Research Project

THE NEEDS OF INNOVATIVE
COMMUNITY HOUSING PROJECTS
Cohousing development and sustainability:
obstacles, lessons, and oppurtunities

A Research Project in part furfillment of a B.Plan degree
Peter Scott, June 2000
University of Auckland NZ

ABSTRACT

Cohousing neighbourhoods comprise responsive, resident designed housing with a moderate element of common facilities, in a pedestrian oriented site layout. It is a pragmatic contemporary construct with potential to act as something of a catalyst for new models of sustainable human settlements.

It is clear that the development of cohousing neighbourhoods is currently in its infancy and as a result occurs in something of a vacuum of institutional and commercial support. While empowerment is a feature of cohousing development, groups frustrated by the lack of housing options progress to becoming frustrated with the difficulty of creating new options.

This research study catalogues the extent and nature of the challenges and obstacles faced by developing projects, through the administration of a questionnaire survey. Results confirmed what many in the industry already know, that aspects of funding and access to development expertise were resources in critically short supply.

In addition by comparing three styles of project development from case studies, lessons and opportunities for enhancing the uptake of cohousing, are discussed. A case is made that public support is justified and small amounts of technical resourcing and a suitable legislative/finance framework will better facilitate cohousing and other cooperative housing in NZ. The cohousing movement also has a role to play in consolidating its own resources, such as re-sales data.

CONTENTS

1.	Introduction
	Study Raison de etre	4
	Study Overview	4
	Study Methodology	5
	Author affiliation	7

2.	Cohousing and sustainability
	Origins and description of cohousing	8
	Relevance to sustainable communities.	10

3.	Survey of cohousing project problems and needs
	Survey type, location and sample	15
	Survey questionnaire design	16
	Questionnaire results analysis	17
	Survey conclusions	27
	Post survey comment on method	28

4.	Lessons and opportunities from cases
	Earthsong Eco-neighbourhood	29
	Pinnakari Co-operative	32
	Harmony Village	35
	Commentary	36

5.	Study conclusions	41

	Bibliography	43

	Appendix 1: Questionnaire survey form
	Appendix 2: Tabulated survey results
	Appendix 3: Coloured cards description
	Appendix 4: Streamlined Model process info
	Appendix 5: Te Puni Kokiri Group self-build info
	Appendix 6: Glossary

DOWNLOAD

The report is available in pdf format only. It is split into 5 parts as below:

Sections 1 + 2 Introduction and cohousing + sustainability sections	rp_ps_part1.pdf	597KB
Section 3 Survey analysis section, with graphs etc	rp_ps_part2.pdf	154KB
Sections 4 + 5 Case studies + lessons and oppurtunities + conclusion	rp_ps_part3.pdf	986KB
Apendices Kapa hanga, Earthsong, Streamline develepoment etc	rp_ps_part4.pdf	1691KB
Apendices more Detailed tabulated data from responses	rp_ps_part5.pdf	100KB

FEEDBACK

This research project was written for a B.Plan degree. It was written in quite of a hurry. I'd be interested in any feedback. (Email: contact here)