Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: community design

[Eric Hart (harte]

On Sun, 13 Nov 1994 Rob Sandelin wrote:

> I think over time we will get a lot smarter about using and growing 
> professionals to do the stuff they should do, and have groups of future 
> residents working on goals, visions, group process and bonding.  If 
> those things are going along on parallel tracks, a cohousing project 
> can be done much faster and easier.

 
I couldn't agree more that professionals would be of great help to speed 
the development process up and free up groups to do vision and process 
work.  I feel that groups need to stop relying on high paid professionals 
like architects to do alot of their vision and basic site design work.  
Someone who is familiar with architecture and urban planning issues can 
help to guide the group through a design process that basically only uses 
architects at the end to do final drawings.  Using architects to do the 
whole project (site design to drawings) can lead to a 'fixed end' 
solution that only reflects what architects think your community should 
look like, not what the community wants or needs.  I really don't think 
there are very many architects that understand the social aspects of 
cohousing and are willing to let a group design a community that truly 
reflects their needs.  Leave them out until you need technical assistance 
with drawings, etc.  I am in the role of a consultant (non-architectural) 
who is helping a group design their community.  If the group plays a 
bigger role in designing the community there is the added benefit of 
developing group process skills, etc.  I guess I am advocating a more 
integrated approach to design and group process.  Both are important and 
neither can be left to 'professionals'.  

Eric Hart   harte [at] free-net.mpls-stpaul.mn.us