The Flyful Seagull Cooperative
Another project within Shared Houses is the Flyful Seagull cooperative, a group of 14 members revitalizing a late 19th-century villa in Děčín (Northern Bohemia). Originally the residence of Otto Rüger, owner of a local chocolate factory, the house was acquired by the collective in 2022. Since then, they have begun a phased renovation process, starting with roof insulation and structural repairs.
Original design of the 1898 villa in Děčín, source: the Flyful Seagull archive
Over the decades, the villa has served many different purposes—from an orphanage and housing for factory workers to a pedagogical-psychological counselling center, and at times even as informal accommodation. Today, the collective uses it for community housing: individual members or couples have private bedrooms, while all other spaces are shared, including the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and porch. The villa is surrounded by a spacious garden featuring a fireplace, a hen enclosure, and beds for growing plants and vegetables. Occasionally, the garden is used for community events.