Teenager's Cottage / Apartment - Cohousing Pattern #18 [154]

A teenager’s cottage or apartment provides a safe transition between living with the nuclear family and complete independence. Seen in many of the communities visited – the teen apartments were usually a small efficiency apartment located in the community, often in pairs with a shared kitchenette and bathroom. Teens can request an apartment upon reaching a specified age. Parents or the teens would pay a modest monthly rent. At times there were no teens of the appropriate age within the community that wanted to rent the rooms, so occasionally a teen from outside the community would come to reside in one of the units.

These teen apartments provide young adults with autonomy from their parents/families, yet still provided the support of the family and familiarity of the community. A safe, yet big, step towards independence.

Drivhuset Cohousing in Randers, DK. Designed by Niels Madsen

Kaephoj in Roskilde, DK. Designed by Jes Edvars

Kilen Cohousing in Birkerød, DK. Designed by Jan Gudmand Hoyer

Please Note:

This series of blog posts is focused on explaining common design patterns in cohousing. Grace Kim, a founding principal and owner of Schemata Workshop, has identified patterns applicable to cohousing from "Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander and has added some of her own.

Grace's additional patterns pay particular attention to the Common House because its design requires special consideration. As the living room for the community, the Common House sets the initial impression for visitors about what cohousing is, what your community values might be, or the perceived benefits of living in community. Schemata Workshop has analyzed scores of common houses in Denmark and North America to discern what does and does not work. Following Alexander's concept of Pattern Language, Grace has thoroughly documented the necessary programmatic and design elements for a successful Common House.

To learn more about cohousing at Schemata, visit our cohousing page.

A Community-Based Urban Oasis: Tour the CHUC Rooftop Farm

Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing’s rooftop farm is more than just a garden. It’s a community gathering spot, an interactive classroom, an outdoor dining space, and a source for local, organic produce that is used by nearby farm-to-table restaurants. Not to mention it has amazing view!

Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing (CHUC) is a five-story intentional community comprised of nine homes over a street level commercial space, located in the dense urban center of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

As a cohousing project, it was designed in collaboration with the future residents, and prioritizes long-term social and environmental sustainability as one of their shared values. The design incorporates principles from the Living Building Challenge and Passive House, optimizing passive energy strategies while emphasizing thermal and acoustic comfort. Early energy modeling hinted at the project’s future energy efficiency, but after four years of occupancy the actual energy usage has been measured at EUI of 17.0 kBtu/sf/yr, one-third of a typical, energy code-compliant multifamily building in the area! We credit the passive design strategies, but equally important appear to be the social connections of the residents, and a building-wide commitment to climate protection.

The roof on the east half of the building supports a recently installed PV array (with even further improved building efficiency), and the other half houses a lively, activated, organic, pollinator-friendly farm. Located in one of the nation’s first soon-to-be-certified EcoDistricts, the farm is a catalyst for a neighborhood-wide network of urban farms, including the nearby Station House rooftop farm, part of the Capitol Hill Transit-Oriented Development!

Take a virtual tour of CHUC’s rooftop farm with Schemata Workshop founders and principals (and CHUC residents) Grace Kim and Michael Mariano below!

Bring in the Residents! Capitol Hill TOD Building B-South Nears Completion

Imagine sitting on your shaded balcony, nestled just above the treetops, watching dogs play in Cal Anderson. Your family is gathered inside around the kitchen island, helping with dinner. Down to your right, there is an open plaza, and you can hear the faint sound of music and laughter coming from your neighbors gathered below. The breeze is light, and the inevitable Seattle rain is nowhere to be seen (and neither is the famous Seattle chill, as your neighbors give you a wave).

Building B-South is one of two projects designed by Schemata Workshop as a part of the Capitol Hill Transit-Oriented Development. It consists of 74 luxury market rate units, with 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartment and townhome options. Surrounded by 10th Ave E to the East, Cal Anderson Park to the South, and the Capitol Hill TOD plaza to the West, residents are immersed in a park-like environment, while still able to easily access the urban perks of bustling Broadway Ave. A second level amenity lounge, intentionally located at tree canopy level, features a full-kitchen as well as outdoor seating and a BBQ grill. The street level townhomes along 10th Ave respond directly to the neighborhood residential character with their inviting stoops and brick and wood facades.

The building is highly sustainable, achieving LEED Platinum certification, employing passive solar strategies, low flow fixtures, and low VOC materials. It is the result of close collaboration between Schemata Workshop, the architect, Gerding Edlen Development, the Owner, and Lease Crutcher Lewis, the contractor.

For more information:

https://www.schemataworkshop.com/capitol-hill-tod-bsouth

https://www.apartments.com/capital-hill-station-apartments-seattle-wa/4912xmk/

Welcome 2020 Graduates!

We at Schemata understand that during these “unprecedented” times, graduating from college is a larger leap than ever.

As the new 2020 graduates face the world, many of our staff have been reminiscing about their first post-college experiences — the difficulties they faced, the people who helped them along the way, and the resilience required to “make it” as a young professional, particularly in the architecture field.

Some of our staff have family or friends who have graduated this year, and we understand the unique difficulties of entering the “real world” in the midst of a global pandemic. However, more than ever, this time is ripe for change, fresh ideas, and all the other qualities these graduates are bringing with them.

As a firm that values fresh and diverse approaches, we are excited to see what this most recent graduating class of architects has in store. We are excited to welcome them into our profession, and to see what they will go on to achieve.

To all recent grads: stay strong, believe in your abilities and ideas, and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help along the way. We at Schemata stand with you during this time. Welcome to the profession!

Further resources:

https://archinect.com/features/article/150207605/2020-architecture-graduates-share-their-thoughts-on-the-current-job-market

https://www.ncarb.org/blog/must-read-career-tips-architects

http://www.aias.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5.24.18-How-To-Get-A-Job-In-Architecture.pdf

https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Architectural-Internship-Career-Development/dp/0471692638

Connected Play - Cohousing Pattern #17 [68]

“Children need other children.” This sentence speaks volumes of the interdependence between a child’s personal development and his/her interactions with other children. In addition to basic social skills, a child’s emotional development can be nurtured through playing with their peers and taking care of younger kids.

The children’s realm in a Common House or adjacent outdoor spaces can provide places for the children to have meaningful relationships with one another. The Common House provides a place for children to gather and meet without the need for adults to intervene and schedule “play dates.”

Children raised in cohousing communities tend to be natural communicators - having watched their elders achieve consensus in their meetings and interactions with other cohousing residents. There are numerous anecdotes of cohousing children being asked by their school teachers to moderate fights between their classmates.

Kilen Cohousing in Birkerød, DK. Designed by Jan Gudmand Hoyer

Leerbjerg Lod in Hillerød, DK. Designed by Arkitektgruppen | Aarhus APS

Trudeslund Cohousing in Birkerød, DK. Designed by Tegnestuen Vandkunsten

Kaephoj in Roskilde, DK. Designed by Jes Edvars

Jystrup Savvaerket in Jystrup, DK. Designed by Tegnestuen Vandkunsten

Please Note:

This series of blog posts is focused on explaining common design patterns in cohousing. Grace Kim, a founding principal and owner of Schemata Workshop, has identified patterns applicable to cohousing from "Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander and has added some of her own.

Grace's additional patterns pay particular attention to the Common House because its design requires special consideration. As the living room for the community, the Common House sets the initial impression for visitors about what cohousing is, what your community values might be, or the perceived benefits of living in community. Schemata Workshop has analyzed scores of common houses in Denmark and North America to discern what does and does not work. Following Alexander's concept of Pattern Language, Grace has thoroughly documented the necessary programmatic and design elements for a successful Common House.

To learn more about cohousing at Schemata, visit our cohousing page.