Co-Housing: Not Just Dorms for Adults

These days people often say that community isn't a priority anymore. Although we are all connected by the new technology like cell phones, social networking sites, and blogs (like this one), we still lack the more substantial connection to those around us. It seems to me that learning to use our technology to create substantial "real" connections is the purpose of this blog. We must come together to fight a common cause for real... not for virtual.


Today I came across information about "Co-Housing."

The 1960's Danish peeps thought up this concept of a "living community" in which community members design, manage, and operate their own neighborhood as though it is one large household with many houses in it. This has since been promoted in the U.S. in the 1980's by a couple crazy cats named Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett. These people run the Cohousing Company in California.

The Cohousing Partners division "is a full service, real estate development firm specializing in cohousing in California. [They] partner with future residents to create neighborhoods that are socially vibrant and environmentally sustainable."



The McCamand and Durrett Architects division is "an architecture and development consulting firm with offices in Berkeley and Nevada City, California. Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett are well known internationally for the design of cohousing communities, childcare facilities, pedestrian-friendly town planning, and development consulting."

Check out this trailer for a documentary on co-housing:

Granted, due to my American upbringing and aversion to things that reduce independence, I was skeptical about this way of living. But after a little reading I realized that the idea of creating a shared community space that community members maintain and manage themselves doesnt reduce independence, its imply increases interdependence. Often times these communities reduce wasteful use of resources by having multiple common areas such as Kitchens, Playgrounds, Gardens, etc.




"Cohousing residents generally aspire to “improve the world, one neighborhood at a time.” This desire to make a difference often becomes a stated mission, as the websites of many communities demonstrate. For example, at Sunward Cohousing near Ann Arbor, MI, the goal is to create a place “where lives are simplified, the earth is respected, diversity is welcomed, children play together in safety, and living in community with neighbors comes naturally.” At Winslow Cohousing near Seattle, the aim is to have “a minimal impact on the earth and create a place in which all residents are equally valued as part of the community.” At EcoVillage at Ithaca, NY, the site of two adjoining cohousing neighborhoods, the goal is “to explore and model innovative approaches to ecological and social sustainability." What a wonderful way to connect with your environment!

This type of living makes me realize what a product of my generation I really am. I spend time on Facebook and write for this here blog in order to feel connected. But, I live in an apartment building with 30 other households from different walks of life that I could learn from and share with.

It is time for us all to use our connections for real, step out into our communities, and get creative! You can get started by learning about the 2009 Co-Housing Conference in Seattle.

Happy Housing!