UTOP is Paris’s first cooperative housing project, completed in 2024 on Rue Sorbier in the 20th arrondissement. Initiated under France's Alur Law of 2014, which supports participatory housing, a group of friends formed a cooperative to develop this innovative non-speculative housing model. Over 12 years, they created a 17-unit building where residents collectively manage the property. Each member holds shares in the cooperative, which they sell at the original price if they leave, ensuring affordability and preventing speculation.
This environmentally conscious project includes modular apartments with interchangeable walls, allowing spaces to adapt to residents’ needs. Loggias can also be transformed into additional rooms. Apartments range from studios to five-bedroom units, some offering panoramic views of Paris, including landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Square du Docteur-Grancher. Additionally, the ground floor features shared spaces such as a kitchen and a local association hub for community engagement.
Beyond providing affordable housing, UTOP fosters a sense of community and interaction with its neighborhood. The cooperative includes an association open to the public, known as La Pastèque, which hosts events and rents space to journalists. This project exemplifies a new approach to urban living, emphasizing cooperative management, flexibility, and sustainability, while creating deeper social ties within the city. UTOP serves as an inspiring model for future housing innovations in Paris and beyond.