As of: March 27, 2024, 1:46 p.m
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Two couples, a child and a shared apartment: an unusual life together in Munich, which the residents describe as “absolute stroke of luck”.
Munich – Manuel remembers: “Before we moved in together, my parents thought it was totally strange.”
“My father said it was complete nonsense, what are they going to do?” The 38-year-old has been living in a shared apartment (shared apartment) with his girlfriend Katharina (38) since July 2023.
At the beginning of the year, her daughter Marta*, the youngest roommate, came along.
Manuel reports irritated reactions.
“Especially since there’s a child involved.” He can’t understand the excitement.
“Father, mother, child is not for everyone, just because society says so.”
The couple looked for a suitable apartment together with Florina (33) and David (35) for seven months.
Katharina and Florina are old acquaintances.
“I wouldn't say I would try this model with anyone,” says Florina.
“It just has to be right.” Katharina sees the living situation as an “absolute stroke of luck”.
However, it was difficult to convince landlords of this.
“When people think of a shared apartment, they only think of students who party all the time.
But that’s also available for adults.”
Living in a shared apartment in Munich with a baby: “Grateful for people with a different reality of life”
The two couples have been sharing a 163 square meter apartment in Maxvorstadt and the basic rent of 3,850 euros for almost nine months.
“The two of us couldn’t afford it.
“But the financial aspect wasn’t the motivation at all,” explains Katharina.
“I just want to have people around me,” agrees Florina.
Manuel adds: “Since the child was born, I think the situation is even better.
You're totally stuck in this parenting bubble where it's all about diapers.
I'm totally grateful that people live here who have a completely different reality of life." His parents are now also showing more understanding.
Manuel, Katharina (with baby) and Florina on the balcony of their shared apartment.
© lks
The shared apartment members share a kitchen, two living rooms, balconies and bathrooms; only the bedrooms are private.
This has the potential for conflict.
“You have to like each other.
We merged several households;
“Everyone had to scale back,” jokes Florina.
“We are learning better and better how to deal with controversial issues.” The fact that she and Katharina have already lived together in another shared apartment for six years is very helpful.
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Residents see an “absolutely promising model”
There are no toys spread out on the floor yet.
“If we see that we have to divide the rooms differently when Marta is bigger, we will do that,” assures Katharina.
“The fact that we have so much space is a great luxury.”
Since Marta enriched the shared apartment, living together has become even more conscious.
“We look for evenings in which we explicitly make time for the community,” says Florina.
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Our daughter doesn't just have two helicopter parents circling around her.
Katharina about life in the shared apartment
Katharina sees this type of living as an “absolutely promising model”: “You hear about overburdened small families all the time.” Since she breastfeeds Marta, she is very tied to the apartment.
“It's great when there are people there who can help.” Be it with household chores or short-term babysitting.
“Marta was with me at her first Fridays for Future demo,” reports Florina.
“I am responsible for political education,” explains the 33-year-old, who sits on the district council for the Greens.
“This wouldn't exist if she was just 'just a friend',” emphasizes Katharina.
The 38-year-old looks to the future: “I can imagine living in such a situation forever.”
“Our daughter is growing up with several caregivers and not just two helicopter parents circling around her.” Florina predicts that this type of living could find more fans given the general housing shortage.
Adjustments could always be made.
“Even if we have another child, we can live comfortably here.”
(lks) *Name changed by the editors.
The editor edited this article using AI and then carefully checked it.
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