Cohousing-L Mailing List: re: Most popular Common House amenities

[Laura Fitch (lfitch]

Susana and others,

Here is information about our slide shows.  The common house design show may
help you answer some of these questions.

Best, Laura

Cohousing Slide Shows by Kraus-Fitch Architects

The following slide shows are available on CD form for power point
presentations:

What is Cohousing - $5
This slide show gives prospective members and town officials an idea of what
cohousing is all about.  It includes lots of pictures of folks living,
playing, and working in both rural and urban cohousing communities.
Cohousing Site Design - $25
This slide show illustrates with many photographs the important site design
issues such as distance between units, parking strategies, accessibility and
pedestrian walkways.   It addresses the seasonal and regional issues of snow
removal, summer shade, and winter sun and even looks at the seemingly
mundane issues that you will regret overlooking without proper programming.
It concludes with a tour of many North American Cohousing Communities -
urban and rural.
Cohousing Common House Design $25
How do you create a Common House to meet all the needs of your community -
and to be the "living room" of the community?  Kitchens, Great Rooms, Kids
Room, Laundry and much, much more are explored and illustrated with
photographs from many communities.
Cohousing Unit Design - $25
This slide show looks at all types of cohousing housing options - single
family to apartment flats - the spaces within them, the relationships
between them, and the materials that go into their construction.
Customization is discussed in realistic terms.
Cohousing & Sustainable Design $25
Cohousing presents a unique opportunity to build and live in more
sustainable ways.  This slide show looks at the big picture items, and the
details without losing sight of cost effectiveness.

Set of 5 - $80

The following slide show is currently under development:
Getting the Work Done (living in community)
This slide show will look at some of the work programs (common meal
preparation, buildings and grounds maintenance, etc.) that are up and
running with efficiency at Pioneer Valley Cohousing.  It will also look at
systems tried.

These slide shows can be ordered by sending a check to:

Kraus-Fitch Architects
110 Pulpit Hill Rd.
Amherst, MA  01002


For more information about our slide shows and/or cohousing design services,
please call us at 413-549-5799 or email lfitch [at] krausfitch.com.

Laura E. Fitch, AIA
Principal Architect

Kraus-Fitch Architects, Inc.
110 Pulpit Hill Road
Amherst, MA  01002

413-549-5799
413-549-7918 (fax)
lfitch [at] krausfitch.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pacific Gardens Cohousing Community" <cohousing [at] pacificgardens.ca>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 5:29 PM
Subject: [C-L]_ Most popular Common House amenities


> Hello everyone,
>
> I sent this request out New Year's Eve without realizing that I wouldn't
> get responses, so Sharon suggested that I resend it, as it is very
> important for developing communities.
>
> We are trying to decide on which rooms are the "must haves" for our common
> house and which are the "nice to have" if we can afford them.
>
> We would love to know which amenities you would not part with, that are
> well-used and which ones were a great idea, but never really served the
> needs of the community.
>
> What we are wanting is:
>
> - large kitchen and dining room (what percentage of the residents
regularly
> show up for meals?)
> - pantry
> - storage area for tables, decorations, janitor supplies
> - laundry room with room for machines, sink, table to fold clothes
> - exercise room which can accommodate equipment
> - woodworking room
> - crafts room with a sink for painting, pottery etc
> - teen room
> - children's room
> - living room (overlooking our local mountain and gardens)
> - multipurpose room which can be used for workshops, meetings
> - office
> - storage lockers
> - bicycle room
> - 2 guest rooms, 1 bathroom with shower (not ensuite)
> - 1 wheelchair  bathroom near the dining room and 1 other unisex bathroom
> - mudroom at an entrance, and a greenhouse near the garden
>
> Our common house is approx. 5000 square feet on 3  levels with elevator
> access to each level.
>
> Do you have enough storage? How did you accommodate large items like skis,
> kayaks, bicycles, Christmas trees, recreational and camping equipment?
>
> Now many of you have been living in Cohousing for a number of years, I'm
> sure that some of the original Common Rooms may have changed purpose or
> been added due to the changing needs of the community. I would really
> appreciate hearing from anyone who would like to share their experience
> with common amenities.
>
>
> Susana Michaelis
> Pacific Gardens Cohousing Community,
> Nanaimo, BC (Vancouver Island)
> Canada
> www.pacificgardens.ca
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