10 Years of Coliving

Some journeys start with a business plan. Ours started with a feeling. A feeling that the way we were living, working, and traveling could be better. That people who moved across borders for work or curiosity deserved more than anonymous apartments and temporary stays. That home could be something you share, even if only for a season.

ESCAPE began in 2016, in Grimentz, Switzerland, with a group of modern hippies #nomads. At the time, the word “coliving” wasn’t something people searched for but the need for connection already existed.

We didn’t know we were building a brand. We were just trying to build a place we wanted to live in ourselves.

The Early Days: More Questions Than Answers

In the beginning, ESCAPE was full of uncertainty.

Would strangers actually want to live together? Would people respect shared spaces? Would community happen naturally or would it need to be designed?

Some weeks were magical. Others were messy. This was our livelihood and our main source of income, and there were moments where we genuinely asked ourselves if this was sustainable.

But then something kept happening.

People stayed longer than planned. Dinners ran late into the night. Guests started calling ESCAPE “home” without us ever prompting them to.

That’s when we realized: We could not stop now.

What ESCAPE Really Became

Over time, ESCAPE evolved, not because of trends, but because of people.

People who arrived as guests and left as friends. People who collaborated on projects at the kitchen table. People who showed up for each other during transitions, breakups, career changes, and new beginnings.

We learned that:

• Privacy matters just as much as togetherness

• Structure creates freedom

• Rituals matter more than rules

Some of the traditions you see today at ESCAPE started organically:

• Racelette is always a hit

• Monopoly Deal is a tournament now

• If you think you're adventurous, just talk to the person sitting next to you.

  
  

ESCAPE didn’t grow because we scaled fast. It grew because we listened closely.

Expanding Without Losing the Soul

As ESCAPE expanded to Greece in 2020, one question guided every decision:

New locations meant new cultures, new rhythms, and new challenges. What stayed constant was the intention: to create spaces where people could arrive as they are and leave a little more grounded than when they came.

There were moments where growth forced hard decisions:

• We switched between 3 locations in Greece

• Can Greece be popular in winter?

Each time, the community showed us the way forward.

A Community That Outgrew the Houses

Some of the most meaningful parts of ESCAPE now exist beyond the physical spaces. Former guests stay in touch. Alumni support each other’s projects. People return years later, not because they need a place to stay, but because they miss the feeling.

ESCAPE became a thread running through people’s lives: a chapter they look back on and say,“That was an important time for me.”

That might be the thing we’re proudest of.

10 Years Later

In June, ESCAPE turns 10.

Ten years of learning how to hold space. Ten years of balancing structure and spontaneity. Ten years of understanding that home is something you co-create.

To celebrate this milestone, we asked our community a simple question:

The answers shaped everything that comes next.

This year, we’ll be rolling out 10 anniversary offers, inspired directly by ideas from the people who made ESCAPE what it is. Not as a marketing gimmick but as a thank-you.

Because ESCAPE was never just ours.

The Road Ahead

The next chapter of ESCAPE will continue to evolve shaped by new people, new places, and new ideas. What won’t change is our commitment to community-first living.

If you’ve stayed with us before: thank you for leaving your mark. If you’re here now: we’re glad you’re part of this moment. If you haven’t joined us yet: there’s always a seat at the table.

This is Our ESCAPE ❤️