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McCamant & Durrett Architects
The Cohousing Company
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"When starting a cohousing community, or any movement for that matter, you will speak with a thousand people. Most will say, 'Why bother?', but twenty out of a thousand will be ready to listen. You only need 20 to make a cohousing project work and when the others see how much fun you're having, they won't have any excuses." -Charles Durrett.
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You Need Not Reinvent the Wheel
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| Mountain View Cohousing, Mountain View, CA |
Cohousing in Denmark was catapulted into success with the collaboration of the very capable architect Jan Gudmand Hoyer and the architectural firm
Vandkunsten
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titled "Children Should Have One Hundred Parents," by Bodil Graae.
Using a village model they created a cohousing community that invited its residents to live autonomously but together-making the thesis of the article a reality. When the community was completed, a multitude of visitors walked into that village and said to themselves, "Now I could live here. I'm going to go home and make one of these in my town."
The first cohousing community in Denmark was finished in 1972. Trudeslund, the 12th community built, was finished in 1980 and stands as an ideal model for cohousing communities being built today. From 1980 to 1990, over 100 communities
were finished, and the positive influence of Trudeslund is evident in most of them.
Based on my observations and the observations of other professionals, the best cohousing projects are made today by architects who have designed at least 15 cohousing communities. In other words, these architects including the two that accomplished Trudeslund have made a serious study of the topic.
By contrast, the worst cohousing communities are made by new architects who visit a few cohousing projects, go into their studios, and give cohousing a try. The results are mediocre at best. The reason is simple: Mediocracy is what you get when you cobble together anecdotal and piecemeal data. The upshot is that mediocracy ends up costing a lot more, ends up taking longer, doesn't work well for its residents, and does not encourage the construction of new cohousing communities. Please avoid the trap of mediocracy.
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| Vancouver Cohousing, Vancouver, BC |
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The best Danish and American architects rely on a process that determines first and foremost how to respond exactly to the needs, wants, and desires of a specific resident group. That is, these professionals are focused on optimizing the potential of each particular group. The cohousing project that results fits them like a glove, not like a grocery bag, and definitely not like a straightjacket. Good and appropriately budgeted cohousing projects are always accomplished with a clear and deliberate process.
How do you keep from falling into the trap of mediocracy? Work with professionals who have experience in creating successful, high-functioning cohousing communities. Don't follow designers just because they are nice people, especially if you and your group members think, "None of us have a clue what we are doing, but I sure like hanging out with these people." Don't do it. Don't fall into that trap.
To end on another important note, many senior cohousing communities base their vision and mission statements on established senior cohousing criteria. This is a best practice that serves to get them started in the right direction. For a complete look at the criteria for senior cohousing, please follow this link:
www.cohousingco.com/criteria-for-senior-cohousing/
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Participate in this webinar and get CEU credits.
The
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS SEPT. 1!!!
Study Group 1: Training the Trainers Fall 2016
Starting October 12
This fall, Chuck will lead
Study Group 1: Training the Trainers online. Back by popular demand, this course is for developers, planners, professionals in senior living and senior care - especially for those interested in starting cohousing in their own town. Learn essential tools for working with senior cohousing groups. Get to meet people who, like you, want to move forward successfully with senior cohousing. Get personalized attention from MDA, the firm that brought cohousing to the U.S.
Here's what past participant, Susan Smith, has to say:
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I was very fortunate to participate in Study Group 1 in the past and feel well equipped to train others in my area. I also feel the program impacted me personally in profound ways by helping me qualify what will work for me in my retirement years and to be proactive in pursuing great options for healthy and productive senior years. Chuck and Katie are passionate about cohousing, and you won't be disappointed at the wonderful information they have to share!"
This course is great for people across the globe. With our new and easy to access webinar class, you can participate no matter where you live!
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Power of Community - Charles Durrett is featured in Tech-enhanced Life
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Today we can text our sibling to find out what they are having for lunch in Paris, but we don't know the name of our next-door neighbor, nor probably their birthday-unless we've looked him or her up on PoliceReport.com...because, you know, we should know who our neighbor is. It's only prudent to be cautious."
Last month, Chuck was featured in Tech-enhanced Life, a popular online publication for seniors.
To read the entire article on Tech-enhanced Life, follow this link: http://bit.ly/2aOSu6E
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We're dedicated to making the books available. The reason that cohousing is so popular in the Seattle and San Francisco areas is because the books were in the bookstores. We have started to showcase the local bookstores who are participating in culture change and carry our books with each community. If you know of another bookstore who carries our books, let us know! info@cohousingco.com
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Quimper Village in Port Townsend, WA
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Quimper Village Groundbreaking
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Quimper Village recently started construction! The future residents of this senior cohousing community have proven that, if you work hard and stay true to the path (don't reinvent the wheel) you can finish a project in record time!
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Gorge Cohousing in Hood River, OR
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| View of Mount Hood |
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Gorge Cohousing invites anyone interested in living in cohousing in the Hood River/ Portland area to join them for a free presentation on October 21, and to sign up for the Getting-It-Built workshop with Chuck and Katie on October 22 and 23. Gorge Cohousing will be the first cohousing community in the area, a small town of about 9,000 people.
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Fair Oaks EcoHousing in Sacramento, CA
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| Marty, future resident of Fair Oaks EcoHousing, stands with ECOS president Brandon Rose. |
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Fair Oaks EcoHousing was recently endorsed by ECOS (Environmental Council of Sacramento) for their dedication to sustainability and community.
The Sacramento Bee scooped up this story and we'd like to share it with you here!
They are almost ready for construction and are looking for more great folks to join the community. This summer, there are many opportunities to meet Fair Oaks EcoHousing. See our events calendar below or visit their website:
www.fairoaksecohousing.org
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Village Hearth in Durham, NC
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| Meet the fun residents of Village Hearth |
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Village Hearth is out and about this summer, creating real grass roots change. The group is constantly hosting potlucks and involved in local events - these are great opportunities to meet them! Where will they be next? Visit their website: www.villagehearthcohousing.com for more information.
Chuck and Katie gave a public site tour in July and it was a great turn-out!
Contact Pat McAulay or Margaret Roesch: villagehearthcohousing@gmail.com if you are interested in joining the group.
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Valley View Senior Living, American Canyon, CA
MDA is heavy into the construction documents of Valley View Senior Homes, another project very much influenced by cohousing. That is, it
went from a single building (drive and park under) institution to a village-like setting, to be reminiscent of the feel of cohousing and of a small town
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Believe it or not, the rent-up (or interview process for future residents) has already begun. To date, there are 42 homeless seniors - 25 of whom are veterans, slated to move into this project.
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Site Plan
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We are working getting this project built as quickly as possible, but we are running into challenges persuading traditional thinkers to "think outside the box". HUD (Housing Urban Development) wants the homes to be a minimum of 500 sq ft, though, in the vein of wanting to provide housing to more homeless seniors, we requested on 450 sq ft for each home. That would allow for 10 more houses to be built on site, more homeless seniors to live in community and in the comfort of their own home, which they deserve.
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McCamant & Durrett Architects is looking to hire another architect
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MDA team at work
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McCamant & Durrett Architects of Nevada City is seeking to hire an accomplished practitioner of the design trade. An
architect, yes, but an artisan really. Someone who loves to make strong, beautiful, high functioning, eco-groovy and economical buildings as much as we do.
For additional information, please visit our website
www.cohousingco.com, and send your resume and cover letter to
mda.admin@cohousingco.com.
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Residents in a safe and fun community seeking neighbor!
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Nevada City Cohousing
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There's a wonderful community with about 55 adults and 35 children. They share a 4,000 sq ft Common House with great acoustics and lot's of natural light. These features alone make it a great place to have deep and meaningful conversations with people that you have grown to appreciate and a lovely and cozy place to break bread together four or five times per week.
The Common House kitchen is state-of-the-art, designed for gourmet cooking - there's no other place you'd rather cook. Other amenities included within the common facilities are a sitting room with a warm fireplace, a music room, a children's room, a teen room, energy efficient laundry equipment, two guest rooms, and a woodworking shop. A large swimming pool, known to the community as the "vortex" and hot tub make this community
the place to be during hot summer months (camp cohousing) and acres upon acres of natural woodland is just outside the front door.
But the greatest amenity of all is the 90 people, the community that knows you, cares about you, and supports you at some basic level. Like every house and or tight knit space, there are tasks that everyone is asked to do, but here it's easy - you sign up to cook common dinner regularly (your chance to channel your inner chef), belong on two committees, and attend monthly board meetings. It's a functioning cohousing community and we all play a part in sustaining its functionality.
Where else can you turn right out of your front door and be right in the beautiful downtown Nevada City; or turn left out of your door and be in the woods, close to the Tahoe National Forest?
P.S. It turns out that a house comes with the community! If you are interested in becoming a part of the best neighborhood you've ever lived in, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sierra in Nevada City, California, call David Carlson (owner of the home for sale) at 707-486-8447. The price of the house within the community is $429,000. The community, of course, is priceless.
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Cohousing Presentation with Chuck in Minneapolis, MN
Click on image below to sign up.
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Cohousing Presentation and Getting-It-Built with Chuck and Katie in Hood River, OR
Click on image below for more information
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September Events Calendar
C
lick on links for more info
Do you have a cohousing-related event you'd like us to feature? Talk to us! Contact Lindy at info@cohousingco.com.
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| El Manual Del Senior Cohousing |
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Senior Cohousing in Spanish
It's finally here, Manual del Senior Cohousing: Autonomia Personal a Traves de la Comunida! By popular demand, one of the essential reads in cohousing and setting seniors up for success. A comprehensive guide to why senior cohousing works, including success stories from high-functioning senior cohousing groups. A great gift or conversation starter. Get your copy today!
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Cohousing Books By McCamant & Durrett Architects
Add cohousing to you your reading list with these great books by McCamant & Durrett Architects. Written by the people who brought cohousing to the U.S., the books are filled with great images, case studies, how-to's, and other interesting facts about cohousing. These books are the quintessential guides to forming high-functioning cohousing communities.
For a limited time only, buy the four monographs and get $10 off!
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