Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: design review: a few design ideas

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

Some basic design concepts:

1. Create outside places that are visible from as many homes as possible. If
people are hanging out, you can glance out your windows and then choose to
join them.

2. Make it easy to see into the commonhouse for the same reason.

3. Kids are noise with dirt on it, pay attention to where you want them to
play with this in mind.

4. You will have to live this to beleive it, you will not need to constantly
see your children once they hit the age of 4. Others will do it for you
quite well, in fact, may even do it better than you.

5. Pay attention to drainage. Sometimes water goes places that are not where
you would like.

6. If you can put wires under the ground, rather than over it, it is so much
nicer.

7. Anything that is paved will attract kids on bikes of all sizes, whether
you want them there or not.

8. If you can't create individual outdoor private spots, make one that
everyone can use that provides little visual access. Sometimes you want to
be outside but not available.

9. If you create a kids area, involve them in the planning and building of
it. They will take care of it much better when they put in all the work to
paint it.

10. If possibly can, leave some small islands here and there of native brush
and "weeds". This will attract a greater amount of wildlife than you can
imagine.

Rob Sandelin
Northwest Intentional Communties Association