In 2017, we started pitching plans for a collective housing dream. Since 2023, we are living in De Warren: 36 units (social- and mid income rent) with a collectively owned and managed music studio, workshop, laundry room, theater space, meditation room, office, kids room, bar, 6 kitchens and a sauna.

In participatory design sessions with Natrufied Architecture, weekly work sessions in more than 10 teams and an incredibly resilient group, we designed and developed the first housing cooperative in the Netherlands. With high ambitions in building with wood (glulam columns and reclaimed hardwood for the facade), to include non-human residents, water storage and 30% collective floor area, we had a tight business case to close. The project is funded with a loan from the GLS bank, several sustainability funds and subsidies, a crowdfunding of over €100.000 and the deposit from our tenants. The involvement of the group in the whole process was extraordinary, and shows a way forward for the development of the city by its people. In the documentary “Samen Wonen: Het Verhaal van de Warren” by Sam van Zoest (Warren resident), we are telling the whole story to encourage the trend of housing cooperatives in the development of our cities today.

Wooncoöperatie De Warren was awarded the AAP (Amsterdamse Architectuur Prijs) for best building of the year in 2023.