The role of shared space fostering cooperation towards sustainable wellbeing in urban communities: The representative case of the Genova community in Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

The transition towards a sustainable society requires that sustainable forms of wellbeing – here understood as the set of practices that positively influence the social, emotional and physical state of individuals – are widely applied and experienced positively in daily life. Coming up with such scenarios requires cooperation. This explorative qualitative study identifies conditions that lead to successful production of sustainable wellbeing in the Genova community. The community is representative of Vauban, one of Germany’s largest sustainable living districts with worldwide reputation. Drawing on common pool resource (CPR) theory, it is argued that a given shared space has the potential to become a valuable asset that encourages cooperation for long-term gains among its users when effective governance structures are established. The analysis shows that the green area, the common room and the roof terrace host a wide variety of social and emotional wellbeing-related activities, such as gatherings or sunbathing, and are greatly appreciated by the group. The different facilities and related activities need backing and give rise to different forms of cooperation. While incidental financial contribution is mainly associated with the creation of infrastructure, the organization for its use along with maintenance-related activities count for long-term cooperation. The functional community displays all elements established by the CPR theory. The paper supports evidence-informed societal transitions towards sustainability while making visible applied forms of wellbeing and conditions for success.