Intentional communities are groups of people who choose to live together with a specific purpose and shared values. These communities, also known as planned communities, vary in their focus, from environmental sustainability to spirituality.
History of intentional communities
Intentional communities, although gaining popularity recently, have a history dating back centuries. From Christian monastic communities to the utopian experiments of the 19th century, these communities have existed as communal societies based on religious principles and the common good.
Some relevant examples from history are:
- Amana Colonies: Established by German immigrants in Iowa in the 19th century.
- Christian Monastic Communities: Since the first centuries of Christianity, monastic communities have practiced this lifestyle, dedicated to prayer, work, and service to others under a set of shared rules and values.
- New Harmony: Founded in Indiana in 1825 by businessman and philanthropist Robert Owen, this community sought to establish a cooperative system of life based on equality.
- Brook Farm: Established in Massachusetts in 1841, this utopian community sought to combine agricultural work with intellectual and artistic education.
- Amish: This is a religious group that lives mainly in the United States and Canada. They form intentional communities based on their religious beliefs and shared values. Additionally, they reject many forms of modern technology and prefer a self-sufficient agricultural lifestyle. They maintain strong community ties centered on family and faith, which have remained relatively intact for centuries.
Intentional communities in 21st century society
With the growth in the cost of living and global concern about loneliness, the option of community living is gaining ground. Intentional communities are on the rise in response to these concerns.
The high cost of housing and rent, along with the recognition of loneliness as a public health concern by the World Health Organization, are driving this movement. More homes are being remodeled to accommodate this new way of communal living.
This is how intentional communities exist to reduce living costs or to avoid loneliness. While others share ideologies or ways of life, as is the case of ecovillages or cohousing.
Ecovillages
Ecovillages are self-sufficient communities, rooted in harmony with nature, pursuing social, ecological and economic sustainability. They are located mainly in rural areas, and their design ensures their long-term sustainability through participatory processes.
They are based on cooperation, self-consumption and the use of renewable energies and promote homes built with sustainable and biodegradable materials, such as adobe and straw. Its environment is ideal to reconnect with nature.
They are generally self-sustaining through a variety of projects, from tourism to crafts and carpentry and blacksmithing. Countries like India, Mexico, USA, Italy, Scotland, Germany, Portugal and Spain are pioneers in this lifestyle.
Cohousing
Intentional communities offer seniors a purposeful and passionate lifestyle, promoting a sense of belonging and mutual support. It is a residential form originating in the 1970s in Denmark and Holland, which provides independent housing with common areas, gaining popularity among seniors in Europe and the United States.
It is an alternative that fuses elements of traditional neighborhoods, such as family and community, offering a healthy mix of privacy and intergenerational community living.
