Cohousing-L Mailing List: House Colors in Cohousing Communities

[Joani Blank (joani]

Marc Kolman of Pacifica Cohousing in Carrboro. N. Carolina responded 
to Catya's request to this list about multiple colors in multi unit 
buildings (2-6 side by side townhouses).  There are a few single 
family homes in that community, but most of the units are attached to 
at least three other units. What Marc didn't tell you is that the 
group's architect/developer, the loveable Giles Blunden initially 
chose a color palate for the private homes that was rejected by the 
group.  So he apparently said that every household should choose the 
color for their own house, and that's what they did.

The results (first phase of 20 something homes) are, to my way of 
thinking, quite wonderful, and I'll be glad to forward a couple of 
snapshots I took when we were in N. Carolina for the national 
conference to anyone who asks me for them off list.  Most people 
chose quite deep hues to paint their homes, so when I noticed the one 
house in one of the rows that the owners had chosen to paint white, 
my first reaction was that the builders must have somehow forgotten 
to paint that one house. I also know that upon seeing the bright 
colors, another household who had originally chosen a pastel color 
for their home had decided to have it repainted a deeper color.

Joani

Joani Blank
Swan's Market Cohousing
Oakland, CA
Tours Coordinator/ Cohousing Association of the U.S.