Meet Jackson Torchia, Co-Liv Ambassador for UK

How do you currently define yourself, and what drives you?

I believe that feeling close to the people and places around us is the single most important thing for a happy and fulfilling life. We’re social beings, always have been and always will be. 

I’ve worked with The Collective at some of the largest coliving developments in the world, and with Oppidan Life at some of the smallest. Having seen the pros and cons of both models, I’m now helping Oppidan Life design a large-scale coliving scheme that maintains the small, tight-knit communities you typically find in smaller schemes. 

We do this using a combination of design and facilitation, creating micro-communities on each floor with their own shared spaces, communication channels, and events. We also offer spaces and events to the entire building to help create a wider sense of community like the ones usually found in larger schemes. We believe this approach offers the best of both worlds, allowing people to experience the intimacy of a narrow community as well as the opportunities of a wider one. 

Contributing to the future of coliving is my long-term goal and I’m looking forward to meeting so many other Co-Liv members who also share this dream.

What makes you passionate about coliving, and why are you actively promoting the coliving scene?

I’ve witnessed first-hand the impact that coliving has on people’s lives. I’ve seen friendships forge, businesses merge, and relationships blossom, all within the walls of a coliving building.

What coliving offers is the opportunity to interact with people, and this opportunity is what inevitably sparks new connections. With our current lifestyles, many of us struggle to meet people, and the opportunities to make new connections are few and far between. To turn this around, all we really need is to put ourselves in a position where interactions happen organically. 

I’m passionate about coliving because I believe anything that helps people come together and connect is something worth fighting for.

What are your visions and thoughts on the future of coliving for the year to come?

As more and more people join the coliving scene, the surge of new ideas, developments, and strategies will push our current definition of coliving into new territories. We’ll see a more defined industry emerge, with clearer guidance from local planning authorities who’ll help developers create even better spaces. 

Our knowledge of community facilitation will also skyrocket as people begin to hone their skills and experiment with different models of operation. More research will be done on the benefits of community, and true coliving experts will start emerging on the scene.

Coliving has a long way to go before it reaches its peak, but the next few years will define just how far the industry will go. In the wake of Covid-19, people are looking for flexibility and community more than ever before.

You joined Co-Liv as “UK Ambassador” — which opportunities do you want to create for the country you represent, the organization, its members, and the coliving industry?

I’m a strong believer that any community (personal or professional) can only reach its full potential by working together. The coliving industry has only just begun, but how far it goes depends entirely upon how much the people working within it are willing to collaborate, share ideas, and challenge each other to keep improving. 

My priority will be to grow Co-Liv’s community, and create as many opportunities as possible for people to interact, form connections, and collaborate. I genuinely believe that this is the key to helping the coliving industry thrive.

How did you get into coliving?

I stumbled across a coliving role after spending 3 years working in behaviour therapy. Originally, I was attracted to the role because of its flexibility and strong focus on social interactions, the exact same thing that attracts people to live in coliving buildings in the first place. 

Within a few weeks I knew I had found something special, and the connections I made in those early days really set the tone for the years that followed. After my first few months working in a coliving building, I’d made more friends than the previous 3 years combined. I’m now on my third coliving scheme in an entirely new city but many of my closest friends are still those people I met at the beginning of my coliving journey. 

Thank you for being part of this movement! How can people reach out, and what can you mostly help them with?

I can help with all things related to community engagement and member relations. My experience working across all levels of the member journey has given me a deep understanding of coliving spaces, and the people who chose to live in them.

You can reach me through my socials; Jackson Torchia on LinkedIn, @jacksonastill on insta, or via email jacksontorchia@gmail.com

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With lots of co-love,

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The Co-Liv Team

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