Loneliness in old age is a common problem in Brazil, affecting almost a third of people in this age group. To combat this fate, a group of friends created Vila ConViver, a village for senior citizens in the interior of São Paulo.
With a common area and individual residences, the project guarantees conviviality and, at the same time, privacy. Thus, it is possible to maintain an active social life regardless of age, with the support and security of having close friends.
Vila ConViver: the first senior cohousing in Brazil
The concept of collaborative housing or cohousing, better known by the English term cohousing, emerged in Denmark in 1970. A cohousing consists of a “village of neighbors” where people live in separate houses but share common areas and develop a strong sense of community.
Collaborative senior housing is already common in countries such as England, Sweden and Denmark itself. Here in Brazil, however, the first will be Vila ConViver, designed by a group of 46 people who want to grow old in the company of friends.
The village is in Campinas 106 kilometers from São Paulo. The project is already ready and will soon be off the drawing board. There will be 34 private homes with two or three bedrooms and a large common area, where residents can enjoy soirees, movie screenings, kiosks and handicraft workshops, as well as use the gym and shared kitchen.
It is strategically located, close to health services and shops, which guarantees even more comfort and practicality for residents.
What do I do if I want to live in Vila?
The project’s creators are retired Unicamp professors who want to grow old together. But Vila ConViver is open to anyone who wants to grow old in a community.
Although it’s a retirement home, people over the age of 50 can live there. Find out more about Vila ConViver on the website, and if you’re interested in living there, get in touch via this link.