We develop sustainable housing and concepts based on communal ways of living.

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Benefits

Through the Gaining by Sharing housing model, we aim to enhance the social, environmental, economic and architectural qualities of a project by creating sustainable communities based on communal ways of living. 

Environment

Using timber as the primary construction material reduces CO2 emissions, as does sharing communal spaces and resources to minimise the total build area.

Economy

Owning less individually and enjoying access to much more collectively, creates the opportunity to save more economically. 

Social

An increased quality of life, with access to the support from a social community in a healthy and safe environment. 

Architecture

High-quality architectural living environment, specifically designed to facilitate for sharing. 

Architecture for sharing

Gaining by Sharing evolves around the concept that every inhabitant has their own privately owned, fully equipped dwelling, which is slightly smaller than normal units, and these are organized around generous and inspiring shared spaces. These shared spaces are well integrated, becoming a part of everyday life. This spatial concept creates a shared environment that supports the community of the residents, facilitating both informal meetings and planned social activities. 

Building a community

A community engagement process is central to the Gaining by Sharing model. This involves a series of meetings and workshops with the intention of building a social community. These interactions are key to ensuring that the needs of the future users are at the heart of the project. People can join the workshops at an early stage in the process to become familiar with the concept, influence the design of their own apartment and suggest activities for the communal areas. Most importantly, the workshops provide an opportunity for people to get to know each other and start building a future community. 

Services

A licensed model

We offer Gaining by Sharing as a licensed model with access to an optimised system for designing a co-living structure, process description and communication material alongside architectural services. 

Process managament

We provide process management throughout the community engagement process mediating between the client, resident and architect. 

Projects

Vindmøllebakken

Vindmøllebakken is the first Gaining by Sharing project to be completed. The project consists of 40 privately owned apartments that share 500m2 of communal space and facilities. The shared spaces are at the heart of the project, both physically and culturally. The communal calendar is filled with large dinners and events in the central space, as well as parties in the cellar. These spaces are complemented by more reflective and calming spaces, such as an attic library and a meditation space. The Vindmøllebakken community is deliberately diverse. People of all ages live here, from young children to retirees, and from a variety of backgrounds. This diversity enables residents to support each other in ways that are not always possible in standard housing developments.

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Gaining by Sharing Alta

In Alta, in nothernof Norway, we are collaborating with with Svendsen entreprenør AS on a project to develop a medium-density, low-rise housing community constructed in timber. The 40 units will share communal facilities including a family room, a communal fireplace and a space for a ski workshop. The project aims to create an inclusive neighbourhood for young people, families and the elderly, where people feel a sense of belonging and ownership of the community. 

Vålandshagen

In Vålandshagen, at a central location in Stavanger, 95 apartments are being developed in collaboration with INEO Eiendom. The project consists of six separate buildings surrounding a beautiful communal outdoor area, inspired by traditional cluster farms. Each building has a room for communal spaces for all residents to enjoy, for example a playroom, a party and meeting room, a gym room, guest rooms and workshops. These are connected by Kransen – a covered path surrounding the cluster garden. Vålandshagen will also include a collective housing, run by the municipality, for people with different disabilities.

Gaining by Sharing Åsstien

We are planning a new Gaining by Sharing project in a densification area located at Byåsen in Trondheim, right by the Belvedere tram stop. Consisting of 30-30 units, Åsstien GbS clearly references Vindmøllebakken and focuses on diversity, community and sharing. The project is under regulation for PWS Eiendom.

Vindmøllebakken in Venice

At the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, the Nordic Pavilion responded to the theme of ‘How will we live together?’ by transforming into an experimental co-housing project. The exhibition was called What We Share. Through a model for co-housing, Helen & Hard encouraged the residents of Vindmøllebakken to develop a more radical form of communal living: Which aspects of their private lives are residents willing to move out of their apartments and share with other residents, and with the audience? 

Gaining by Sharing Voss

In the heart of Voss, alongside the river Vosso, Gaining by Sharing will be a model for a new wooden housing project. This development will include 20 residential units, all arranged around a variety of shared facilities, such as guest rooms, a communal kitchen, library, workshop, a rooftop terrace, and generous outdoor spaces. By placing most of the communal areas on the ground floor, the design activates the surrounding streetscape, creating active facades in the cityscape, as well as making the facilities accessible to both residents and the people living in the neighbourhood and the broader village community. Vossogarden is being developed in collaboration with Voss eigedom AS.

Contact

Office: (+47) 406 40 672

If you are interested in developing a Gaining by Sharing project or would like to live in one, please contact Margrete.

Randi Hana Augenstein

CEO

ra@hha.no

(+47) 942 76 994

Siv Helene Stangeland

Gründer / Developer

shs@hha.no

(+47) 952 25 766

Ane Skarpnes Dahl

Creative Director

ad@hha.no

(+47) 406 406 81

Press

BBC StoryWorks

Vindmøllebakken Cohousing community is featured in the BBC StoryWorks production. Produced by Innovasjon Norge the film explores the unique concepts behind the Gaining by Sharing housing model from the perspectives of the residents and architects.

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Assemble Papers

“A dwelling is a very important building block for a sustainable society to work – that’s where personal health, the tribe and social sustainability are given a base to grow.” Stangeland and Kropf

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Social Design

Discussing how we can plan our cities and homes to better face the challenges of Covid19 and how the Cohousing community at Vindmøllebakken as been working to overcome isolation during a time of social distancing and lock down.

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TED Talk “Our House”

Inspiring architecture for our future – How would we live happier while responding meaningfully to climate change?

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Award

Vindmøllebakken received the Innovation Award for Universal Design in the Architectural Category from Design og Arkitektur Norge 2021

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