Kyloring, Witchcliffe

March 2nd, 2022

Co-operation Housing launches Kyloring Housing Co-operative, the next generation of housing co-operatives in Western Australia.

The Kyloring Housing Co-operative will be developing the centrally located aged and dependent person housing site within the Witchcliffe Ecovillage. “Kyloring Housing Co-operative is for people aged 55 and over or those living with a disability”, explains Eugenie Stockmann, CEO Co-operation Housing.

“Witchcliffe Ecovillage is the perfect place for what we believe will be a model for the next generation of housing co-operatives”, says Eugenie. “The opportunity to develop this project is testament to the vision for Witchcliffe Ecovillage”.  According to the Ecovillage website ‘opportunities for affordable housing, social diversity, aged care and community building are an integral part of the Ecovillage design’.

Modelled on successful senior cohousing communities worldwide, Kyloring Housing co-operative aims to be a harmonious community rich in beauty, creativity, stimulation, and fulfilment, co-designed and managed by residents committed to ageing well, sharing their knowledge and experiences, caring for each other and the natural environment. Whilst the project does not offer assisted living or nursing facilities, and each member is responsible for themselves, it is common in cohousing communities that if someone is sick, neighbours will help with activities like bringing them meals, walking their dog, or picking up medications.

Integral to the co-operative development model is that people interested in making Kyloring their home have an opportunity to be involved in the creation of this unique housing project to ensure it meets their needs, including the design process.  Throughout the development journey, residents are supported by a team of passionate & experienced professionals,  including Co-operation Housing, H+H Architects, and The Sociocracy Consulting Group.

The project formally kicked off at a workshop in mid-October. At this workshop households learnt more about the project, and, more importantly, got to meet each other for the first time.  “What I saw was a group of people who bring a diverse range of skills, knowledge, and life experience, and an enormous amount of enthusiasm for the project.  This is a residential development where neighbours get to know one another long before they move in. They are truly developers who never leave”, says Eugenie.

The Design Workshop, held at the end of November 2021 invited future residents to participate in the design of their future homes and community.  Starting with a 6,223 square metre vacant block of land, the residents will work together on the site plan, deciding on the type and location of shared facilities, such as a common house. They then help to design the floor plans for the individual private dwellings. “The idea of the design workshop is to really include all the users as well as Co-operation Housing in the design process. It is a design-led, problem-solving adventure that we will all do together”, says Julie de Jong from H+H Architects.

“We firmly believe that community-led development matters”, says Eugenie Stockmann, CEO of Co-operation Housing.  “Where we live and the housing we live in is a critical part of our wellbeing and happiness. Research shows that community-led housing is more likely to meet the needs of the community and create a place that residents feel proud of.”

The not-for-profit development model will ensure the project caters for all household budgets and is affordable in perpetuity.

How to Join?

Anyone can join the group by signing up as an Explorer.

Being an Explorer is a great way to figure out if this project is right for you, and if the group is a good match.

You will receive an in-depth orientation and are invited to internal meetings and workshops to see how it works.

It is a small investment in dollars and time and offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative project that will leave a legacy.

For more information - www.kyloring.coop

About Witchcliffe Ecovillage

Witchcliffe Ecovillage is one of the world’s most sustainable residential communities and will be self-sufficient in renewable energy, water, and fresh food produce.

This unique development is so much more than simply a place to live, work, learn and play. It’s the promise of a sustainable lifestyle, presents a pathway to a resilient future and offers a glimpse of a better world.

www.ecovillage.net.au