Affordable and Ecological Cohousing Design

July 10 – August 14th, Thursdays, 12pm – 1:30pm MT

In this 6-course seminar, the student will learn from Charles Durrett, the leading architect and builder of cohousing communities globally. Durrett will impart his decades of experience so that you can learn about how to build your dream residential community with affordability and sustainability top of mind.

The student will learn how affordability and sustainability fit together, hand in glove. It’s not one or the other. We’ll dive in to where the highest level of sustainability is achieved in high-functioning cohousing communities, culture change itself. Durrett will cover both the essence and the basics – based on designing for thousands of cohousers who didn’t want to compromise either.

Student Learning Outcomes: 

The student will learn how to build cohousing and other developments affordably while not compromising sustainability or community, and in fact, significantly enhancing both in a very holistic way. Durrett has been motivated by all of the wonderful people that the has designed for who didn’t have enough money, but deeply wanted to get into cohousing. People who wanted to live lighter on the planet and in a community that they could afford to live in. 

Session Outline:

Session 1: The Big Picture

• Sustainable & Affordable Zoning & Land Use
• Group Culture and Attitude
• Finding a Site and Negotiating with Land Sellers and Officials
• Gaining support from local stakeholders

Session 2: Planning the Project

• Production construction
• Building types & Housing types
• Designing houses together
• Construction of the common house
• Prioritizations during planning and design process
• Review case studies and analyze how to achieve quality project with less cost ($50 less per square than comparable projects)

Session 3: Construction Approaches

• Traditional framing, prefabrication, and other construction methodologies
• Energy-Efficient & Affordable Building and Construction Details
  • Framing details, foundation details, roof details, and many more

Session 4: Project Management & Construction Negotiation/Administration

• Keeping the project on tract with no delays
• Finding the right consultants and contractor

Session 5: Long-Term Resource Savings

• How residents in cohousing community save everyday costs long-term

Session 6: Happily Ever Aftering

• Sustainable and Affordable Ongoing Maintenance Strategies
• Community Agreements
• Sustainable Design for Long-Term affordability & Low Maintenance
• Community resource sharing

Recommended Reading: Cohousing Communities: Designing for High-Functioning Communities