Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Exercise in custom home design or exercise in community?

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

Please make this on-list.  I, too, find this a fascinating thread.  Ann z.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diane Simpson" <dqs [at] world.std.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org>
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2000 2:28 AM
Subject: Exercise in custom home design or exercise in community?


> I am intrigued by the content of this message, and what it implies as a
> basic value of cohousing groups. (Partly colored by the fact that I am
> writing an article.)
>
> Is it really taken as a given by most cohousing group members that they
> will be able to have their own custom-designed house? Was this ever
> discussed among the prospective members before joining the group? Or was
it
> just taken as a given?
>
> The word "cohousing" seems to have filtered out into the ether and is
> attracting a wide range of people who are all attaching their own meanings
> to the word. For people who have read Katie and Chucks' book and who are
> now subscribers to this list, it seems to have gotton very far afield from
> the original meaning of the word "bofoelleskaber, meaning "living
> communities." ("Community" plus "Housing"). Perhaps we should change the
> name in the United States to "HO-com": "Housing" plus "community."
>
> What *kind* of customizing was considered important to your group? Moving
a
> door six inches? Adding a bay window? A driveway and/or garage? Extra
> skylights? A bigger kitchen? Why was it not possible to discuss these
wants
> and needs during the programming phase and come up with a variety of plans
> that met everyone's needs? Was the cost of the customization ever
> discussed? Did it ever become an issue for some group members? Any input
on
> or off-list will be appreciated.
>
> --Diane "stir-the-pot" Simpson(:-)
>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
- - -
> >on 2/15/2000 7:22 AM, Rob Sandelin at floriferous [at] email.msn.com wrote:
> >
> >> perhaps there are ways to make such a shell game more affordable.
> >
> >Rob, and all...
>
> >Since customizing is so desirable for most cohousing group members, I do
> >think this bears looking into further, to see if the "shell game" can be
> >played in a more affordable arena.
>
> >Chris ScottHanson
>
>        @@                   DQS [at] WORLD.STD.COM                  @@
>       @@@@      Diane Simpson  http://world.std.com/~dqs      @@@@
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