Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Design process

[Berrins (Berrins]

I have to agree with most of the posts thus far.  Land Archs not already 
familiar with cohousing could design an appropriate site layout, but there 
are several basic concepts and specific needs in cohousing that need to be 
addressed.  The land arch firm that designed ours is an excellent local firm 
but was inexperienced in cohousing.   While the overall design is great, they 
missed a few elements.  For example, they forgot to have us consider a site 
for the play structure and didn't plan any kind of plaza/gathering place in 
front of the Common House, both key design elements that foster community 
interaction.  We have had to shoehorn these in after we were built.

So my advice is that if you go with these folks, plan to spend a few extra 
bucks and run the design options (they should give you a few) past someone 
with cohousing experience (such as Chuck and Katie), to get that "Good 
Cohousing Seal of Approval."

Ditto for the building architects.

Roger Berman
Pathways Cohousing
Northampton, MA
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