Sharing is the New owning and the Heart of What We Do but why do what does this really mean?
When I moved to a new city for the first time, I remember how hard the beginning felt. I didn’t know anyone, didn’t know the neighbourhood, didn’t even know where to get good coffee. That sense of disorientation, even loneliness, sticks with you. And it’s something so many people still experience when they move, especially for just a few months.
At POHA House, we set out to change that. Because we believe that housing should do more than provide a roof – it should provide a sense of belonging. That’s where our concept of “sharing is the new owning” comes in.
What Is the Sharing Economy – and Why Does It Matter for Housing?
The sharing economy is a transformative model that shifts the focus from ownership to access. Instead of each individual investing in rarely used personal resources – like cars, tools, or even entire apartments – the sharing economy encourages collective use. Think of services like Airbnb, BlaBlaCar, or Tool Libraries: they provide value not through possession, but through participation.
In housing, this model is still relatively new – but it holds enormous potential. At POHA House, we believe in applying these principles to create living experiences that are more social, sustainable, and accessible.
How POHA House Lives the Sharing Economy
For us, sharing isn’t just efficient or convenient. It’s deeply sustainable – in every sense of the word. Sharing kitchens, guest rooms, laundry spaces, co-working areas, event spaces, bikes, and even ideas. It reduces waste, saves resources, and encourages genuine human connection.
Instead of isolated living in small boxes, our members step into vibrant communities where collaboration is built into the architecture. You can move in on day one and be part of a shared dinner on day two.
We provide more than just a place to live – we provide places to belong.
A Different Way of Living: POHA vs. Traditional Housing
Traditional housing models often prioritise privacy and property. While there’s nothing wrong with personal space, this model can lead to social isolation and inefficient use of resources – especially in urban environments.
POHA House offers an alternative: one where personal space meets shared infrastructure. You still have your private apartment, but it’s embedded in a network of shared spaces and community life. This hybrid model supports flexibility, mental well-being, environmental responsibility, and affordability.
The Heartbeat: Our Community Team
And honestly, none of this would work without our amazing Community team.
Just yesterday, I was blown away by the energy and warmth our Aachen team – Farai, Maike, and Ogi – brought to a community event. It wasn’t just fun. It was meaningful. You could feel how people connected, laughed, shared stories, made plans. That’s what community is about. And that’s what they make happen – every single day.
What Drives Us
If you ask me what makes POHA House different, it’s not just our Cradle-to-Cradle-certified design or our all-inclusive service. It’s the people who make others feel at home.
That’s also what drives me personally. True impact starts at home – and in how we make others feel when they arrive.