The sun is high above the green surroundings at Fasanvej in Næstved, where the neighboring communities, Hermanhaven and Augusthaven, lie side by side and sleepily watch each other through a thick, living fence.

As a flock of birds takes off over Augusthaven on the other side of the shrubbery, I get ready to meet Eva, who together with her husband Alex moved into Næstved's first housing community, Hermanhaven, in spring 2021. I can already smell the huge glulam columns as I grab the handle to the main entrance.

Eva and her husband Alex had no doubts - now they are settled in Hermanhaven

We had been talking about selling the house for a while because we didn't want to take care of the garden anymore," Eva tells me as we sit down under a tree in the large, covered atrium garden. The atmosphere is warm and almost southern between the fragrant wooden pillars and the balconies that hang high above us. The castle gravel creaks under our garden chairs.

"We already thought the concept sounded exciting and had been over to see Ibihaven in Slagelse. So when we saw on Facebook that Hermanhaven was going to be in Næstved, we had no doubts at all - we just thought we would sign up as soon as we could get away with it."

Great shared experiences

For Eva and Alex, it was the idea of an everyday life close to the community that really put an end to their time in their detached house.

"The neighbors we had were nice and friendly - but it was like many other places where you just say hello and mind your own business. So we thought this could be a good opportunity to get out and meet some new people and experience some different things. And it's just been so much fun," says Eva with a laugh. I can tell that her good mood is the kind that is contagious.

"It really exceeds my expectations," she adds. A front door opens behind us and a lady in a floral summer top waves to Eva before she takes a seat in the front room of her apartment with a magazine under her arm.

"People are willing to be social - and most people are involved in something. Our chairman of the board invites you to a Friday bar every Friday. She posts on the intranet that the Friday bar is now open and that you just need to bring your drinks and drop by the common room. It's always packed - I've been there three times myself. The atmosphere is really good," says Eva and explains to me that the neighbors are good at finding good experiences together.

"There are a lot of initiatives for different walks - both in the area, but also some where we drive away and have some good walks at the weekend. The other day someone even wrote on our intranet that he was going to IKEA and that there was a space in the car if anyone wanted to come along. People are very kind to think of things like that and do things together."