ratio of CH size to units
From: Luk Jonckheere (l.jonckheerepi.be)
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 00:08:01 -0700 (MST)
Hello,

We are in the development stage of our cohousing project (here in Belgium)
and found a lot of inspiration in Denmark, on websites en on this mailing
list.
Last year in the early stage, we also wanted to find out how large the
common house should be.

To us, a usefull way to calculate this is : the surface of the CH divided by
the number of units (ideally by the number of inhabitants, with a different
factor for adults or children?). This way of calculating points out that the
CH is not some kind of a neighbourhood club house but a prolongation of our
living spaces.
= CH surface / unit

So we calculated that in Denmark, in 7 communities that use their CH for
regular dinners, this number varies from 14m² to 24m²
(14,17,18,18,19,24,24). In America, the CH is usually smaller and the units
are larger, but I dont have exact data.

We decided to plan 20m² / unit. For our 25 units this will make us a
commonhouse of 500m². In this surface are included the commonhouse and also
the common facilities, disseminated in the project, like laundry room and
workshop, but not a glass covered passage. The units are relatively small
(rather danish than american average), between 60m² and 120-140m².
And of course we hope to be able to afford all this, if costs increase
(everybody tells us they will) we will abandon facilities and spaces in
order of our priority list.

sorry about the m², i believe 1m²=10,76sq.f.

Luk Jonckheere
Samenhuizing West-Brabant
Flanders, Belgium

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