ENHANCING INTERACTION DESIGNING COMMUNAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
JEFFREY GASTON BATHALON
PROCESS
INTRODUCTION
Approach:
An urban approach with overlapping zones of access carved and sculpted into a sloping landscape defines a spatial order of different qualities encourages use and community interaction. Also, building design supports usage within these zones of access through circulation and views between communal and private spaces to achieve a strong socially integrated community.
2 Introduction
Carving:
A different architectural approach is to create habitable and inhabitable zones by carving and sculpting into a sloping landscape to define a spatial order of different qualities. This order is determined by carving spaces at differing heights to establish views between different zones of use.
Zones of Access:
A neighborhood atmosphere is reinforced through zones of access interplayed between private, collective, and public spaces as a means of diminishing territorial boundaries between residential households. Private spaces are exclusively accessible to specific residents whereas collective and public spaces are accessible to all residents.
Communal Housing:
Intergenerational cohousing, which includes people of all ages and different household types, can address the isolation that some may feel in fragmented communities.
Views:
Views are used to promote a communal atmosphere by creating inhabitable transitions between habitable spaces. The carved zones of access can create views that may allow an individual to be seen. For example, public spaces can feel safer when more residents can view them.
Overlapping:
Overlapping occurs between zones of access through views and circulation amongst community spaces (shared by all) and residential clusters (shared in groups). Overlapping provides connectivity between private, collective, and public spaces to enhance interaction.
Circulation:
Zones of access consisting of two types of pedestrian pathways that are centered on the people of the community and their activities. The main pedestrian pathway provides access to the terraced zones. A secondary pedestrian pathway links each clustered habitable and inhabitable space together and connects them to the main pedestrian pathway. Placing the main pedestrian pathway through these terraced zones softens the transition between private and collective spaces.
Introduction 3
ANALYSIS
OVERVIEW 17
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4 Overview
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Project Program:
A cohousing community featuring 30 households with 80 residences (48 adults and 32 children) in an area that is roughly three acres. Households include one bedroom to three bedroom units)
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Site Plan: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Parking Garage Auto-shop Workshop Common House (approx. 4,800 sq.ft.) Amphitheater + Gathering Space Childhood Center Playground Residential Housing (approx. 800 - 1,400 sq.ft.) Cooperative Store Adult Center + Cafe Teen + Music Center Garage Access Exercise Area Pool Area Picnic Area Green Houses Community Gardens
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Overview 5
PROGRAM
Stormwater Management Shared Tools
Carpooling
Recycling
Celebration Area
Pedestrian Streets Communal Dinners
Evolving Landscape
Quiet Places
Conversation-Friendly Area
Residential Clusters
Shared Laundry
6 Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY Lots of Visibility Outdoor Cooking Place For Pets Shared Picnic Shelters
Children Play Areas
Public Seats
Natural Material
Composting + Gardening Optimum Solar Exposure Edible Landscape
Shared Outdoor Spaces
Sustainability 7
SPACING
Section A-A
Outdoor Seating Detail Pedestrian Street Detail
8 Sections
SECTIONS Section B-B
Pool Area Detail
Playground Area Detail
Sections 9
CIRCULATION
Zone 1
Zone 3
Zone 2
Zone 4
10 Zones of Access
ZONES OF ACCESS Developments:
Zone 5
Cohousing communities have been developed in urban and rural sites that promote individual privacy with the benefits of neighborhood amenities, specifically zones pertaining to program and use that accommodate their current and future needs.
Layout Design:
This communal housing development portrays generous spacing between programmatic areas and household clusters but the overall layout could be adjusted based on a community’s needs or restraints.
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zones of Access 11
CLUSTERED HOUSING
Orientation:
The positioning of clustered housing is based on scenic views on the west and views overlooking several public amenities, as well as solar orientation.
Access to Units:
Public Amenities:
Units can be accessed from the basement and first floor, which demonstrates a design feature of overlapping between different zones.
Public amenities in the cohousing development are not meant to define the community but to express the many possibilities available to residents.
Evolving Landscape:
Vegetation centered on residents in public areas strengthens a sense of place, as well as reduces energy use, enhancing stormwater management, and improving quality of life. 12 Residential Units
Pedestrian Pathways:
A pedestrian orientated development promotes a healthy community by combining accessibility, networking, and convenience.
RESIDENTIAL UNITS Modular Units:
Households are arranged in groups of two with one bedroom to three bedroom units and shared space between them as a gathering space, laundry room, and guest bedroom.
Second Floor
First Floor
Unit 1 + 2 (Shared)
Unit 1 (One Bedroom)
Unit 2 (Three Bedroom)
Basement
Residential Units 13
BENEFITS
Environment
Community
Sustainability Framework Composting Waste Management Energy and Water Efficiency Community Food-Related Practices Recycling Management
Sense of Place Mixed Occupant Typologies Public Amenities Shared Resources Pedestrian Streets
Economic Sharing Programs Home Owner Association Live-Work Lower Living Cost
Economic
14 Social Integration
Common Meals Contextual Outlooks Social Groups Sharing Tasks
Society
SOCIAL INTEGRATION A Viable Option:
By establishing an interplay between different zones (private, collective, and public spaces) provides a variety of uses, views, and accessibility that contributes to enhancing interaction within a communal housing development.
Spatial Quality
Cohousing Communities In New England
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Inhabiting
A Communal Atmosphere
Social Integration 15