Egenrommene

Egenrommene is a term used in Nordic housing discourse to describe private rooms that are part of a larger, shared dwelling arrangement. The word derives from egen, meaning “own,” and rommene, the definite plural form of rom, meaning “rooms,” and is commonly applied in Norwegian and Danish contexts to refer to the residents’ own sleeping or study spaces within a multi-unit home.

In practice, egenrommene denote private, individual rooms within a building that also contains communal facilities such as kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, and living rooms. The concept is closely associated with cohousing and other forms of collaborative housing, where private quarters are balanced with structured opportunities for social interaction and collective decision-making. Design considerations for egenrommene emphasize acoustic privacy, secure access, and the delineation between personal space and shared zones.

The term appears in sociological and architectural discussions about how private autonomy and community life can coexist in dense urban environments. Critics sometimes argue that excessive private space can hinder social cohesion, while supporters contend that private rooms contribute to residents’ well-being, autonomy, and satisfaction with the housing arrangement. Regional variations exist in terminology and implementation, with related concepts such as fellesrom (shared rooms) and egenstue (private living space) appearing in different Nordic languages.

Egenrommene is thus understood as a component of modern, privacy-conscious communal living, reflecting broader trends in housing design, urban policy, and social organization. See also cohousing, communal living, private room.