collective live+work spaces
for people going places with purpose

a community-owned gathering place and base for purposeful professionals seeking dynamism and diversity

members pay atā€‘cost for stays around ā‚¬275/month,
buyingā€‘in with shares as a coā€‘owner
for partā€‘time coliving from ā‚¬2k,
dedicated units from ā‚¬25k, or for investment

Hello there!Ā  I'm Jacob, mildly nomadic, and yes digital ā€” yet grounded in the real world. Having founded the first coliving hub with public coworking, back in 2010 in Delhi (of all places!?), I've embarked on a new project, now looking for adventurous community-minded folks to join me buying a big old ruin (okay, not quite!) in FrancešŸ‡«šŸ‡· to turn into a great community space and base!

Yours-truly (right) with one of the cool owners of Bansko Nomad Fest who's doing something similar, they bought an Auberge in Switzerland, and you may have heard of the huge Semkovo coliving in Bulgaria with its 225 units also as a co-opā€¦

For this one the approach is focussed on flexible use and dynamism, growing to multiple properties amongst which we may roamšŸŒ or base ourselves.

I originally started just pre-pandemic for an old mill in the Portuguese mountains with hundreds of you interested; I met the town council and some of us visited during a parsnip festival(!) but ultimately rejected it, also umm pandemic travelā€¦

I'm looking to restart the project, since doing renovations here in France I'm now selling my current one so am keen to find folks to collaborate with in creating a great new dynamic space next ā€” whether for a small stake or a dedicated unit. I'm also open to splitting in another country too (Albania, Portugal,ā€¦?) so just let me know if you're up for such a crazy plan!

Ā Ā Ā Follow WhatsApp community Ā Make a pledgeā€¦

What's a coliving hub?

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A shared home and workspace, where we also share some of our purpose and learnings.

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For a workation to escape routine, as a retreat to dig into projects, or as a base.

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Be you an entrepreneur, remote worker, digital nomad, a creative, or anything else!

Creating amazing new spaces, reinvigorating old ones!

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Benefit from shared facilities (cinema, bikes, workspaces, ice-cream maker, ā€¦).

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Get closer to nature whilst remaining connected to the wider world.

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Stay affordably, buying into use of properties as you are able.

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Be part of community respecting innovation and independence.

Our purpose as a member-owned housing coā€‘operative will be providing affordable coā€‘ownership, giving us flexible and guaranteed use of spaces at cost. With fractional shares for part-time use, dedicated units, or as an investmentā€¦

As participants in a dynamic ecosystem we share its opportunities whilst generating rental revenue as a social enterprise ā€” reinvesting in hosting workshops, talks, and activities, enriching not just ourselves, but the wider community. By embracing diversity and serendipity as a community we'll create vitality in our lives!

By doing it collectively, we reduce our footprints and enhance the effects, across locationsā€¦

For updates, join the growing community:
Better still, scroll down to make a pledge!

The plan ā€“part deuxā€“ the south of FrancešŸ‡«šŸ‡·

It's cheap to buy and there's no surprises, except maybe how many pastries you can eat.šŸ„ Property sales have fallen through the roof, 2000+ agents closed, and new renovation requirements for rentals means owners prefer to sell. Infrastructure is good, and everything runs like clockwork. Well, except when they're on strikeā€¦

It's sorely overlooked amongst digital nomads, yet absurdly popular with tourists. There's many possible regions, such asā€¦

The lower CĆ©vennes

Super appealing with tons to explore ā€“ the excellent CĆØze and ArdĆØche river gorges, and (as a daytrip) the famous Pont du Gard roman aqueduct, plus up into mountains. Not to mention the small towns of Anduze, UzĆØs and AlĆØs. Really offers everything, but fewer properties.

The western Averyon

Far inland, very green and quaintly rural but less adventurous amongst medieval towns, villages and deep meandering river valleys. Tons of cheap properties.

Candidate properties

See list and initial evalutions ā€” which could be best depends how many of us join in and what we'd prefer. I'm simply tempted to grab a cute but tatty little one needing work myself at around ā‚¬75k, then see who else joins to help and use part-time (stakes from just a couple thousand euros). Yet a big hub could be amazing if say just ten of us stuck ā‚¬20k together to get startedā€¦

A. Smaller satellites <ā‚¬100k
part-time use Ā· fewer facilities Ā· faster to add more locations
B. Bigger hub >ā‚¬100k
dedicated cohousing Ā· many facilities (land, festivals!) Ā· multigenerational

Of course all require work, with new fitout to enable optimal layouts and facilities. If we plan well, using well-rewarded volunteers, seasonal contractors, and our own contributions to the effort, the cost can be kept low for very good value, at moderate running costs.

Get on board Make a pledgeā€¦

What's a pledge? ā€” Simply your expression of interest to join the co-operative, paying for shares only if we all approve a property. Otherwise simply walk away.

I'll only move ahead as more of you pledge to be part of it ā€“ so why not participate in a community you can return to, at-cost for whatever share you own?! Join our WhatsApp group to stay up to date, or contact jacob@hub.house.

Help promote and build the community!

Do you know folks whom you'd like to participate in the community with? Earn shares for everyone that you introduce. Simply make sure you've subscribed with your email and tell folks to give your details when they pledge. If they purchase shares (first phase only; ex. investment) and are accepted as a member, they'll get a 5% discount and you'll get 5% as shares.

Please contact me to let me know other contact details, or if you need a referral link as people you know will remember to give your details, but those you don't, won'tā€¦

How might I use it?

With facilities to accommodate all of usā€¦

The ideal use is having both roots and wings, an annual retreat or baseā€¦

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Get updates:

We'll run it togetherā€”to all have a stake!

Whether you participate as a co-owner, an investor, or simply visit on rental, you will do so as a member of our cooperative society, functioning within the space as a do-ocracy. To join us make a pledge then once we've agreed our plans, you'll be invited to apply for our community sharesā€¦

The simple way to consider how it works as a member, is that when you buy into the co-op (with shares), you get to use the co-op's facilities at cost, proportional to your share of capacity (fractional use) for the value of shares you hold. Put even just a small amount of money into the co-op for a significant discount on coliving accommodation. When it no longer suits anymore, you can withdraw your shares to get the money you paid for the shares back.

Operations

(The following are indicative.)

Operational costs cover recurring expenses for utilities, volunteers, and (importantly!) maintenance/renewals:

Capital costs are what we're raising to purchase, renovate and fit-out the property, split between multiple shareholders:

If you stay longer than your share or have none, you pay the standard rental rates. If you don't use all your share, you can trade with other membersā€”.

Our valuesā€¦ we don't believe in believing too much!
šŸ§™ Diversity and šŸ§š dynamism.

How can I join-in?

  1. pledge, confirming with ā‚¬1
  2. join the whatsapp France group
  3. vote on and debate properties for plans to be created
  4. a group visit will be arranged for best candidate
  5. founding members form the co-op purchasing shares
  6. when pledges and plans match, founding members will open membership
  7. you'll buy into the co-op with a deposit towards your shareholding
  8. an offer will be made for purchase and if accepted its deposit paid
    (may repeat, with members able to withdraw their deposit)
  9. shareholdings will be paid up to conclude purchase and get the keys
  10. later members will join, closing funding for renovations
    (late-issue shares shall have a higher cost)
  11. any unused funds will be returned to shareholders
    (could be used to acquire shares in the next property)

See the questions page for more details.


Make a pledgeā€¦


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