De Warren

De Warren is a pioneering housing cooperative in Amsterdam that exemplifies sustainable and community-focused living. Built with a commitment to sustainability, the cooperative’s structures are energy-positive and designed using natural, circular materials. This initiative aims to create a socially inclusive environment where residents collectively engage in the upkeep and management of their living spaces, emphasizing a "small village in the city" concept. The cooperative offers diverse accommodation options, including small studios, starter homes, and family residences, with about 30% of the space allocated to communal areas that foster interaction among residents. The founding story of De Warren is documented in the film "Samenwonen: het verhaal van De Warren," which captures the journey of its establishment, inspired by a group of friends who wanted to create a shared living space after experiences with permaculture in Portugal. This film highlights the ambitions and challenges faced during the cooperative’s inception, making it a valuable resource for those interested in collective housing solutions. As a trailblazer for cooperative living in Amsterdam, De Warren not only embodies an innovative model for affordable housing but also shares its lessons and experiences with like-minded individuals and organizations. The cooperative also engages in outreach events, offering guided tours, discussions, and films to further promote cooperative living practices. This collaborative framework aims to empower individuals and communities to pursue their own housing aspirations, thereby facilitating a more inclusive approach to urban living. Through its various initiatives, De Warren contributes to a broader discourse on sustainable and communal living, demonstrating that collective housing can address contemporary challenges related to affordability, sustainability, and social cohesion.