A brief overview of cohousing and the co-design/development for Glassworks Coop in Owen Sound Ontario presented January 13th 2021 by Kristopher Stevens.
4. This is community led
development & co-design
• Our vision, mission & values
• Our community capacity
• Our site (neighbourhood)
• Our commons & amenities
• Our homes
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Harbourside Cohousingl, Sooke, BC- 2019
5. Cohousing is a planned
residential neighbourhood
that combines private homes
with shared indoor and
outdoor spaces that are
designed to support an
active, interdependent
community life.
6. Cohousing balances
privacy AND community
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Cranberry Commons, BC & Quimper Village, Port Townsend, WA - 2018 6
7. Trends behind
Cohousing
• Smaller families
• Extended families living apart
• People are living longer
• Desire for more traditional
neighborhood where you know your
neighbors
• Desire to live a more sustainable
lifestyle that is less car dependent
7
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Toronto, ON - 2019
8. • Affordable
• Proximity
• Social
• Sustainable
• Independent
• Co-care
• Safe
8
Images by Kristopher Stevens, Harbourside Cohousing, Sooke, BC - 2019
9. What can it
look like?
Detached houses
Town homes
Cottages
Mid-rise
High-rise
It is up to you
9Image by Cohabitat Quebec – 2017; Kristopher Stevens, Cohousing infographic postcards - 2018
10. Images by Charles Durrett - 2018 & Kristopher Stevens, Harbourside Cohousing, Sooke, BC - 2019 10
In cohousing we share things like:
• Ideas
• The ups and downs of life
• Community meals
• Common house
• Caregiver suite(s) & services
• Cleaning & maintenance
• Tools & equipment
11. • Gardens
• Workshop & craft spaces
• Exercise facilities
• Child-minding
• Co-working space
• Utilities
• Teen & children rooms
Image by William Right Photography, Capitol Hill Cohousing; Susie Fox, Songia - 2018 & Kristopher Stevens - 2019
12. Please note cohousing
can be more than one
neighbourhood!
Examples: Sage & Silver
Sage and Munksøgård !
12Images by McCamant & Durrett, Caddis and Wonderland, Silver Sage and Wild Sage Cohousing – 2018 - 2020
13. Of 50+, all ages or even
young people
Images by Philip Krabbendamm and Kristopher Stevens, Munksøgård – 2018 - 2019
14. For an overview of cohousing please watch:
Cohousing 101: An introduction to cohousing is free on
For a deeper dive into cohousing join us for:
Is cohousing right for you? 4 part series - January 14, 2021
• Module 1 (Jan 14): Personal vision, mission and values
• Module 2 (Jan 21): Getting it built
• Module 3 (Jan 28): Living in community
• Module 4 (Feb 4): Hopes and fears
https://www.universe.com/iscohousingrightforyou
Discount code: COHOGLASS
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Cranberry Commons, Burnaby, BC - 2018 14
15. Drawings by Schemata Workshop, photo by Kristopher Stevens, Capitol Hill Cohousing, Seattle WA – 2018