encourage responsible resource use. By collectively investing in high-quality items that all members can utilize, the community fosters a sense of shared responsibility and cooperation.
Benefit from Shared Services and Skills: The exchange of services and skills within a cohousing community contributes to a vibrant and interdependent network. Members can offer services ranging from childcare to professional consultancy, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem that strengthens the community’s resilience and interpersonal bonds.
Utilize Collective Purchasing Power: Cohousing communities can leverage their collective purchasing power to achieve economies of scale. From bulk-buying groceries to negotiating contracts for communal services, collective purchases often lead to significant cost savings. This financial advantage of cohousing contributes to more affordable and sustainable living.
Visitor or short stay RV Parking Area: Designating a specific area for RV parking is a fantastic way to accommodate guests who are on the road or passing through. With the rise of van life and the digital nomad lifestyle, this can attract a variety of interesting and diverse visitors to your community. It’s also practical for residents who own RVs for travel or as a part of their lifestyle. Having a space to park and maintain these vehicles is beneficial.
Summer Camping Ground: A camping ground can serve as a more “back-to-nature” accommodation for visitors, and provide a fun activity for residents. This can range from simple tent sites to glamping-style accommodations with comfortable, pre-set-up tents or cabins. For instance, the community could host a camping area with picnic tables, fire pits, and access to facilities such as restrooms, showers, and a communal kitchen will make it an attractive option for visitors. It can be a quiet retreat where guests can immerse themselves in nature, and a fun place for community camping nights or outdoor events.
Barter over monetary exchange
To encourage a vivid community that will interactively use the talents from within, we want to introduce barter options that allow people to exchange goods, commodities, and talents they have to offer. We encourage barter models over monetary exchange. Like alternative currencies, we support participants to trade freely, exchange values and talents that will allow trading within the community in a fair and equal manner. This will ensure to keep the value within the community and to help and motivate each other to exchange work, goods and other tradable values.
Ownership over monthly rental and living fees
Real ownership over the premises will allow every community member to exit the hamster-wheel to create a meaningful way of living towards self-realisation.
Independence, Freedom & Self-Responsibility
Freedom and independence are core values that will be planned into the concept. The close-to-nature approach, as well as the self-sustaining and regenerative aspect shall help to create more freedom in a purposeful and self-responsible way.
Nature and surrounding (living with nature and in synchronicity with nature) Close to nature for the members of the community to enjoy the nature. And also, close to nature in the sense of ecologically friendly and self-sustainable.
Evolve with the community (events, workshops, gatherings, etc.) The ability of development as a platform or byproduct of community events and community space.
Introduction in the Game B theory
Status quo (Game A)
In short, Game A describes the current situation, our status quo, that we are immersed in right now. At this moment in time, we all buy into current systems, e.g. if we purchase a house, and that means we subsequently support and participate in Game A. Alternative approaches (such as ColivingDAO.io) are meant to unplug from Game A and invest into a future that is more sustainable and that is built on a regenerative approach. The question I wan to pose is: How can we create a housing community and build an environment that does not support current underlying systems, and is free, independent and affordable?
What does that really mean? It means when you buy a house you most likely borrow money from a bank. That mortgage needs then to be paid back in instalments over a period in time, typically around 30 years. The property is owned by the bank that gave you the money in the first place (as a collateral). If you fail to pay the debts in time you will loose the property in an instant. That system is quite elaborate and if you look from a birds eye view, you might understand consequences that are included in that example. For instance, if you have a mortgage to pay, you might not consider to change jobs frequently, or you might consider situations with more care. That might lead you to live a life with a lot of compromises, as the Damocles’ sword is dangling over your head constantly. I would even go that far and call this a kind of slavery.
We encourage to rethink and build new systems, even if they seem far fetched from our current views, but offer an alternative solution to current issues.
An alternative solution (Game B theory)
Alternative approaches are meant to unplug from Game A and invest into a future that is more sustainable and that is built on a regenerative approach. How can we create a housing community and build an environment that does not support current underlying systems, and is free, independent and affordable? See the interview with Rutt and Weinstein here and learn more about Game B theory.
We believe in forming an active community and co-create a conscience intentional global community for housing and living. We want to rethink and build new systems that are better suited and which benefit the users of such living places. ColivingDAO3 is an organization with future thinkers that offers a solution already. ReGen Villages by James Ehrlich is collaborating with a current project in the Netherlands. And there are more such examples that are currently in the pipe.
With all the input we have gathered so far, we are more excited than ever and we want to build a village with a vibrant community that exceeds the boundaries and allows us to afford, own, use and swap such amazing places freely.
Challenges
According to Mike New and fellow cocreators of such community places, there are three main concerns that make Ecovillages fail:
a) lack of professionalism
b) lack of funding and
c) toxic social dynamics (anti community).
To a): For lack of professionalism, for instance unwillingness to incorporate technology, business structure, or any kind of organizational principles into the village project, e.g. not having any structure or having a too flat organizational structure that may influence the long term aspect negatively and thus may not carry the project through.
We plan to create a corporate structure to lay the foundation of the project, enable participation, and fractional ownership.
To b): To tackle lack of funding or to avoid running out of funding, it is crucial to build-in the business structure into the foundation of the project.
There is a need to use Game A structure to create Game B. Funding and finances are structural parts of the project and will allow to build, sustain, and grow the project in the long run. With the skills and talents within our community we will be able to serve people outside of the community and generate income on the premises, e.g. by offering workshops, locally farmed, nutritious healthy food, and etc. The ability to sell products and sell services will help to generate income on the property. As funding is a crucial element to the long term success of such a project.
To focus on the main goal: the wellbeing of the community, we have to incorporate a solid sustainable regenerative serviced property based business model and that will prevent influence from outside or give away our right to maneuver independently.
To c): In terms of community, we have the means to build and sustain a community. The founders are equipped with the skills that this project needs and will allow to create and moderate a well balanced community. An aspect that we think is crucial is to have a group of elders and a committee that acts responsible and in the best interest of the community.
Conclusion
The Intentional Community Cohousing Village offers a fresh perspective on coliving, providing a haven for those seeking a sustainable, community-centered, and financially sound lifestyle. These villages are redefining the future of living spaces, nurturing not just homes, but also communities, lifestyles, and a sustainable future for generations to come.
FAQs
Q1: What is an Intentional Community Cohousing Village?
A: It’s a community designed to promote a sense of interdependence, connection with nature, and affordable, sustainable living. It offers various financing models, eco-friendly practices, and strong community connections.
Q2: How does a Cohousing Village promote financial freedom?
A: It offers various financing models such as full ownership, renting, group purchasing, and fair loans. This ensures each individual can find an affordable living space in the community.
Q3: What is the principle of Game B?
A: Game B represents a new paradigm that promotes a sustainable, interdependent, and regenerative approach to living. This is in contrast to Game A, which represents our current systems that often foster competition and individualism. See: https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/15-film-content/game-b/653-the-story-of-game-b-bret-weinstein-jim-rutt
Q4: How does an Intentional Community Cohousing Village ensure a healthy social environment?
A: The Cohousing Village emphasizes community building. It provides common spaces for social interactions, events, and workshops, and promotes a barter system for trading goods and services. This fosters a sense of belonging, cooperation, and mutual support among residents.
Q5: How does sustainable living fit into the concept of a Cohousing Village?
A: Sustainability is a cornerstone of the Cohousing Village concept. From the use of renewable energy technologies and eco-friendly modular homes to the promotion of organic gardening for food production, every aspect is designed to minimize environmental impact and promote a self-sustaining lifestyle.
- Mostly self sustaining (regenerative) with focus on wellbeing in an environmentally friendly and healthy way.↩
- https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/15-film-content/game-b/653-the-story-of-game-b-bret-weinstein-jim-rutt
- ↩https://colivingdao.io↩
- ↩https://www.effekt.dk/regenvillages/↩
Further reading
Medium Article about coliving from Uwe: https://medium.com/@uwethesailor/regenerative-villages-coliving-and-coworking-a8f04b82e720
About the author:
Uwe Allgäuer is an entrepreneurial spirit born and raised in the beautiful western part of Austria. His passion resides in the freedom and flexibility of a location-independent lifestyle, which allows him to build vibrant communities that thrive on shared experiences and collaborative creation. He has a special love for nurturing growth-minded individuals who, like him, are on a quest to create a meaningful life.
As the co-founder of Coworking Bansko, he had the privilege of building a thriving community from the ground up. This journey presented him with valuable lessons and insights that continue to enrich his entrepreneurial endeavours.
In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, he is deeply invested in personal development. His vision is to build a community that operates on a higher level of consciousness, embracing a holistic approach to life. He takes great pleasure in hosting events that provide fertile ground for individual and collective growth.
It’s not just people that he cares for, but also our environment. He advocates for sustainable practices and environmental mindfulness. His experience at the Mindvalley University in Tallinn only solidified this belief, as he met numerous like-minded individuals who were at a similar juncture in life, sharing his passion and interests.
His conviction is that our surroundings significantly impact our personal and professional growth. Being in the company of remarkable people is what fuels his drive to keep going and doing better. Together, let’s build an environment where we can thrive!
As a local host, together with other members from Mindvalley, he is currently focused on invigorating the Balkan group, a community he is proud to be part of. His goal is to transform it into an action-oriented group, more dynamic and hands-on, where they can host local Mindvalley events and foster their collective growth. Get in touch
