Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Scaling down

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

I think there is an additional piece to this. Besides scaling down your
space, you need to scale down your time commitments. I know more than a few
cohousers who live in small  spaces  that  still lead, in my opinion, absurd
lives. They are workaholic types or volunteeraholic types. They  sleep in a
community, but they really don't live  there because they have so many other
commitments and activities that they are always gone. I know some parents
like this, who schedule so many after school activities for their kids that
they are constantly on the road driving kids everywhere else besides home.
Sounds absurd for cohousers, but just because you have a  small space does
not necessarily equal a sane life.

Rob Sandelin
Who should practice what he preaches here, instead he is going to facilitate
7 meetings in 5 days.....(but then I am taking all of Nov and Dec off)



-----Original Message-----
From: cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org
[mailto:cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org]On Behalf Of Philip Proefrock
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 6:31 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: RE: Scaling down


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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