Cohousing

Brutopia

A resident-led cohousing block with shared garden space and an affordability logic.

Brutopia cohousing project with shared garden space — Images courtesy of stekke + fraas. Photography: tim van de velde

Brutopia cohousing apartments and shared outdoor space — Images courtesy of stekke + fraas. Photography: tim van de velde

Brutopia residential block in Brussels — Images courtesy of stekke + fraas. Photography: tim van de velde

Shared spaces at Brutopia cohousing — Images courtesy of stekke + fraas. Photography: tim van de velde

Overview

Brutopia is a cohousing project in Forest, Brussels. It was initiated by residents who wanted to live collectively while keeping independent apartments. The project includes 29 homes, workspaces at ground level, and shared facilities organised around a garden.

Why it matters

Brutopia frames housing as a collective project, not only a private commodity. Residents shared risk, decision-making, and infrastructure in order to create homes that were more affordable and more socially connected.

For Better Housing Atlas, the project shows how shared spaces can be practical rather than symbolic. The garden, workspaces, bicycle infrastructure, and service areas create everyday reasons for neighbours to meet without forcing constant communal life.

Image credit

Images courtesy of stekke + fraas. Photography: tim van de velde