“This book, by the founders of the cohousing movement in the United States, is a must read for anybody who wants or needs to know about cohousing. It serves those who want to learn about living in one, creating one, or just better understand how cohousing is driving positive change in the broader culture.”
― Craig Ragland, Executive Director, Cohousing Association of the United States
“In Creating Cohousing Kathryn McCamant and Chuck Durrett have done much more than bring the cohousing story up to date with the latest reports from both pioneer new communities. They have added valuable chapters on state of the art and best practices unique to cohousing design, development, and community building, and they have defined cohousing’s influence and role in the current cultural transition toward a more sustainable lifestyle.”
― Jim Leach, President, Wonderland Hill Development Company
“This book, by the founders of the cohousing movement in the United States, is a must read for anybody who wants or needs to know about cohousing. It serves those who want to learn about living in one, creating one, or just better understand how cohousing is driving positive change in the broader culture.”
― Craig Ragland, Executive Director, Cohousing Association of the United States
“In Creating Cohousing Kathryn McCamant and Chuck Durrett have done much more than bring the cohousing story up to date with the latest reports from both pioneer new communities. They have added valuable chapters on state of the art and best practices unique to cohousing design, development, and community building, and they have defined cohousing’s influence and role in the current cultural transition toward a more sustainable lifestyle.”
― Jim Leach, President, Wonderland Hill Development Company
Book Description
The cohousing “bible” by the US originators of the concept.
From the Back Cover
COHOUSING PUTS THE NEIGHBOR BACK INTO NEIGHBORHOOD
The story of cohousing is not the story of energy conservation at all ― it’s the story of energy generation, the kind of human energy that we so badly need at this turn in the history of our country .― Bill McKibben, from the foreword
Cohousing offers unparalelled opportunities for building a better life. Whether urban, suburban or rural; senior or intergenerational; retrofit or new, Creating Cohousing shows how these distinctive communities can foster cooperation and a sense of belonging, use resources more efficiently, and make everything from gardening to childcare to socializing simpler and more enjoyable.
Cohousing is perfect for anyone who values their independence but longs for more connection with those around them. Written by the award-winning team that first brought cohousing to North America, this fully illustrated manual combines nuts-and-bolts practical considerations and design ideas with extensive case studies of dozens of diverse communities across North America and Europe. Creating Cohousing is an essential resource for anyone interested in this uniquely rewarding style of environmentally and socially sustainable living.
A must-read for anybody who wants or needs to know about Cohousing .– Craig Ragland, Executive Director, Cohousing Association of the United States
Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant are the award-winning architects who introduced the concept of cohousing to the US with their book Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves . They have designed and developed over fifty cohousing communities in the United States and consulted on many more around the world. Charles is also the author of The Senior Cohousing Handbook: A Community Approach to Independent Living .
About the Author
Charles Durrett is a principal at McCamant & Durrett in Nevada City, CA, a firm that specializes in affordable cohousing. He co-authored the groundbreaking Cohousing A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves with his wife and business partner, Kathryn McCamant. He also authored The Senior Cohousing Handbook: A Community Approach to Independent Living.
Kathryn McCamant, and her husband Charles Durrett, co-authored Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves and founded McCamant & Durrett Architects and The CoHousing Company. They coined the term “cohousing” for which they are credited in the Oxford English Dictionary. Kathryn founded Cohousing Partners in 2006 with developer Jim Leach..Together they have designed and developed over 50 cohousing communities.