The charter

The aim of this summary of the charter is to make it easier to learn about the project. It is aimed in particular at external parties, family and friends, partners, and anyone interested in joining Hagrou. It provides a quick overview of the collective’s values, intentions and key principles. However, it does not replace the full charter, which remains the reference document: it sets out our ideas in greater detail, explains the choices underpinning them and describes more specifically how the collective operates.

Why this charter? #

This charter sets out the vision that guides our co-housing project. It is not a detailed set of rules, but a shared framework that guides our choices and the way we live together.

Our project is based on three complementary pillars:

siblinghood, which places solidarity, inclusivity and care for relationships at the heart of community lif;
poetry, understood as a creative and joyful way of inhabiting the world;
robustness, which aims to build a community capable of enduring, adapting and caring for its environment.

Siblinghood

Making solidarity the foundation of living together

Our observation #

Our societies often encourage individualism, competition and isolation. Social, economic and cultural inequalities make it difficult to forge lasting bonds and foster mistrust towards others.

We wish to explore a different way of living, based on trust, cooperation and the recognition of differences.

Our aspiration #

Siblinghood refers to a form of solidarity that encompasses both fraternity and sorority, whilst transcending gender identities.

We want to build a welcoming community where everyone can be fully themselves whilst contributing to a collective project. We believe that diversity is a source of richness: it fosters creativity, the stability of the group and its ability to evolve.

In practice #

Our collective aims to:

operate in a horizontal and participatory manner;
make decisions through dialogue, consent and the pursuit of consensus;
promote transparent and supportive communication;
view disagreements as opportunities to learn rather than as failures;
maintain a balance between individual autonomy and collective life;
pool knowledge, skills and certain material resources;
to strive for fairness rather than strict equality, taking into account the realities and needs of each individual;
to promote inclusion, accessibility and diversity within the group;
to embed the project within its neighbourhood and develop links with its social environment.

We believe that everyone is responsible, according to their abilities, for looking after themselves, expressing their needs, maintaining caring relationships with others, and contributing to the life of the collective.

Poetry

Living in the world with creativity

Our observation #

Living together is not just about sharing a building: it is also about building a shared narrative.

In a society that values efficiency, speed and one-size-fits-all solutions, we wish to preserve spaces where people can imagine, experiment, play and create.

Our aspiration #

We use the word poetry in its original sense: that of creation.

We want to make our home a place where art, culture, play, humour, imagination and sensitivity play an important role, not as secondary activities, but as ways to better understand the world, to strengthen bonds between people and to invent new ways of living.

In practice #

We aim to:

encourage communication that is playful, creative and inquisitive;
welcome original ideas with an open mind;
recognise the value of trial and error, experimentation and collective learning;
pay particular attention to the aesthetic quality of our living spaces;
design communal spaces that encourage interaction, creativity, knowledge-sharing and mutual support;
ensure that these spaces can, where appropriate, host activities open to the wider community.

We want our homes to remain vibrant places, capable of evolving alongside the people who live there.

Robustness

Building a sustainable community

Our observation #

Dominant economic models often prioritise performance, specialisation and short-term growth. This approach undermines both individuals and ecosystems.

We, on the other hand, wish to develop a project capable of enduring through diversity, cooperation and adaptability.

Our aspiration #

For us, robustness is not about constantly improving performance, but about building a community that is sufficiently diverse and united to cope with change, the unexpected and future challenges.

Robustness is based on human connections, the sharing of responsibilities and the responsible use of resources.

In practice #

We aim to:

foster informal moments of camaraderie and celebration;
welcome new members thoughtfully and with care;
develop partnerships with the local neighbourhood, associations and other groups;
share responsibilities so that the running of the project never depends on a single person;
prioritise architectural choices that are sustainable, adaptable and environmentally friendly;
promote shared spaces and a ‘use-based’ economy rather than individual ownership;
encourage repair, reuse, low-tech approaches and the circular use of resources;
develop spaces that encourage soft mobility, DIY, culture, games, gardens and collective projects;
document the history of the project in order to share its experience, lessons learnt and the stories that will emerge from this shared adventure.

In conclusion #

Hagrou is a collective experiment.

We aim to build a community where camaraderie, poetry, and robustness reinforce one another, so as to make everyday life a space for cooperation, joy and empowerment.

This charter serves as a shared compass. It is intended to evolve alongside the group, in step with our shared experiences and lessons learnt.