Design for Community

Follow these guidelines to design neighbourhoods for people and develop a sense of community

1

Cluster Households

2

Put Cars on the Side

3

Graduate Private to Public Space

4

Extensive Common Facilities

5

Intentional Resident Participation

Interaction builds community. Cluster dwellings around a common courtyard or boulevard, rather than in individual fenced lots. Try for at least 15.

Build in ‘bump’ points where residents can informally come across each other.

Central courtyards create a rural green feel. They provide a sense of security by being able to see the other houses.

A central pathway encourages residents to pass and interact. Perhaps the nicest sense of community is stopping to chat to your neighbours on your way home.

The Cottage Company – Conover Commons Cottages Site Plan

Bristol Cohousing Site Plan

Place cars on the outside of your housing development. This reduces driveway space, encourages social contact, and keeps cars away from playing children.

A shared parking place allows residents to meet each other on their way to and from their car.

This leaves more space for a central courtyard or street for people to meet and mingle on.

Place dwellings so people feel it’s their own private house, but that they belong to something bigger.

Orientate dwellings towards the courtyard to encourage people to come out of their houses and interact with each other. Kitchens and dining rooms overlook the courtyard so parents can see their children playing and provide scenic views of the large green common courtyard.

Use a porch and a yard surrounded by small shrubs to create a transition between private and public.

Private areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms, or a lounge are placed upstairs or at the rear of the house. Dwellings not to face each other (except for those over the other side of the courtyard). Windows are placed to avoid looking into other dwellings.

Aurora Pocket Neighborhood

Earthsong Common House (Auckland)

The more commonly owned facilities, the more community. Include a common house with a large lounge, kitchen, guest room, mail collection area, common laundry, and deck. It becomes the social hub of the community.

Place the common house in a central prominent position, by the entrance. Each dwelling looks onto the common house’s deck.

People make the place. Intentionally try to create community. Hold a weekly meal with the neighbours.

Set up your community as a cooperative. Use a Unit Title structure rather than a freehold title. Try and make decisions by consensus.

Social housing providers should consider more resident self-management of their community.

Peterborough Outdoor Movie

How these guidelines are implemented will depend on the site and the aims of the residents. Peterborough can provide advice for specific situations.