Hello, I am looking for examples of dormitory style co-housing. I live in Driggs Idaho and like so many resort communities housing prices are outpacing incomes of most would be first home buyers. In addition, given the current credit crunch I think alot more people will be out of reach of even the cheapest condos in our community. My vision is of a cohabitation building w/ shared cooking, shower, rec, storage, gardening facilities, etc. The main reason is affordability. Probably ownership on a fair market value. The icing on this affordable cake would be green. As in a living building. Carbon neutral. Anyways, this idea just hatched and I am wondering if anyone could steer me toward any similar examples. Thanks, Aaron in Idaho

IMO, it's not something I would consider living in, it sounds too much like some summer housing I lived it when I worked at Cedar Point. The apartments had 5 bedrooms, 2 large communal style bathrooms, and one shared kitchen. Sharing the bathroom, not so bad. Sharing the kitchen, and getting people to wash their own dishes ... bad. Many science experiments growing in that sink over time.

There is an architect, Ross Chapin (http://www.rosschapin.com/Plans/plans.html), featured in one of the NSBH books (Pears & Cherries, Hilltop cottages) that has designed small cottage communities. He has a collection of small house and cottage plans available on his website. I was drooling over his plans again today (I am not connected in any way, I'm just a fan), and remembered this post. I know those cottage communities have shared green-space.

I'm thinking a collection of small buildings rather than one large building. You might be able to "duplex"-size or "condo"-size some of the cottage spaces. A common building with your vision of shared cooking, rec, entertainment facilities, but give each unit a small amount of kitchen ... dorm size fridge/freezer, microwave, a couple cabinets.

As always, my opinion is worth what you paid for it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JulieC,

Also, for a different type of "green" building, check out <Enertia.com>
They build houses that heat and cool themselves. I wish they would get together with Sarah Susanka, because they are engineers not architects and could use her skills and ideas.