Cohousing is an intentional, collaborative neighborhood that combines private homes with shared indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support an active and interdependent community life. Cohousing is not a financial or legal model, but rather a descriptive term that emphasizes the active participation of residents in everything from design to governance.

The Cohousing Association of the United States definition

Cohousing communities are intentional communities that help “individuals and families to find and maintain the elements of traditional neighborhoods - family, community, a sense of belonging - that are so sorely missing in our society.” It reestablishes many of the advantages of traditional villages within the context of twenty-first century life. Each household maintains a private residence and continues to work their jobs while also sharing the advantages of being part of an intentional community and sharing in extensive shared facilities like a common house.

Charles Durrett & Katie McCamant

Main Point: Cohousing offers a creative solution to the issues of modern living through increasing community connection, focusing on sustainability, and utilizing the advantages present in traditional villages.

o Increase community connection

o Increase resiliency of individuals, families, and community

o Living with intention

o Decrease environmental footprint. Cohousing communities overall consume less energy, own fewer things and drive less than people who do not live in them.

o Remedy social isolation and division

o Solving for changing demographics and family structures whose needs are no longer met by traditional single family homes in a suburban neighborhood

o Cohousing allows each individual residence to have access to more amenities than they would otherwise have

o The Commonhouse is designed before private homes- when the individual dwellings are designed it is clear what resources and functions are already provided for

o Homes are clustered, promoting community interaction and walkability while limiting our ecological footprint, leaving open shared spaces for recreation, farming, and a thriving local ecosystem.

o Parking is located on the fringe of the community and the Commonhouse is located such that all residents walk by it on the way home, this to promote interaction, participation and a sense of belonging, while creating a safe and inspiring human-size environment for adults, kids and elders alike.

o Each home is designed to flow from communal areas in front, to gradually more private areas in the back, to allow residents to choose their level of engagement versus alone/family time.

Private home flow: walking path - front yard (a few square foot patch) - front porch - kitchen (kitchen window facing path) - diningroom - livingroom - backyard

There are currently 28 Cohousing communities in Colorado, who are either forming, building or established.

There are several Established Cohousing communities in Boulder, Lyons and Lafayette

Links:

https://www.nylandcohousing.org/

https://wildsagecohousing.org/

https://silversagevillage.com/

https://nomadcohousing.org/