Help creating a soulful co-living home near Beroun, Czech Republic

Details

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  Description

  I'm Jonas, a 27-year-old architect.
  
  I decided to do architecture differently. I bought a house to create a co-living space for my future family and a bunch of other people from my community. The house will undergo a complete reconstruction, so we have the opportunity to bring a craft vibe into it rather than use standard, overpriced developer-style systems.
  
  I will do most of the building with my own hands, together with a few select locals. One of the main focuses is using recycled materials: old wood from floors or a barn, real rocks we find during excavation, or even the old roofing, which we can spray and reuse as tiles. The whole project is a learning process for me. I have exact plan of the result. The how-to is still to figure out.
  
  I found myself frustrated with the way modern engineers work in sterile environments, disconnected from the material. I have a love for architecture, but I kinda hate the lifestyle of architects. My passion, however, is self-improvement. Specifically, I am very sensitive to the feeling of safety and security in a space. My vision is to create safe, welcoming, cozy spaces where people feel real.
  
  Right now, I live alone. It is a monk-like lifestyle: morning walks, meditation, reading. I practice yoga, now for years. It might seem like I am mostly practical, but my true dedication is to know myself. Integrity is my highest priority. After that, I place extreme value on relationships. I now have a small community of friends who share this mindset. And I can see the tremendous value they add to my life. There is no project that could compromise the way I treat people. Work is only my third priority. It is a way to embed integrity and community into something real.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Hiking

  

  Nature

  

  Carpentry

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Books

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Architecture

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  This is ideal for three kinds of people:
  
  1. Self-improvement people, meditators, and yogis. I have been teaching yoga part-time for a few years and studying all kinds of philosophies.
  
  2. Co-living enthusiasts and off-system people. The process itself will be a simulation of co-living. Reusing materials, practical thinking, and community building are things we are all going to learn.
  
  3. Architecture students and people interested in crafts. You can get in touch with the whole process, from vision and planning to the modern finish.
  
  What do I hope to get from this?
  
  I simply want to have a community around me during the process. I take learning relationship skills seriously. That is the main thing I get. I am lokiing forward to grilling outside in the garden, sharing stories and philosophies. I love to do yoga and work together.

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  Help

  This project matters to me a lot, so I will do most of the construction work myself. However, I could use some help with:
  
  * reusing materials: painting, scraping, cleaning, gluing, mixing...
  * landscaping, including the atrium, garden, and water elements
  * cleaning and moving old things out of the house
  * building a shared sauna
  * basic housekeeping, cooking, and washing
  
  The schedule is flexible. You can choose when and what you want to work on. At the same time, I am a fan of clear, open communication. Let’s make sure we both know exactly what we expect before we start.
  
  I am a big believer in learning by doing. There will be opportunities to learn woodworking, masonry, design, planning, and other construction skills. You are welcome to help with these, not required.

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  Languages spoken

  Czech: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  German: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  There are plenty of rooms in the house. They are basic and old, but they have everything you need: water, electricity, and bathrooms. They will gradually look better as we move forward with the reconstruction.
  
  Food is shared. I eat a simple, healthy, gluten-free diet based on common-sense foods. I also like to cook traditional Czech dishes such as goulash and potato dumplings.

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  What else ...

  I was born in Beroun. It is one of the best places to live in Bohemia. I adore the nature around the river, especially its rock formations.
  
  My hobbies include rock climbing, exploring caves, old houses, and other kinds of adventures. In the evenings, I like to play Minecraft. You are welcome to join.
  
  Beroun is a medieval market town with a surprisingly deep history. It has several architectural heritage sites and many castles nearby, including Křivoklát, Žebrák, and Karlštejn. I love those places. They are solid rock.
  
  Beroun also has good connections to Prague. The journey takes about 30 minutes by bus or train.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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