Housing as community infrastructure: an analysis of senior cooperative housing using the capability approach

Over the last decade, Barcelona has witnessed the emergence of a cooperative housing movement, known as the grant-of-use model, spurred by the socio-political context following the global financial crisis. This bottom-up initiative appeared to primarily address the demand for affordable and adequate housing while responding to demographic shifts and the evolving residential needs. Groups within this model advocate non-speculative housing as a collective endeavor, with residents actively participating in decision-making, reimagining dwelling arrangements, and emphasizing care within communities. Senior cooperative housing has emerged within this context, making a paradigm shift for communities of adults over 55 years old. This study examines how a senior cooperative housing project in Barcelona navigates the key factors that facilitate or hinder the fulfillment of its collective housing goals. Employing the Capability Approach as a conceptual framework, the research explores the motivations driving the community, the resources available to the group, and the role of conversion factors in influencing the project’s trajectory. It further investigates how the community responds to planning and implementation challenges through collaboration and adaptive strategies, and how this collective process expands their housing capabilities. By addressing these dimensions, the study aims to deepen the understanding of cooperative housing models, illustrating how such initiatives foster agency, care, and inclusivity in housing provision. The findings offer insights into the broader implications for housing policy and practice, highlighting the potential of cooperative models to reconfigure the landscape of senior living.