Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves

This is a thoughtfully prepared book, with floor plans and site layout, decent photographs, and well-written and organized text. Makes you think you don't have to wear socks with your sandals to consider co-housing a viable option.

Presents reports on 8 different cohousing communities in Denmark, gives a brief history on the development of the current cohousing concept, provides useful steps in creating such a community, describes 6 communities in the US, and summarizes with lessons they have learned as thoughts for the future. Communities have been built in rural & urban areas; as separate homes, apartment buildings, high rises, or warehouse remodels. There is variation in what is required of members, the amount of participation and interactions. One distinguishing characteristic is that the communities are self-governing, in contrast to a development that may have some of the same energy efficient designs but is planned by developers other than the residents. show more The contract allows a homeowner to recoup their investment, should they choose to move. Often there is a common house, with shared meals at least 1x/wk. show less

(Kt): I read this book. I found it to be a good jumping off point and a good source for finding out what cohousing is.