Affordable housing is a pressing issue in many European cities. In Brussels, significant efforts have been made in recent years to accelerate the construction and renovation of social housing, as well as to expand the offer of Community Land Trust Brussels. Moreover, in many other places, we see the importance of housing cooperatives, as a third pillar of housing production alongside private and public housing. At BMA, we consider housing cooperatives as an interesting model for achieving long-term housing affordability, as well as for fostering architectural innovation and community development.

For those seeking to promote new housing cooperatives, Geneva serves as an inspiring city. The situation in Geneva is noteworthy because, thanks to government initiatives, new housing cooperatives have been made significant progress over the past decade. Similar to Belgium, Geneva lacks a long-standing tradition of housing cooperatives, unlike Zurich.  BMA is therefore happy to support the initiative of Cera and Architectuurwijzer to visit Geneva from Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th October 2023. Together, we aim to uncover the success factors behind this progress and learn valuable lessons to apply back home in Belgium and Brussels.

The Coop Tour starts with the insightful presentation by Minister Antonio Hodgers who will delve into how and why the canton of Geneva is committed to promoting more sustainable and cooperative housing. Subsequently, we will visit influential figures within housing cooperatives such as Codha, Equilibre and Luciole. These leaders will share how their initiatives have grown into profitable housing cooperatives. Additionally, an excursion is planned to explore inspiring and high-quality housing projects, including a visit to the eco-neighbourhood Les Vergers in the suburb of Meyrin. Notably, this neighbourhood boasts seven housing cooperatives that have been granted building rights. It serves as a prime example of effectively combining economic value, urban quality and ecological choices while actively involving citizens in shaping community  life and facilities.

To join us on this journey, please register using the provided registration form before the deadline of 12th July.