Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Scaling down

[Philip Proefrock (proefrock]

I was not aware that Sarah Susanka had written a sequel to "The Not So Big
House."  I'll have to look for it.

I really liked her first book, and I think that she has a lot that
cohousers could draw from.  I would also recommend it as another resource
for groups in the pre-construction phases.

One of her main themes is emphasizing quality over quantity. 
'Carpet-bombing houses', starter castles, big-box homes, whatever you want
to call 'em -- there are houses built with lots of square footage, but no
comfortable spaces.  They can be impressive when you first walk in (and
that's what the builders call 'curb appeal') but they are uncomfortable to
live in.

Susanka argues that it is better to spend your money on *quality* of space,
with better materials, and more attentive design, than on *quantity* of
space, where you end up with just an overblown, unlivable box.

Philip Proefrock

----- Original Message -----
> I've just started reading "The Not So Big House".  
> Very interesting and I think it's very applicable
> to cohousing design.

> Has anybody else read this book and it's sequel?  
> What do you think?  -- Matt

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