Could co-living make our city less lonely?

What do you think about when you hear the word co-living? Like most Vancouver renters, you’re probably thinking of student housing or shared housing models trying to break from Vancouver’s conventional rental market.

But what you may not think of is connectivity, shared resources, and intentional community. Ideas that in our current context seem foreign or forgotten. 

Co-living is a modern form of communal living. It offers unique layouts, giving renters a private bedroom while delivering thoughtful shared spaces that bring flexibility, affordability, and a sense of community. 

Yet despite its burgeoning popularity we have yet to see it emerge in the Lower Mainland’s rental market. 

In Rize’s quest for better rental, we have been exploring different types of shared living and are working on making them a reality. 

Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world, but according to the Vancouver Foundation, one out of four residents still grapple with social isolation and loneliness. Could co-living be a solution to combat our lack of connection? We looked at different co-living projects in Serbia, Norway, and the US to discover how each project offered a unique and connected living experience.

A Work-Life Balance for Digital Nomads

In Serbia, Mokrin House is designed as an urban point in rural surroundings. Edo Bratović shared with us that the design and architecture of co-living need to be “multifunctional, easily adjustable, and transformable from one specific setting to another that is completely different.” This flexible concept attracts freelancers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs who get to share an open two-level workspace that can be as open or private as they need it. 

This special community eats together, has movie nights, and organizes topical workshops for its members. At Mokrin, Bratović adds, “a sense of belonging to a large community is very important for us and our staff,” making shared community activities a core pillar to the living experience.

Expanded Living at Arctic CoWorking Lodge 

The Arctic CoWorking Lodge is a small co-living and co-working lodge in Lofoten, Norway. Because of its size, Arctic Coworking feels more intimate than most co-living rentals you’d find in bigger cities. Some residents stay for a week, others are long-term renters. It’s a social space for life and work, and ultimately, a place for adventure seekers who want to have an expansive daily life with endless nature at their doorstep. 

Elevated Urban Living for City Dwellers

With co-living projects across the United States, Common delivers a co-living experience that brings convenience and community to city life. Social programming is geared for members to easily meet people and to discover the best the city has to offer. From spontaneous get-togethers to curated events, creating a connected rental community is integral to the Common experience. 

At Rize, we are developing our first fully co-living project in Los Angeles, a city that is home to a growing co-living rental culture. For our LA collaborator, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, it’s where “shared culture is making co-living a potentially robust typology.” We are keen to keep learning about what makes co-living a desirable choice for renters.

The Future of Co-Living in Metro Vancouver

From environment and adventure-focused programming to catering to a digital nomad experience – shared living can be a way to elevate rental and give you more opportunities to live your best life.  

With our first fully co-living project in early development in Los Angeles, and rental projects in development in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey – each project will be managed under our recently launched rental platform, Comma. With thoughtful architectural design, social programming, and a curated retail program, we aim to make co-living and rental a desirable option for renters looking for an integrated urban living experience with a vibrant community.

Join the Comma waitlist for more updates on our rental projects.