Why We’re Building Namjai Village

Namjai Village isn’t just a housing project—it’s a vision for a different way of living. We’re in the early stages of planning and need others who believe in this idea to join us in making it a reality.

How It Started

The idea took shape after our wedding in 2022. We had made plans for our future but realized we hadn’t fully decided where and how we wanted to live.

“We had talked about everything,” Eleonore recalls, “but we didn’t talk about how we’re going to live and where we’re going to live.”

We knew Thailand, specifically Chiang Mai, was where we wanted to be. But the bigger question remained: Do we live in a house? A condo? Alone? With others?

Living alone in a house didn’t feel right. “We realized that living alone in a house was just a little sad,” Eleonore says. “We wanted to expand all the abundance that was coming to us and to create or recreate a family of sorts, a tribe, a community.” We weren’t looking to build a commune or a retreat, but a place that functioned like a real community—where neighbors know each other and help one another.

Rediscovering the Village Model

For much of human history, people lived in close-knit villages. Eleonore spent summers in small villages in the south of France, where neighbors naturally interacted across generations. “It was weird to me that I had to explain what it looks like,” she says.

Stefan, growing up in the Netherlands, saw similar dynamics. “Villages had a different rhythm of life,” he says. “People knew each other better, and there was a sense of belonging that you just don’t get in modern cities.”

Modern cities often lack this sense of connection. Many people live in apartments or houses without knowing their neighbors. The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced how isolation negatively impacts well-being. “We know that there’s an epidemic of loneliness in the West especially,” Eleonore explains. “COVID was almost a lab test for this. Isolation is terrible.”

Building a High-Trust, Multigenerational Community

One of the key ideas behind Namjai Village is high-trust living—an environment where people feel safe, where neighbors help each other, and where relationships are built on genuine care rather than convenience.

“I like the idea of high-trust societies,” Eleonore says. “In Chiang Mai, everybody leaves their laptop on the cafe table when they go to the bathroom, or they take a phone call and come back, and all their belongings are still there. That never would happen in, you know, the ‘sophisticated places.’”

We also see great value in multigenerational living. “If you bring toddlers to a retirement home, both the kids and the elderly thrive,” Eleonore points out. “The older people have patience and wisdom, and the kids bring energy—it’s beneficial for everyone.”

The Vision for Namjai Village

Namjai Village is still in the planning stages. We envision a co-housing community near Chiang Mai, where people own their homes but share common spaces that foster interaction. Some of our key ideas include:

• Homes Designed for Diverse Needs: Options ranging from duplexes to larger family homes, all customizable.
• The Namjai Sala: A central hub with a shared dining area, coworking space, and gathering spots.
• Outdoor Spaces: Gardens, a swimming pool, and areas for shared activities.
• A Practical Approach: A balance of private ownership and communal living, respecting independence while encouraging connection.
  

More Than an Idea—A Call to Build

Namjai Village is not yet built. It will take like-minded people to bring it to life. Unlike past ‘utopian’ communities that lacked realistic grounding, we are designing this based on practical principles. We are not creating rigid rules or imposing a lifestyle—just reclaiming the best aspects of community living while maintaining independence.

“We want to emulate the good things from the past,” Stefan says. “Humans are wired for connection, and we’re creating a space where people can live together by choice, not because they have to.”

If this vision resonates with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts. What kind of environment do you thrive in? Have you ever longed for a deeper sense of community? Let’s build something meaningful together.