Housing and ageing in France and Germany: the intergenerational solution
Abstract
Purpose – In France and Germany, intergenerational housing is put forward as an option by public
authorities. This kind of housing scheme seems like a good solution for seniors and young people, from both
an economic and a social point of view. But beyond this common philosophy, there are differences in the way
intergenerational housing is being implemented in the two countries. France mainly favours the studentsenior
home-sharing model whereas the intergenerational collaborative housing (co-housing) model based
on solidarity between seniors and families is gaining ground in Germany. The purpose of this paper is to
explore the reasons for these differences and present results from field surveys conducted in both countries.
Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative methodology of the field surveys consisted essentially of
semi-structured interviews with the young people and seniors living in these types of housing, in order to
understand how they experienced intergenerational solidarity.
Findings – The authors’ surveys revealed that certain conditions are essential for this intergenerational
solidarity to be fully effective, notably voluntary participation and commitment to the project, and possibly
external support to ensure that it is designed and implemented in the best possible way.
Originality/value – This paper provides useful recommendations for decision makers who wish to support
this type of housing concept based on intergenerational solidarity.