Production-Reproduction. Working and Living in Cohousing

Cohousing is a growing model of collaborative living across Europe, blending private autonomy with shared resources and community engagement. This paper examines the integration of workspaces within cohousing developments, exploring their role as "third spaces" that hybridize productive and reproductive activities. Through case studies of two Barcelona-based projects, Cirerers and La Chalmeta, the study highlights variations in coworking space management, usage, and design. While both projects include ground-floor coworking spaces, Cirerers prioritizes resident access, whereas La Chalmeta incorporates external rentals for additional income. Findings reveal that thermal comfort, lighting, and spatial conditions significantly affect usage. Furthermore, despite the presence of coworking facilities, many residents prefer to work within their apartments. These insights underscore the potential of cohousing to accommodate evolving work-life integration needs, particularly in light of increased teleworking trends post-COVID-19. The paper situates cohousing within broader historical and urban paradigms, advocating for its viability as a self-sufficient, hybrid housing model that challenges traditional urban dichotomies.