As evident by the term itself, co-living is a form of housing trend based on living space shared by two or more residents, who may not necessarily be biologically related, friends or peers working together.
Co-living Spaces and Tales from the Past
The very concept of co-living is often mistaken as a creation of the modern age, which may not be true. If you take a look at history, you’d come across many ancient forms of co-living spaces that had been introduced and used for thousands of years before modern construction practices even exist. From the pre-historic time of hunter-gatherers to the middle ages, world wars, and industrial revolution, the trend of shared living may have changed forms throughout history but given its useful characteristics, it was never abandoned.
The modern form of co-living came into existence in the 19th and 20th centuries. Boarding houses in the US, tenements in the UK, and Chawls in South Asia; different types of shared housing settlements sprung up around the world. Also, in some Central Asian and Middle Eastern regions, people have been a part of co-living communities founded to look after agricultural land since the early 1900s.
Salient Features of Co-Living
A lot of people wonder whether co-living would work for them or not. Keeping in view the rising cost and time-consuming procedures of home hunting, the concept of co-living is becoming more and more common and acceptable. It is now a popular alternative to many different types of conventional housing trends. Shared living spaces allow people to save money and build more connected communities.
Here are some of the key benefits of co-living to consider:
Affordability
One of the major reasons behind the ballooning popularity of co-living spaces is that they are affordable. Considering the soaring price trends, property rent usually makes a large chunk of the monthly expenses of an average salaried person these days. This is why co-living spaces are now being widely chosen by people who are working professionals and looking to save some money on accommodation.
Also, when opting to reside in a co-living space, people don’t have to worry about spending a fortune on furniture because, in most cases, they get a fully-furnished accommodation with all the basic amenities for a dime a dozen.
Active Social Lifestyle
In today’s world, the routine of a working professional or a student is tougher than ever before. Amid these strict time schedules, it is almost impossible for adults to make new friends and socialise, especially when they move to a new place or city.
Living in separate accommodations, it is also hard for people to get to know each other, whereas co-living spaces are centered around built-in communities. With shared meals, movie nights, and long chit-chats about each other’s days, a co-living space would be more than just a home for people who are more comfortable with socialising and spending a communally active lifestyle.
Flexibility
Living in this digital world, a lot of people follow flexible working hours and work remotely. There are also many freelancing professionals, often referred to as the digital nomads, who live independently and like to move from time to time as they can work from anywhere and don’t actually follow 9 to 5 office routines.
Co-living spaces could be an ideal choice for people who prefer flexibility. They are offered on both short terms and long-term contracts. Such accommodations are usually fully furnished, which means moving from one shared living complex to another would not cause you much trouble.
Therefore, it is indeed a highly practical alternative to the traditional housing system, especially for professionals who are location-independent and involved in remote jobs.
Safer Living Environments
Living in built-in communities is actually safer than living in independent properties. You’d always have people to look out for you. Other than offering high-end communal settings, modern-day co-living complexes are also equipped with reliable security arrangements like CCTV surveillance and gated entrances to ensure the safety of the residents.
Communal Living and Sustainable Development
Many of the major cities across the world are now facing the menace of overcrowding and urban land shortage. To counter such problems, the authorities governing such heavily populated metropolitan areas are shifting their focus toward sustainable development strategies and practices.
Revamping the urban fabric of a city with sustainable infrastructure and skyward development is all about making it less polluted and more pedestrian-friendly. In a place where urban land resources are already scarce, co-living complexes could be the best way to overcome housing problems.
Is Pakistan also Adapting to the Co-living Culture?
Like other countries, the urban centres across Pakistan have also become densely populated in recent years and co-living spaces could be a feasible solution to the ever-increasing housing shortage in the country. A few small-scale startups have introduced co-living culture in the country’s largest city, Karachi.
MyGhar (My Home) is a noteworthy example in this regard. This startup has multiple living complexes across Karachi that offer shared and separate accommodations at highly affordable rates, primarily designed for students and working professionals. They are equipped with WiFi services, fully furnished living spaces, common kitchens, and lounging areas among other amenities.
This could be the very beginning of the trend of shared living spaces in Pakistan. As the culture of freelancing and co-working spaces is rapidly expanding in the country, the trend of co-living spaces is also expected to gain popularity in years to come.
There you have it — a comprehensive guide on the concept of co-living spaces and their feasibility in the smart and sustainable future of the cities we live in.
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