CO-HOUSING
Co-housing communities are those that have made the choice to create a group living style. Members of these communities are active individually as well as with their neighbors. They work together to construct their individual homes as well as their common communities to their needs and preferences. Residence takes part living individually as well as the extension on common sharing areas in the neighborhood. There are certain characteristics of a cohousing that sets them apart from a typical neighborhood. By sharing so many aspects of their lives, this naturally has a positive impact on the environment. Most people in cohousing communities are environmentally conscious, and look for the best ways to create a more sustainable lifestyle. This trend is starting to catch on all over the world. Though the United States is home to a larger portion of cohousing communities, many more exist in Denmark and all over the world. Cohousing is a new part of the future keeps that environment in mind.
Moving into a Co-housing community must be a lifestyle the family or individual chooses to buy into. It is a different lifestyle then living in a regular suburban neighbordhood. Those members must follow up and be aware of how their communities runs and compromise with the best of their community in mind. These communities enjoy sharing and work well when their member contribute their skills and abilities for the better of the neighborhhood. Families that live in these communities are close not only because of the neighborhood layout but also by how much of their lives they have agreed to share. It is common to see children playing toether on their shared playground, or in the common house. These communities introduce and consist of alot of diversity, with everyone bringing something unqiue to the table. Co-housing creates unqiue neighborhoods and communities of tight knit environment. It is a common goal amongst many co-housing communities to try and make a difference in the world. There are certain charateristics that seperate these communties, participatory process, intentional neighborhood, extensive common facilities and complete resident managment.
DESIGNING THE COMMUNITY
Residence of cohousing work together to design a community that best fits their individual as well as community needs. The constructing process involves residence working with a developer to create their neighborhood. Since the residents are so active in the design process they will be able to adjust has they age. Has residents get older with their communities aging requirements such as wheelchairs ramps and activities can be added to better suite the situation. This is a main feature of a cohousing community because the resident’s participation in the design is crucial to making it unique.
NEIGHBORHOOD LAYOUT
The overall layout of the neighborhood creates the overall community feeling. Houses face each other as well as are accessible to the common house. Each home is clustered together through pathways that connect homes to recreational shared facilities, such as playgrounds and courtyards. The layout is an important feature that brings the community together. These communities give a feeling of a old fashioned neighborhood. Housing are built close to eachother, along with much of the yard space being shared with other residents. These neighborhoods usually only have smaller number of residents, creating a very tight knit feeling.
SHARED FACILITIES
Common areas are available to all residents of the communities. Most include a common house where members share a kitchen, dining area, laundry, along with many other recreational sites. If the environment permits many communities share yard space including playground and courtyards. These residents share much of their lives due to lifestyle they have choos
en. It is common to enjoy many recrational events together. There is always opportunity for casual meetings, and other gathers such as partiess and events. It is commong to have members to enjoy meals together, with every member taking turn with duties that compliment the event.
WORKING AS A GROUP
Members work together to create a atmosphere that cooperates and understands policies. Duties are spilt up amongst residents such as cooking during group meals and yard work. In addition, they work together to create common policies and solve any issues. Decision-making is usually decided through consensus but some communities use a voting system as well. No one has a higher rank than anyone else, rather everyone is looking to contribute their best skills and abilities to better the community. Everyone works together to maintain the property. It is important for everyone to understand how the group works and compromises to eliminate conflicts.
TRUDESLUND
This co-housing community is located in Denmark. It is made up of 33 residences and a common house. They layout of their community is close lined with two pathways throughout the whole area. Parking and cars are located on the edge of the layout, which is common in co-housing communities. Rather then being seperated by drive ways, this and many others keep houses faces towards eachother. This environment gives off a strong "liveable" characteristic due to its social, and practical living community. They demonstrate strong characteristics co-housing communities have that seperate them from the typical neighborhood.
Trudeslund have many shared resources, mostly located in the common house. Residence share a common dining area, cooperative store, laundry services, workshop, guest room, and music room. The dining are is popular place for the community, you can find many residence here enjoying meals together. The cooperative store offer everyday needs. Each house has access to the store by a key, so they can get what they need at any hour of the day. After they take what they need, they write down what they have taken in a book so they can be charged at a different time. Laundry services is small but has a system that works for all 100 residence. Detergent and washing materials are bought in bulk and taken out of the community budget. The workroom includes a dark room where residence can express artistic views. The guest room is avaiable for all residence guest, mostly popular amongst teenagers. Another popular feature is the music room where teenagers and others have the opportunity to practice and bring some music to the community.
Children enjoy living in Trudeslund due to advantages they are given. There are plenty of children around the community along with the environemnt to play. The layout allows for a safe and accessible are for the children to play and roam. Trudelund offers an after-school program to take children to and from school. This is a duty split up amongst the residence that have children and need access to this program. This community creates a unique social atmosphere for all ages. There are always people around and everyone knows everyone. They work together has a community to bring their special assests to better the community. Everything about this community invites social interactions and is evident to see on a typical day in the community.