Casa Zimbabwe

Casa Zimbabwe, commonly referred to as CZ, is a student housing cooperative in Berkeley, California housing 124 residents. It is the second largest non apartment style unit of the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC), behind Cloyne Court Hotel. Opened in 1966, it was one of the first co ed student housing in the nation, as well as the first building intentionally built as a co op. A University Student Cooperative Association (now BCS) fund raising pamphlet stated that: <blockquote>The one abiding principle in the whole architectural design of Ridge Project has been to build a unit reflecting individuality and freedom, the antithesis of many dormitories. The disadvantages of other dorms, uniformity, regimentation of activities and general impersonality of buildings, have been avoided. The Ridge Project actively promotes diversity, freedom and variety of activities, and a small scale residential environment. Across the bay from San Francisco its members where at the center of then blossoming hippie movement. Similarly, the political activity present today was even more so during the same years as a large portion of the members where also participating in the Free Speech Movement that originated in Berkeley several years earlier. In the early Spring of the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic CZ instituted a self quarantine and no visitors policy. There were approximately 50 members living in the house during that period.

The residents and boarders of CZ are the members of the cooperative, with fee of approximately $7,700 for 2020 academic school year, covering full room and board. Like in other houses each member is required to provide a five hour work shift. Council meetings are held every week, members gather to discuss house business with decisions made through majority votes. Members of CZ often refer to themselves as "Czars."

While other BSC houses were preexisting structures, like apartment buildings and hotels, Casa Zimbabwe is unique in that it was built with intent of being used as a cooperative living space. A court yard lays in between Ridge house, administrative section and the east and west wings. Both of the wings' roofs are also common spaces. Forty solar panels were added to them in 1979 to supply hot water. CZ was temporary closed for seismic retrofitting in the spring of 2007. An elevator was also installed to make the building wheelchair accessible.