Casa Zimbabwe

Casa Zimbabwe is a student housing cooperative in Berkeley that was the first purpose-built cooperative residence of its kind in the United States. The building combines residential wings at different heights and features common areas designed for shared living and group activities.

The building was constructed in 1966 as a response to growing demand for affordable student housing. Its creation marked a turning point in how student living was organized in the United States.

The building walls display murals created since the 1970s, showing how art has shaped the space over time. This visual tradition reflects the creative spirit that residents have maintained through the decades.

The residence is located in Berkeley and operates as a cooperative community where participation in maintenance and group decisions is part of the living arrangement. Visitors should understand this is private housing and access may require prior arrangement.

The floors between the two wings are offset by half a level, creating an unusual spatial layout that affects how people move through the building. Solar panels installed in 1979 made this one of the earliest student residences to use renewable energy.