Question 1

How many members do you envision?

Accepted Answer

We currently envision a community of approximately 12 to 30 long-term members. This number is not fixed. We are more interested in maintaining relational quality, ecological balance, and organisational coherence than in pursuing growth for its own sake. Our intention is to find the scale at which meaningful relationships, shared stewardship, and individual autonomy can coexist.

Question 2

Who are you looking for?

Accepted Answer

We are looking for people who are interested in a life that combines personal freedom with shared responsibility. Some members may be entrepreneurs, educators, artists, facilitators, remote workers, land stewards, families, or retirees. What matters most is not a specific profession, but a willingness to participate in community life, contribute to the whole, and engage in ongoing self-reflection and relational learning. Mosaic is not a place for people seeking comfort without responsibility. It is a place for people who are genuinely interested in growth, stewardship, and co-creation.

Question 3

Is it possible to build legally on the land?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The project currently consists of two properties. One property is already developed and contains approximately 400 m² of existing buildings and infrastructure. The second property is largely undeveloped. Based on preliminary assessments, we expect the possibility to legally develop approximately 600 m² of residential and educational structures, plus around 150 m² of support infrastructure. The final development potential will depend on future planning approvals, legalisation processes, and technical studies.

Question 4

How many square metres can I build for my private shelter?

Accepted Answer

At this stage, we have not yet entered the formal planning and legalisation process with the authorities. What we currently have is a preliminary land assessment prepared by an architect, based on the regulations and planning frameworks presently in force. This assessment provides an indication of what may be possible, but it does not constitute formal approval. The exact size and specifications of individual shelters will only be determined once the planning process has been completed. Our current working assumption is a maximum allocation of approximately 25 m² of private living space per adult, plus an additional 10 m² per child. The intention is not to maximise private square metres, but to create a high quality of life through a thoughtful balance between private space, shared spaces, nature, and community.

Question 5

Can I build my own house?

Accepted Answer

Potentially yes. Our intention is to allow members to participate in the design and development of their living spaces within the framework established by the cooperative, the land trust, and the legal constraints of the territory. Any construction must align with the overall vision, planning process, ecological principles, and available building rights. The goal is to create a coherent landscape rather than a collection of unrelated individual projects.

Question 6

Do you envision children living at Mosaic?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Children already live on the land today. We value the role of families and recognise the importance of strong parent-child relationships. At the same time, we are interested in exploring forms of community life that move beyond the isolation of the nuclear family and towards a culture of shared responsibility, mutual support, and co-parenting. Parents joining Mosaic are invited into an ongoing process of reflection and inquiry around education, parenting, and the impact of their choices on the wider community. We do not expect perfection, but we do expect openness to feedback, self-reflection, and continuous learning. Our intention is to create an environment where children can grow within a rich ecosystem of relationships, perspectives, skills, and role models.

Question 7

How much time is required to help sustain the land and shared infrastructure?

Accepted Answer

As a general guideline, members can expect to contribute between 6 and 12 hours per week toward the maintenance and development of the land and common infrastructure. The actual number of hours may vary depending on the season, the needs of the project, and the role a member chooses to take within the cooperative. We see stewardship not simply as work, but as participation in the creation and care of a shared living environment.

Question 8

Can I develop my own project or business within the village?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We actively encourage entrepreneurship, creativity, and self-actualisation. Members are welcome to develop their own projects, services, educational offerings, or businesses. Cooperative members may also use the cooperative structure as a platform for certain activities where appropriate. We particularly value projects that create benefits on multiple levels: for the individual, for the community, and for the land itself. Our goal is to cultivate an ecosystem of mutually supportive initiatives rather than a single centralised project.

Question 9

Do I need to participate in group activities and practices?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Community life requires intentional spaces where relationships can be maintained, tensions can be addressed, and trust can deepen. At present, members are expected to participate in two collective sessions per week of 2 hours. The first is an open relational space that may include dialogue, movement, silence, dance, inquiry, play, or member-led activities. The second is a deeper relational practice focused on authenticity, self-awareness, feedback, conflict transformation, and collective coherence. These formats may evolve over time as the community develops its own methods and culture. In addition, we may periodically organise retreats, intensives, or seasonal gatherings focused on presence, discernment, emotional maturity, leadership, initiation, and relational capacity.

Question 10

How are decisions made?

Accepted Answer

Mosaic is organised as a cooperative. The fundamental principle is one member, one vote. Day-to-day decisions are delegated to the people responsible for specific domains, while major decisions affecting the future of the project are made collectively through the governance processes of the cooperative. Our intention is to balance participation, accountability, efficiency, and long-term stewardship.

Question 11

Who owns the land?

Accepted Answer

The land is currently in transition from a conventional ownership structure towards a cooperative stewardship model. Our long-term intention is to move the land into a form of regenerative commons where the territory is protected from speculation and preserved for future generations. Members do not purchase land ownership. Instead, they participate in the stewardship, development, and governance of the project.

Question 12

How much does it cost to join, and what do I receive in return?

Accepted Answer

The contribution required to become a long-term member is expected to range between approximately €35,000 and €65,000, depending on the stage of development of the project, the membership pathway chosen, and potentially financial capacity and age. This contribution supports the creation of the cooperative, the land trust structure, shared infrastructure, and the long-term resilience of the project. A portion of this contribution becomes part of the common trust supporting the continuity of Mosaic. The remaining portion is linked to your membership and may be returned if and when a new member replaces your position within the project. If you invest in the construction of a private living space, you receive long-term use rights to that space. Similar to cooperative housing models found in many European cities, these use rights may be transferred to future members, subject to the agreements of the cooperative. If a space is rented while awaiting transfer, the holder of the use rights may receive a portion of the rental income according to the cooperative's policies.

Question 13

What happens if I decide to leave?

Accepted Answer

People change, and we recognise that life circumstances evolve. If you choose to leave the project, your membership position may be transferred to a future member according to the agreements of the cooperative. The objective is to create a fair and transparent transition process that protects both the departing member and the continuity of the project. Specific conditions are defined through the cooperative agreements and membership contracts.

Question 14

Can I lose my membership or my right to live on the land?

Accepted Answer

In exceptional circumstances, yes. Mosaic is committed to maintaining a healthy, coherent, and safe social environment. If serious unresolvable conflicts arise, members may be asked to temporarily or permanently step back from living on the land. However, removal is never the first step. The project follows a gradual process that prioritises dialogue, mediation, repair, support, accountability, and opportunities for reintegration wherever possible. Losing the right to reside on the land does not automatically mean losing membership or financial contributions made to the project. Specific rights, responsibilities, use agreements, and financial arrangements are governed by the cooperative's statutes and internal agreements. Our intention is not exclusion, but the protection of the collective field and the long-term integrity of the project.

Question 15

Do I need previous experience in community living?

Accepted Answer

No. Many people arrive with little or no experience of communal living. What matters more than experience is the willingness to learn, communicate honestly, receive feedback, take responsibility, and remain engaged when challenges arise. Community is a practice, not a skill that people either have or do not have.

Question 16

How do you handle conflict?

Accepted Answer

Conflict is a natural part of any meaningful relationship. Our goal is not to avoid conflict but to develop the capacity to move through it in constructive ways. We use a combination of dialogue, mediation, relational practices, restorative processes, and collective reflection to support repair and learning. We see conflict as one of the primary teachers of community life and one of the most valuable opportunities for growth, intimacy, and transformation.

Question 17

What is Mosaic ultimately trying to explore?

Accepted Answer

Mosaic exists as a living relational research centre. We are interested in some of the most important questions of our time: How do humans share power without domination? How do we create prosperity without extraction? How do we raise children in a healthy village environment? How do we care for land in ways that regenerate ecosystems? How do we remain in relationship when we disagree? Some questions are too important to leave to books, podcasts, and theories. They need to be lived.

The vision of a village

A library of the places that make the village.

Lake 1

Lake 2

Clay house

Main house

Small house

Wild kitchen

Caravan

Garage space

Tree house

Circus tent

Dome

Seedhouse

Frequently asked questions