Cohousing-L Mailing List: Density

[Rob Sandelin (Exchange) (Robsan]

Chris asked about density in designs and whether they will impact the =
sense of community. If you are designing from scratch I would encourage =
you to pay close attention to the inside/outside relationship of the =
homes.  If you can set up gathering nodes outside, such as a picnic =
table, kids play space etc. in such a way that they are in the view of =
several of the houses, then you will do ok.  The primary idea is to be =
able to look out a convienient window, such as in the kitchen or dining =
area, and be able to see a small gathering of people or kids.  This way =
a person can decide whether or not to go out and join the social =
activity.  If you have to go outside, walk down the path ten feet in =
order to see if anything is going on, then you probably won't.

Having said this, I will repeat my own experience, drawn from my own =
very separated community and many other intentional communities even =
more physically separated, that the feeling of community is NOT related =
to the architecture, it depends on the relationships between the people. =
 If people are committed to the relationship, community will thrive, =
even if the houses are not even in the same county.  Most your REAL =
community building will happen around rituals, parties and community =
dinners, after dinner hanging out, meetings, etc.  These are the places =
where relationships are deepened, understanding is found, and trust is =
built. =20

Architecture can encourage you to easily bump into each other, and this =
is a good thing to have.  Community building is where you CARE about =
each other.  When making your neighbor happy, means more to you at the =
moment than your own happiness, then, in my experience, you have =
community. It's a lot like love in that it is hard to accurately =
scientifically describe or measure, but when it happens you know it. And =
like love, it happens or it doesn't and you never really know why or =
how.

Rob Sandelin
A basket case because my neighbor and dear friend, a single mom, is =
right now under major emergency surgury and I feel like its my sister. =20