Illustration Cohousing community illustrating greenspace preservation, tightly clustered housing, and parking on periphery. (Sunward Cohousing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2003)
Contact us
Fife fundraising beach party weekend pictures
AGM minutes
Chairs annual report 2006
Minutes of general meeting
Joseph Rowntree Foundation Literature Review
Conference supports cohousing concept "Vivarium is a fantastic project"
Vivarium's sensible and practical idea is to create affordable, self managed, cohousing projects for older people which combine the autonomy and privacy of the individual household with the mutual support offered through community living.
Vivarium is for people who choose to live in a positive, co-operative and responsible manner with family, friends, neighbours and the environment.
1. Why and When?
Recent
research shows that housing options for older people are limited and do not meet
the needs of a population who are increasingly active, and who are seeking to
retain their full cognitive faculties for as long as possible whilst wishing to
enjoy a sense of dignity and self worth.
It is against this backdrop that Vivarium was born.
2. Who is this for?
The pilot project will be for older people who recognise the difficulties of living in rural areas. These are people who will choose to live in a co-operative fashion and continue to contribute in a meaningful way to society. Vivarium members hope to remain active and involved in life for as long as possible, not simply to be provided for and be dependent upon health care support mechanisms.
Vivarium membership groups will be self managing and members will be involved in the decision making process throughout.
Vivarium members will have a desire to live in a co-operative manner, sharing resources thus going someway to alleviating problems of food and fuel poverty.
Communal areas are integral to the concept of cohousing, providing areas where residents can meet and feel part of the community.
This concept can be applied inter- generationally and to any ‘common interest groups’.
3. What and Where?
It is anticipated that this pilot project will comprise 20- 30 affordable units potentially involving new build and /or conversion of existing buildings and will therefore provide housing for some 30 people. This project should be sited in or near an existing conurbation in order to provide an opportunity for Vivarium members to access facilities such as local shops, public transport, Health Centre etc whilst playing an active part in the wider community. The wider community will be encouraged to be involved in Vivarium’s facilities and projects.
Vivarium members are currently exploring possible sites in North East Fife.
4. What is Cohousing?
Cohousing is based on two main principles, a mix of individual and communal /co-operative living and self-management
Cohousing originated in Denmark where many projects have been well established for 20 years. Cohousing also exists in New Zealand, USA and Holland.
5. Eco-friendly and sustainable
Vivarium’s houses are intended to be designed and built on environmentally friendly principles. It is hoped that energy can be created by wind/solar/geo-thermal techniques. Natural building materials, sourced locally and traditional building techniques, using local craftsmen will be used as far as possible. Vivarium is working in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University their Departments of Built and Natural Environment and Sustainability.
It is intended that the pilot project will include communal gardens where it is hoped members will contribute to growing produce for consumption and possible sale.
Overall sustainability of these projects is of importance and to this end it is intended that some form of income generation will be included in projects (possibly wind turbine, room rental, guest accommodation etc.) Any such proposals will be site dependent.
6. Long term vision, support and wider impact.
After an initial evaluation period of the pilot project in Fife it is intended that this concept can be rolled out Scotland / UK wide.
The Vivarium concept can be applied to all generations and common interest groups in the long term.
Vivarium members are working in partnership with Fife Council, Glasgow Caledonian University and NHS Fife. Close links have been made with Queen Margaret University College and Age Concern .
It has now been agreed, in principle, that Queen Margaret University College working with Caledonian will do the initial feasibility study.
7. What next?
Funding is being sought to pay for a development worker, as well as on going costs for administration, publicity, leaflets, telephone calls, travel, conferences and workshops.
Vivarium members would like the opportunity to visit some of the Scandinavian cohousing projects and learn from their experiences. Visits to some similar UK projects and the Centre for Alternative Technology are also planned.
Vivarium has an ongoing series of monthly meetings which are open to all interested parties. Since the first open meeting in October 2003 Vivarium has attracted 17 new members.
Vivarium has a fully adopted constitution. The current thinking is that Vivarium will be a not-for-profit social enterprise with charitable status. However, it is realised that this legal structure may not be appropriate in the long term. This will only be determined once the findings from the feasibility study have been presented to, and digested by members.
Vivarium does have a bank account.
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