Could we live differently in our cities?

Could we live differently in our cities?

Exploring urban-based communal living

27 August · 18:00–20:00
Hlemmur.Haus · Hlemmur 4, 101 Reykjavík (5th floor)

What might our cities look like if we thought differently about how we live together?

Could we share more while still having our own space? Could the places we live help create stronger connections and communities? And what can we learn from people around the world who are already experimenting with different ways of living together?

Join us for a Totelly Evening exploring urban communal living — bringing together international experience, the experiences and ideas of people in the room, and an open conversation about alternative ways of creating home, connection and community in our cities.

This isn't a formal conference.

It's an evening to hear, share, question and connect.

🌍 Guest speaker — Taisa Mattos

We’re delighted to welcome Taisa Mattos, a Brazilian educator, researcher and internationally recognised trainer whose work has explored ecovillages, sustainability, regenerative education and community life for more than 15 years.

Since 2009, Taisa has coordinated and taught Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) programmes across Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Argentina, Mexico and the United States, as well as internationally online.

From 2019–2024, she served as Education, Consultancy and Research Coordinator at the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN International). Today she is Gaia Schools Coordinator at Gaia Education and a Board Member of the International Communal Studies Association (ICSA).

She is also the author of Ecovillages: Building a Regenerative Culture and holds a Master's degree in Psychosociology of Communities and Social Ecology.

Her work bridges ideas and practice — exploring how participation, sustainability and community can help us rethink the ways we live together.

At Totelly Evening, Taisa will bring some of that international experience into a very local question:

What can communities around the world teach us about living differently — and what could those ideas mean for Iceland?

🎤 Open sharing — the floor is yours

Following Taisa's talk, we'd like to hear from the people in the room.

Have you experienced communal or shared living somewhere?

Are you exploring co-housing or a different way of living?

Perhaps you have an idea you've been thinking about, a challenge you've encountered, a perspective you'd like to add — or simply a dream for how we might live differently.

The floor will be open for anyone who would like to share an experience, an idea, a perspective, a question — or a possibility.

Nothing needs to be polished or prepared.

You can share something, ask a question — or simply listen.

💬 Open conversation + audience Q&A

From those contributions, we'll open up a wider conversation with Taisa and everyone in the room.

What could communal living look like in an Icelandic context?

What could we share — and what would we want to keep private?

What can we learn from ecovillages, co-housing, intentional communities and other models around the world?

What opportunities and obstacles exist here?

And could the places we live help us build stronger communities in and around our cities?

Bring your questions, experiences and curiosity.

The evening

🌍 Taisa Mattos — international perspectives

Ecovillages, community life and lessons from different ways of living together.

🎤 Open sharing — the floor is yours

Experiences, ideas, perspectives, questions and dreams from people in the room.

💬 Open conversation + audience Q&A

A conversation with Taisa and everyone who wants to take part.

🤝 Drinks & informal networking

Meet others, exchange ideas and continue the conversation.

You don't need to live communally — or have a project of your own — to join us.

You don't need to be an expert.

You don't need to have an idea to present.

And you certainly don't have to speak.

This evening is for anyone curious about how we live, what we share, how communities form and whether our cities could offer more possibilities for living together.

Curiosity is enough.

📅 27 August
🕕 18:00–20:00
📍 Hlemmur.Haus · Hlemmur 4, 101 Reykjavík (5th floor)

Registration: https://forms.gle/uhTMMDR4w3RbiVDt5

Hear. Share. Question. Connect.

A Totelly Evening about living, sharing and building stronger communities in our cities.