Gamified Cohousing is a model of heritage housing in Finland that brings new life to abandoned buildings by involving communities directly in their reuse.
Gamified Cohousing is a model of heritage housing in Finland that gives new life to abandoned or obsolete buildings by transforming them into affordable, shared living spaces. Instead of demolishing the heritage of old schools and trainstations, we preserve it with light-touch renovation: repairing only what is necessary for safety and functionality, while leaving room for residents themselves to participate in improving their homes. This makes housing both more affordable and more communal. It is an approach that has already been recognized widely, from being a Finnish finalist in the 2025 New European Bauhaus Prizes, to hosting the Re Renovate Symposium in Oulu supported by city leaders, and presenting at the Venice Biennale of Architecture this November.
“This form of heritage housing in Finland doesn’t rely on expensive, full renovations but on basic safety measures and participatory upgrades done over time.“
For this vision to work, cooperation is essential. Residents are not passive tenants but active contributors in the process of shaping their environment. Because we deliberately avoid costly, high-spec renovations, rental costs remain reasonable. At the same time, we ensure that all basic safety issues are repaired upfront: heating, electricity, fire safety, and water. There are never direct safety threats, only a gradual process of improvement, where residents and professionals work side by side. But this requires planning departments to understand that full compliance takes time. Once the housing stabilizes and improvements are consolidated, full permits can then be applied for and granted.
Unfortunately, when authorities or media call out the process prematurely, mid-stream, it creates unnecessary alarm. Residents who had felt safe and welcomed are suddenly made anxious, and some leave. This not only empties the house again but also threatens the financial model that allows for affordable rents and continued investment.
What should be celebrated as a community-driven solution to housing and heritage preservation instead risks being undermined by rigidity and miscommunication. Lappeenranta now faces a choice: allow Gamified Cohousing to continue proving that life, safety, and affordability can be brought back to neglected buildings—or see valuable heritage once again left to rot.
“If heritage housing in Finland is to succeed, it must be supported, not undermined, by the very institutions that stand to benefit from its cultural, economic, and democratic value.“
Pedro Aibéo
Gamified Cohousing
28.08.2025
