Cooperative housing
La Borda
Resident-led cooperative housing in Barcelona, combining shared facilities, long-term affordability, and low-energy timber construction.
Overview
La Borda is a resident-led housing cooperative in Barcelona’s Sants neighbourhood, designed by Lacol with and for its future inhabitants. The project grew out of the community-led recovery of the former Can Batlló industrial site and was built on public land under a 75-year leasehold model. Its 28 homes are organised around shared spaces, collective governance, and a low-energy approach to everyday living.
Why it matters
La Borda expands the idea of housing beyond the private apartment. Shared kitchens, laundry, guest space, care space, storage, terraces, roofs, and a central courtyard form part of the residential programme, making collective life part of the building’s structure rather than an added amenity.
The project is also a strong reference for non-speculative housing. By combining resident participation, public land, cooperative ownership in use, and passive environmental strategies, La Borda shows how affordability, community, and climate-conscious design can support one another.
Image credit
Images courtesy of Lacol