Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: How big is too big

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Mar 24, 2017, at 7:41 AM, William Wood <woodwc [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> There are surprisingly few truly multi-generational plans out there.
> Most often something called "multi-generational" just has two master
> suites, but not much more to help three generations live in harmony.)

I would suggest looking at floor plans for the large houses of the 19th century 
where multiple generations plus staff lived in one house. These were nicely 
converted to coops in the 1920s or so when they became to expensive for one 
family to maintain.

For several summers I spent vacations in a 1890s Victorian “camp” in the 
Adirondacks. Guests of a variety of ages and relationships — some related and 
some not, some friends and some strangers — would spend 1-3 weeks in this 10 
bedroom house. Their common link was friends or family of the owner. And some 
people she threw in as “incredibly fine people." usually political activists.

The key was not expecting everyone to be together except for dinner. Having 
that common time facilitated relationships. There were a million places to be 
private or gather with a few people. While the great room was quite large, it 
had several seating areas, a table for games, a desk for writing, a window seat 
for reading, and the fireplace with a semicircle of chairs. The other rooms 
were more intimate and normal size.

There were multiple common rooms — sun room, 2 parlors, breakfast booth, dining 
room, kitchen eating areas; front, side, and back porches with rocking chairs, 
tables and chairs, hammocks. Some of the 10 bedrooms were large enough for beds 
and a seating area.

In the grand castles on the Hudson, couples had suites with a bedroom, dressing 
room (walk in closet), and sitting room often in their own "wing.” And children 
had nurseries — and were often confined to them!

Obviously relationships have changed but the floor plans of these houses, as 
well as the various accounts of living in them might be helpful. 

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org