What is co-housing?
A concept originating in Denmark in the 1960s, co-housing is an intentional community where residents are consciously committed to living as a community. They actively participate in the design and operation of their neighborhood, which is designed primarily to encourage social interaction.
It general, co-housing has four main characteristics: a “social contact design,” which creates a physical space conducive to a strong sense of community; resident involvement in recruitment, establishment and management of the community, a non-hierarchical organization with no one individual in charge, and a collaborative culture fostering interdependence, support networks, friendship, and security.
What does co-housing look like?
Social interaction is the key in a co-housing community. For many, co-housing in the United States is a return to a time when people knew and were close to their neighbors.
The physical design is meant to encourage both social contact and individual space. Private homes contain all the features of conventional homes, but residents share extensive common facilities such as open space, courtyards, a playground, and a common house. This common building usually containing a large kitchen and dining area as well as a living area and game area. Often, residents attend a number of group meals per week, and community events are regularly planned.
The housing itself is usually clustered with parking on the perimeter and walking paths designed to encourage interaction in the middle. It is designed to create many opportunities for casual meetings between neighbors, as well as for deliberate gatherings such as celebrations, clubs, and business meetings.
