Spatial Features and Wind Environment of Communal Space in Contemporary Indonesian Coliving Houses

Indonesia’s rapid urbanization has increased demand for affordable housing, with shared living arrangements like “Kos” efficiently accommodating the needs of urban dwellers. However, Kos often would lack communal spaces and nature integration, leading to poor living conditions with limited social interaction opportunities and neglecting the importance of accommodating natural ventilation that affects its inhabitants. In recent years, contemporary coliving houses designed by architects seem to aim at overcoming these issues by intentionally incorporating communal spaces and integrating nature through the presence of vegetation and natural ventilation. This study explores the coexistence of spatial features and natural wind environment of communal space in contemporary coliving houses to enhance social interaction opportunities and living conditions in urban conditions. The research employs case studies, spatial arrangement analyses, and wind simulation modelling to examine contemporary coliving houses. It focuses on spatial openness, furnishing, and the integration of vegetation and natural airflow. The results show that communal spaces in contemporary coliving houses lean toward open-type communal spaces, incorporating diverse vegetation and furnishing arrangements, along with varied airflow conditions. These features create various spatial characteristics and wind environments in each communal space, highlighting the potential of contemporary coliving houses in urban areas of Indonesia. The integration of communal spaces and nature into coliving housing presents opportunities for healthier and more resilient urban living. Contemporary coliving houses shed light on potential strategies for addressing shared living arrangements challenges in rapidly urbanizing contexts.