Copyright 1996

parts of the world In size they
dissatisfaction with the
periphery This type of
probably average around
limited conventional options
intentional neighbourhood
thirty households, with some
that were available
design is pedestrian friendly
as large as sixty or more, some
* What we accept as
and promotes community
as small as seven or eight
conventional suburbia is not
through increased
households
traditional and has really only
opportunities for spontaneous
been with us, or at least
social interaction
Common House
regarded as normal, since
* Participatory process is
* The mam feature of the
World War II It emphasizes
crucial in developing a co-
common house is the kitchen
privacy at the expense of
housing project People get to
and dining room Shared
community, and ownership
know one another, and a sense
dinners are held there
over aness
of community grows by
regularly In some
* The ubiquitous quarter acre
working together through the
communities that is as few as
block necessitates car journeys
various stages of the
2 nights a week, in others up
for most basic activities, such
development process
to 7 Everyone takes a turn
as shopping or visiting
* Resident management
cooking dinner Breakfasts
friends
means that once different
and lunches (and dinners
' Suburban living is thus an
decisions are made, people
when there is no common
isolating experience for many
usually respect them because
meal) can be prepared in one's
people, its very structure
they had a say
own kitchen and eaten at
mitigates against spontaneous
Responsibilities are typically
home or brought to the
casual social interaction
divided among smaller work
common house
* House sharing helps
groups, with all adults
* The laundry is the other
promote sharing and a sense