Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: housing enmasse [FWD again]

[Fred H Olson WB0YQM (fholson]

ROBSAN [at] MICROSOFT.COM  is the author of this message but due
to a listserv problem it was posted by the COHOUSING-L sysop (Fred).
However the first time I posted it got garbled with another messages!
****************  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS *********************

I have heard of a group in Colorado which has acquired? a closed 
military base to do a group of 6? cohousing project on.  In doing a 
large site, I would suggest breaking into  villages or 25 to 30 houses 
each, each independently designed, each with its own commonhouse. Then 
I would provide a large outdoor gathering plaza which is available and 
somehow connected to all the villages as a large group place. This 
central plaza could also contain a structures common to all such as the 
village services (stores, arts, etc.).

I would closely read the cohousing book on site design because I would 
agree with Chuck and Katy that their is a point where too large becomes 
institutional and loses the flavor and feeling and ability for close 
interactions.  Look particularly at their descriptions of the 
personal/public transitions and apply that on the larger scale between 
the villages.

My .02

Rob Sandelin