Living Together

Clara Gromaches is an architect creating regen homes and cooperative social housing in rural areas of Barcelona. Founder of ACT Creative Lab and also member of the operations team of dOrg, a collectively owned Web3 development shop, and was the first DAO to ever be recognized by USA law as an LLC, in 2019.

Clara’s mission is to bring regen housing communities to the mainstream through the power of self-organization leveraging technology.

#FridayFutures Highlight 20: Clara Gromaches, Operations at dOrg

How did you get into the Web3 space?

My passion for architecture has been ingrained in me since I can remember. I believe it's been there from the very beginning, perhaps even as young as four. I would find myself designing homes, playing with Legos, and arranging Barbie's living spaces. It was like a natural instinct, something that felt right.

Throughout my childhood, I always knew I wanted to study architecture, but upon achieving that architectural title, I faced a moment of uncertainty. I needed to trust my curiosity to guide me to where I was meant to be. I've been fortunate to hold a strong desire for self-sustainability, a yearning for independence from the current system, and a way to ensure essential utilities even in challenging times.

Early on, I had the privilege of meeting some incredible individuals, architects who've dedicated over three decades to building self-sustainable homes, beautifully integrated with nature and rooted in local construction traditions. However, there was a catch – these homes were predominantly for the wealthy, a realization that struck a chord with me. I believe everyone should have the right to a comfortable living space, a fundamental human right, not just a luxury for the affluent.

This idea of housing as a human right became deeply meaningful for me due to personal experiences. My grandparents faced displacement, which, though they had a second residence, created immense emotional turmoil. Observing my mom and friends dealing with rising rent prices and the instability of gentrified areas further fueled my determination.

A turning point occurred during a trip to India when I was around 15. Seeing girls my age living on the streets opened my eyes to stark inequality. I felt the weight of my privilege, being born into the family I was, and realized the need to make a positive impact. I understood that my fortunate circumstances provided an opportunity for action, not just for personal gain but to contribute to improving the lives of others.

I decided to take a gap year and explore my passions. That's when I stumbled upon Blockchain technology, went through the learning curve, and found that it aligned perfectly with my values and vision. It was a digital realm but had a tangible connection to my principles.

In this space, you can own assets as part of a community, engage in governance processes, create tools for governance, incentives, and even finance projects without relying on traditional banks or governments. The entire concept resonated with me, making complete sense.

Upon returning from my travels in 2020, a few friends and I participated in an event in the States where we presented a prototype setting for cohousing DAOs. We aimed to create a platform for communities to come together, design housing solutions, and have these communities run and owned by the people living in them. Our intention was to break free from the mortgage system, high rents, instability, and the isolation faced by society, especially the elderly. We wanted to collectively create something more meaningful.

However, we quickly realized that the concept of co-housing and community-owned housing was already a significant shift for people. Introducing the idea of Web3 into the mix was a bit too much to handle at that time. Our target audience was everyday individuals – my mom, dad, brother, friends, and myself – not the Web3 community. We decided to start small, creating single communities in our local territories and gradually scaling up. We aimed to systematize the process and gradually introduce digital tools, including Web3, as we progressed.

During this time, I was eager to learn more about Ethereum and get hands-on experience. I began researching positions and was fortunate to be accepted at dOrg. It's been an incredible journey so far, surrounded by a vibrant community of developers.

What's your hot take about the future of housing, and what exciting trends are you currently observing?

What truly excites me is witnessing how people are starting to realize that they can self-organize and create alternative systems. For instance, in the real estate market, my vision is to establish a part of the industry where housing, is managed and owned by the communities themselves. This approach ensures stability in prices and can even be scaled up. A notable example is Vienna, which boasts a large cooperative housing stock, enabling it to regulate market prices. This is a potent transition from the traditional ownership model.

Consider the situation in Spain, where the younger generation faces challenges in owning a home due to their salaries or a desire to avoid lengthy commitments to banks. An alternative solution is a cooperative model, which emphasizes the right to use space. In this model, a legal entity, the cooperative, owns the property, and its members can use it for as long as they want. This approach provides significant flexibility, allowing individuals to switch housing without dealing with cumbersome paperwork. The decisions are made at the community's organizational level.

This revolutionary concept, when combined with the community aspect, opens up new possibilities. Additionally, adding layers of self-sufficiency in terms of energy or even food, essentially achieving sovereign energy, makes the concept even more powerful. Imagine having a housing system that not only offers flexibility but also reduces reliance on mortgages. If someone wants to take a sabbatical year or any other change comes up, another member can temporarily occupy the space within the community.

This whole idea is truly transformative.

Is there any person, company or cohousing project that’s inspiring you right now?

In the context of Urban Development a project that is revolutionary because of all those layers that I've just thought, it's La Borda, a building in Barcelona of mostly 40 units plus community spaces. The cool thing is, that the building looks great and has regen facilities even though it's not super expensive. They manage it really well too.?

Then there's Cal Cases, another interesting case in rural Barcelona. Back in 2011, it was the first project where people cooperated to make something together. This one's more about a close-knit rural community, where everyone helps each other out. Honestly, I don't think everyone fit perfectly into the communal kind of lifestyle, but I still like the idea of sharing with neighbors while also having my own space.

What are your insights on funding methods for housing projects?

I can give you an example of recent numbers for a project we're starting in a rural area. It's about 16 houses. In this case, there aren't any shared spaces – just sixteen separate homes, each with its own backyard. They have between three to four rooms each. Now, for the financial side of things, families need to put in a significant upfront payment. This deposit is refundable if you decide to leave. This payment covers about twenty percent of the total project cost. The remaining eighty percent is a mix of help, like grants from the government, since it's considered social housing. We can get around twenty percent from the government. The rest, which is around sixty-five percent, comes from sources like ethical banks that work with cooperatives, or even friends, family, acquaintances, or investors who believe in the project's mission. They invest with a small return, like 2.5 to 3%. Compare that with banks, where we're looking at about a 4% return on investment.

Then, the people who live in these places need to pay a monthly fee. This fee covers the mortgage and some maintenance costs, so the prices don't go up too much over time, and we can build resources for the cooperative. During the mortgage phase, which could be around thirty to forty years, the monthly fees might be quite high – let's say about seventeen hundred per month. It's a bit much, especially for families who fall under the social housing income limit, but it's manageable. However, once the mortgage is covered, these monthly fees drop significantly, down to maybe three hundred or two hundred fifty. This amount sticks for the remaining phases of the project.

Our projects need a long-term outlook. We know that initially, there's a need for more financial input, but in the end, it lets us provide really affordable monthly payments. And the bonus is, when you leave the place, you get back that initial investment you put in.

How do you manage the intriguing challenge of supply and demand with multiple houses and rooms, especially in terms of selection criteria and potential income requirements??

There are meaningful inquiries in social housing due to the involvement of government regulation. They establish criteria, such as residency for at least two years, income limitations, and no personal properties, as set by the government. On a local level, there are additional considerations, like incentives for existing village residents. Specifically, extra points might be awarded to young families, disabled individuals, and mothers who have faced violence. This prioritizes those who face greater difficulties in accessing housing. These conversations involve collaboration with local city councils, particularly when moving beyond reliance on social housing cooperatives.

Another avenue is creating intentional communities. This often begins with a small group, typically 2 to 6 people, sharing a vision. It's crucial to be specific about the vision—what "sustainability" means varies widely. With the vision in hand, communication and networking expand to attract more members. Concurrently, potential locations are scouted, necessitating resources and effort.

The subsequent process benefits from professional advice, whether in facilitation, economic planning, or legal structuring. This journey is challenging; only around 10% of intentional communities succeed, and the path is time-intensive. Streamlining processes and avoiding common mistakes improve the likelihood of success.

How do decentralized technologies like blockchains relate to cooperative housing and open-source software development?

Currently, the people we're focusing on aren't quite ready for it. They struggle even with basic tools like Google Drive. Imagine introducing them to concepts like MetaMask! However, I do see potential in Web3 to expand and replicate the organizational structure of these cooperatives.

Customization is key. Each community tailors its setup. Web3 could play a role by creating incentives for actions or assigning governance and ownership power to individuals who may not meet economic criteria but contribute in other ways. Using Web3 ensures traceability and recognition for these roles.

Web3 could also revolutionize funding. Currently, securing funds is a major hurdle, often requiring reliance on skeptical banks. Public funds or collective financial systems in the crypto space could ease replication and expansion worldwide.

Moreover, digital tools could streamline processes. Web3 and even Web2 could introduce efficiency to the coordination behind the scenes. This could save substantial time by digitizing decision-making and assembly processes.

How can we stay in touch?

You can easily find me on social media - Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram. You can also check out my website where I share info about the projects I've been involved in. I'm currently scouting locations in Southern Europe for a project. If you're curious, please feel free to drop your email here, and I'll keep you updated about the upcoming steps.?

Have thoughts on this week’s topic or question for me or Clara? Post your thoughts in the comment section. Until next week.??

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