Cohousing-L Mailing List: FW: Need information on Common House use

[Grace Kim (grace]

I sent this to Barbara directly, but thought perhaps the rest of the 
"community" might be interested in the response.

grace h. kim aia | schemata workshop, inc.
principal
pronouns: she/her

1720 12th avenue
seattle wa 98122
p 206.285.1589   c 206.795.2470
schemataworkshop.com<http://www.schemataworkshop.com/>

Watch my TED talk at 
TED.com<https://www.ted.com/talks/grace_kim_how_cohousing_can_make_us_happier_and_live_longer>

Please note: Schemata Workshop employees are currently working remotely given 
the current public health situation.

From: Grace Kim
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 12:15 PM
To: brownsmith82 [at] yahoo.com
Subject: Need information on Common House use


Barbara -

I'm writing to you from Seattle WA. I live in a 9-unit cohousing community 
called Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing.

Prior to covid, we had meals together every other night in our common house.  
We have 17 adults and 11 children - and on any given night there would be 20-30 
people for dinner (we often have guests and some residents may be away or at an 
evening engagement).

In addition, our common house guest room gets quite a bit of use - in the 
summertime it was probably 4-5 nights/week. During rest of year its probably 
5-7 days/month.



And there are always impromptu uses during the week, throughout the year.  
Community art projects after school/evening, holiday/seasonal celebrations, 
birthday parties and milestone anniversaries.

Our common house is VERY used. I would argue that the Common House is the 
crucible for community life in cohousing - this is VERY different than your 
standard condo/HOA situation where there is a "club house" available for 
resident rental/use. Those are unprogrammed places that are sold as 
"amenities". The Common House has a very different function and is integral to 
the success for cohousing communities.



I would also suggest sharing my TED talk about the importance of cohousing (and 
the Common House as the secret sauce of community building) in combating social 
isolation - a global pandemic of different sorts.

https://www.ted.com/talks/grace_kim_how_cohousing_can_make_us_happier_and_live_longer

Over 2.4M viewers have found this 10-minute video to be useful to them.


Hope that helps.

And if they care about this at all, cohousing communities increase civic 
participation - whether it is hosting candidate forums, neighborhood block 
watch parties, organizing surrounding neighbor around "safe paths to school" or 
other similar activities. The Common House tends to be the natural meeting 
place for those activities.

Good luck!



grace h. kim aia | schemata workshop, inc.
principal
pronouns: she/her

1720 12th avenue
seattle wa 98122
p 206.285.1589   c 206.795.2470
schemataworkshop.com<http://www.schemataworkshop.com/>

Watch my TED talk at 
TED.com<https://www.ted.com/talks/grace_kim_how_cohousing_can_make_us_happier_and_live_longer>

Please note: Schemata Workshop employees are currently working remotely given 
the current public health situation.