Page 27 - C.A.L.L. #34 - Winter 2011/2012

US cohousing is part of the wider network Fellowship of Intentional Communities FIC.
This movement is based on cooperation, non-violence and inclusivity. An important aim
is to share
experiences with

others and to build
trust in general.
Seminars and courses
are arranged about
conflict resolution
and publications are
sold with an aim to
broaden awareness
of cooperative
alternatives. See
further
http://www.ic.org/.

Design of common spaces by Charles Durrett & Kathryn McCamant. One The Australian
may note how well the common spaces are connected to each other. The architect Graham
contact between indoor and outdoor has been given special attention, as
well as an overview including an indoor visual contact with a playground Meltzer (living in the
for children. famous Scottish
ecovillage Findhorn)
has made an interesting analysis of US cohousing projects showing that cohouses may
substantially promote sustainable development and environmental-friendly lifestyles.
Cohousing residents usually have smaller houses and fewer cars while they share
facilities such as garden equipment, carpentry tools, washers, dryers, freezers, TVs

and video recorders.

In Swedish cohousing one of the goals is to increase access to attractive indoor space
by abstaining from some private space in favour of a dining room, children‟s play room,
guest room, sauna, workshops and exercise room. In an influential book on cohousing
the authors argued for a model that “saves on material resources and liberates human
resources”. About 55 units of their model have been built in Sweden since 1979.

Are there no conflicts in cohousing? As the chairman of the Swedish association
Cohousing NOW I know that conflicts exist about food, rules for cleaning and house
meetings, and procedures for moving in and out. Such conflict are often good learning
experiences, but may in some cases result in the deterioration of communal life.
Residents do not have to follow one particular ideology or even be a friend of

everybody in the house, but one has to compromise and solve conflicts in a
constructive way. If more people would live in cohousing the world would probably be
more peaceful.

Dick Urban Vestbro