Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities

FYI, if you have Cohousing, you don't also need this book. This is the third edition, which is a rename from their second edition. Most of the projects highlighted are the same from book to book, with similar or matching written content and graphics. The photos are in color in the 2nd, while they are all black and white in the 3rd edition. The color images are clearer. In the 2nd edition, there are some US based cohousing projects included that were dropped from the 3rd, while more of the author's projects were included. The Danish projects are the same, with some of the plans and other graphics shrunk down in the 3rd; again, the graphics are easier to read in this, the 2nd edition. There are also some updates to the text to reflect the author's recent visits to check up on the communities. Overall, the bulk of the content is identical and it is misleading that the books are listed under separate titles. I suggest you select one or the other to purchase. The 2nd is easier to look at, the 3rd is more current.

The concept and examples of cohousing are presented fantastically in writing. However the choice to go exclusively with black and white, mostly small photos, fails to inspire. I hope a new edition chooses a less is more approach - the small photos of people don't accomplish the goal of demonstrating the warmth of living in community and floors plans can be found and zoomed to all sizes online.

This book was written by one of the giants in the cohousing field, Chuck Durrett, an architect who early on brought cohousing to the States from Denmark. His book is full of wonderful case studies and examples -- and I wished for a few examples of work by other skilled architects. The book is full of experiential wisdom; he's been there, lived cohousing as well as sold it, and knows whereof he speaks. Why I didn't give it a five-star rating: because I wanted some more practical information on costs, legal structures and issues, and so on. Perhaps that would have been more specific and limited in its application that he wished, and I'd certainly agree with that. Bottom line: if you think you might want to pursue cohousing, this book is an absolute must-read.

This is a great introduction to co-housing, a form of cooperative living originating in northern Europe that appears to be gaining in popularity in the US - for good reason. The book has been updated to reflect more recent work and could probably be updated again. The authors writing style is flavorful, authoritative and informative - the book is easy to read with a wide variety of examples and numerous anecdotes and insights into how these communities operate, how they overcome the challenges of creation and stay vibrant and functional over many years.

I'm working on establishing micro housing for the homeless. There are some good parallels to tis type of housing. There is a lot of details in this book that can act as guides. There is a lot of repetition as almost all of the case studies face the same problems and find the same solutions. If you are using the book as a guide you can read about a third of it and skip most of the rest or look for communities that are parallel to your application.

A great introduction to cohousing. Fascinating, really. Only wish the pictures were in color.

Not just the greying of America, but simply being able to more with less, with housing as well as everything associated with the coming baby boom makes the co housing concept a win-win The author offers a broad review of the alternatives and provides good seeds for the future thinkers. A must read for wanna be cohousing developers.

This book has taught me everything I need to know to create Pocket Communities--really brilliant

This book sits comfortably beside classics such as The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Cities for People and Bowling Alone, in its praise of community life.Co housing started in Scandinavia and spread from there. The book takes a strict definition of co housing, as housing that includes smaller private dwellings, and large communal dwellings, with all residents regularly cooking for their community. Like communism this all sounds great in theory, but we have all endured the hellish dystopian nightmare that is flat sharing.The sheer energy and positivity of the book, peppered with photos and drawings, really does sell you on the vision of these communities of like minded people sharing their lives. The book is probably longer than it needs to be, but I found it a joy to read, this is the third edition and it obviously a labour of love, with each update improving on what went before. There is an element of self promotion, the authors are architects for co housing projects, but this is offset by their overwhelming generosity of spirit.There are a few easily ignored typos later on, the word consense is used a couple of times without definition, and on Kindle the usual Amazon teaser appears after the main text but is difficult to get past.Even if you don’t intend setting up a cohousing community,there is plenty of useful stuff here about creating better environments for living together, and a convincing optimism for making a better future.

Packed full of detailed insight in how to make a cooperative housing project, cohousing or other, happen.

Si están interesados en el cohousing, es una lectura muy enriquecedora. Muchas experiencias de todo el mundo pueden consultarse.

Great insight for future housing projects. This book take into account the ‘human’ aspect of living, co living essentially co-existing.

Essential reading for creating a cohousing community! Highly recommended. Our group, Abundant Life Autism, is being helped greatly by this rich resource.