Thriving through Coliving

December 1, 2024 by Sandra Abrouk
Happy group of friends playing card game

From meaningful to transformative experiences

How do we thrive in a world marked by housing affordability challenges, social isolation and the search for purpose driven living? Coliving has become much more than a housing trend, it’s a global movement reshaping how we live, connect and thrive. With the rise of remote work and shifting lifestyle preferences, shared spaces and shared living is filling a critical gap by providing flexible, affordable and community oriented housing options.

Globally, the coliving market has experienced rapid growth post pandemic, with a notable rise in the number of coliving hubs catering to diverse groups, including remote workers and digital nomads. This surge reflects the increasing demand for flexible, community oriented living solutions that address the evolving needs of modern lifestyles. At the core of this growth is the understanding that life is no longer tied to traditional home ownership or solitary living. Instead, people are increasingly looking for shared spaces where they can grow personally and professionally, form meaningful connections and be part of a supportive community.

Global shift toward community living

One of the most significant drivers of the coliving movement is the changing nature of work. The rise of remote work has transformed how people view housing, with many choosing flexibility over permanence. Traditional housing, especially in urban centres, is not only expensive but also isolating. In contrast, coliving offers an affordable alternative, with communal spaces, shared resources and a focus on wellbeing. It creates environments where residents collaborate, form deep bonds and foster personal and professional growth.

In major urban hubs like London, New York and Barcelona, rent prices have skyrocketed, making it nearly impossible for many to afford living alone. This is where coliving steps in as a solution—by providing shared amenities, flexible lease options and opportunities for collaborative living.
The sense of community fostered in shared spaces helps mitigate the rising epidemic of loneliness, a problem that has been particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 2022 Australian study revealed that loneliness affects over 5 million Australians, highlighting the growing demand for environments that encourage social interaction. With loneliness becoming a significant public health concern globally, shared spaces designed with community and connection at their heart offer a life enhancing solution.

In this context, coliving offers a powerful solution by intentionally designing spaces that encourage shared experiences, collaboration and mutual support. It creates an environment where people can thrive both personally and professionally. Vuvale is transforming the way people experience living by offering high quality, flexible and accessible housing options centered around community and wellbeing. Drawing inspiration from the Fijian word for family, Vuvale creates inclusive environments where residents feel truly welcomed, supported and connected. Its purpose built shared spaces come with shared amenities like coworking spaces, rooftop barbecues, a cinema and wellness programs, catering to diverse lifestyles.

Intentional living: The core of Coliving

At the heart of the Vuvale model is intentional living: the belief that by making deliberate, value driven choices about how and where we live, we can significantly enhance our quality of life. Intentional living emphasises community, personal growth and sustainability, which is becoming increasingly important as people look to escape the isolation of traditional housing models and embrace collective wellbeing.

In coliving, intentional living is about much more than just sharing rent and resources; it’s about fostering deep connections, creating environments that promote wellbeing and prioritising sustainability. These spaces are carefully designed to encourage interaction and collaboration among residents, ensuring that the physical environment itself supports both mental and physical health. For example, at Vuvale, we incorporate communal areas for shared activities, wellness spaces for mental and physical care and coworking spaces that nurture professional growth.

group of friends sharing a meal, coliving

Vuvale brings this philosophy to life by designing spaces where residents can engage, share experiences and participate in activities that foster a sense of community. From communal dining to wellness programs and community driven events, the coliving environment becomes a support system that empowers residents to thrive. According to impact reports from leading coliving brands, residents consistently report higher levels of happiness, productivity and life satisfaction compared to those living in traditional housing. This is due to the structured support, communal bonds and shared resources that make life more fulfilling and enriching.

In their latest coliving impact report, Urban Campus, a Spanish urban coliving operator, found that 57% of residents reported leading healthier lifestyles since moving into their spaces. Additionally, 54% experienced lower stress and 52% saw improvements in their mental health. A strong sense of community resulted in 65% feeling less lonely and 73% having more social interactions, reinforcing the positive mental and emotional benefits of coliving. 

In the third edition of coliving Insights, research showed that coliving has a powerful effect on wellbeing by fostering community connection. 67% of residents experienced an improvement in their mental wellbeing due to the strong community bonds. 

The wellness focused design UK coliving operator, B-Hive Living follows the assumption that fitter, healthier and more purposeful people lead to a happier society and more productive economy. How does that check out in practice? 100% of residents are satisfied with the quality and convenience of the homes; 90% feel connected with the people they live with; 60% notice an improvement in their overall health and wellbeing within 90 days; 100% are satisfied with their communication with the Hive team; 90% are proud of the place they live in; and 80% recommend B-Hive Living to their friends. This demonstrates the tangible impact that a thoughtfully designed coliving model can have on individuals and communities alike.

Official findings from the IKEA’s Life at Home Report, reveals how home shapes people’s lives and wellbeing around the world. One statistic shows that 67% of people living in coliving experienced a positive impact on their mental wellbeing thanks to strong community connections.

A day in the life of a Coliving Resident: The power of transformation

Coliving offers both meaningful and transformative experiences—but there’s a key difference. Meaningful moments are those that stay with you forever: shared breakfasts, communal yoga, or group projects that create lasting friendships. These experiences build connection and community, becoming part of your story.

But the real transformation happens when the environment and structure of the coliving space facilitate internal growth. Imagine beginning your day with a mastermind session, where deep conversations with like minded residents challenge your thinking. The community manager connects you to individuals whose values align with yours, opening doors to growth and collaboration. Throughout the day, you might engage in reflective workshops on mindfulness or entrepreneurship, or have a one-on-one coaching session that helps you gain clarity on personal or professional challenges.

What sets coliving apart is how the environment is designed to encourage both social engagement and introspective moments. After a busy day of interaction, you might retreat to a quiet space for reflection, where the insights from a collaborative project or conversation start to take root. Over time, these moments lead to an internal shift, helping you integrate new perspectives, reshape your goals and transform your approach to life. At Vuvale, we focus on creating both types of experiences. While the meaningful connections create a strong sense of community, the carefully structured transformative experiences are what drive personal growth. By blending collective experiences with solo time for reflection, we enable residents to not only thrive in the moment but to carry that transformation with them into the future.

Coliving world tour: Community living changing lives

Commune, a French coliving concept for single parents: can be a game changer, providing them with a built in support network that traditional living arrangements simply cannot offer. In coliving spaces designed for families, single parents can share the burden of childcare, share coworking space, collaborate on household tasks and build strong emotional support systems with other parents facing similar challenges.

Coliving can be an anchor for newcomers to a country, offering them an accessible, supportive community as they transition into a new life. A standout example is Cohabs’ solidarity bedroom program, which provides quality housing to refugees and asylum seekers at a reduced cost. This initiative gives individuals like Mohammed, a Syrian student in Belgium, the opportunity to access education, form friendships and live in safe, welcoming environments.

Experience House is a unique pop-up coliving concept designed to foster deep, transformative connections among experience designers and community builders from around the world. These immersive experiences, lasting either two weeks or one month, are curated to create a container where participants give and receive, sharing their skills, knowledge and experiences with one another. The environment is crafted to encourage personal and collective growth, with attendees not only living together but also actively co-creating experiences that lead to profound, life changing insights.

Coliving has also transformed the lives of digital nomads who seek flexibility and community while working remotely. Sun and Co, a well known Spanish coliving , caters specifically to digital nomads, offering not just a place to live but an entire ecosystem designed to foster collaboration and creativity. Residents often cite the community aspect as the most valuable part of their experience, with daily activities and networking opportunities helping them grow both personally and professionally.

thriving with coliving, shared, experiences
Photography credit: The Nomad Escape

Building a movement: Why you should join Vuvale

As the coliving movement continues to evolve, it’s clear that this model is here to stay. It offers solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of modern life: loneliness, high living costs and the need for flexible, sustainable living arrangements. At Vuvale, we’re not just building homes; we’re building communities that enable people to grow, connect and live intentionally- THRIVING.

We invite you to become a part of the Vuvale movement. Whether you’re seeking a place to grow professionally, a supportive community for your family, or a vibrant environment to live sustainably, our shared spaces are designed to help you thrive. Welcome to a world where intentional living and thriving go hand in hand.


Vuvale is transforming the way people experience living by offering high quality, flexible and accessible housing options centered around community and wellbeing. Drawing inspiration from the Fijian word for family and the sense of being welcomed into someone's home as if it were your own. Vuvale creates inclusive environments where residents feel truly welcomed, supported and connected. Its purpose built coliving spaces come with shared amenities like coworking spaces, rooftop barbecues, a cinema and wellness programs, catering to diverse lifestyles.

Sandra Abrouk
Experience Strategist dedicated to the future of living and work, driving change through design thinking. Passionate about community, wellbeing and human psychology, with a focus on shaping spaces where creativity and connection flow naturally—empowering people to live fulfilling, meaningful and transformative experiences. 

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