The Urban Villa - From Speculation to Cooperation

The urban villa is a medium-sized multi-family dwelling that has become an important housing type in cities across Europe and beyond since the nineteenth century. Its compact and speculative character distinguishes it from other housing forms. It emerged by combining expectations of suburban living with rising urban land costs. Despite its controversial commercial reputation, the urban villa has attracted diverse residents. This study has two aims: to reinterpret its complex history and to redefine the type by separating it from its speculative origins, repositioning it as an ideal form of affordable, collective, and cooperative housing. The book explores its evolution through forty-two case studies.