co-housing
Intentional residential community
Co-housing is a type of intentional community where residents have private homes but share common spaces and resources—a communal kitchen, garden, laundry, or childcare.
The arrangement aims to foster neighborly connection while preserving individual privacy: They moved into a co-housing development to give their kids more community.
Also spelled cohousing.
Planned values-based residential collective
- shared livingOccupying housing jointly
- neighborsThose dwelling nearby
- residentsPeople living somewhere
- communal mealsFood shared by groups
consensus · collaboration · belonging · multigenerational · village · collective · fellowship · gatherings
General group agreement
- meetingsOrganized group assemblies
- facilitationMaking tasks easier
- bylawsOrganization's internal regulations
- committeesGroups delegated specific duties
decision-making · membership · conflict resolution · working groups · dues · shared responsibility · participation · transparency
Relating to ecosystems
- solar panelsLight-converting power generators
- rainwater harvestingGathering precipitation for later use
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
- car sharingJoint vehicle use
tool library · bulk buying · energy efficiency · permaculture · waste reduction · bike storage · local food · green spaces
State of being purchasable
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- joint ownershipShared legal claim together
- down paymentInitial sum toward purchase
- mortgageSecured home loan
maintenance costs · bulk purchasing · shared amenities · cost sharing · development costs · sweat equity
Enclosed open-air space
- shared spacesAreas used collectively
- pedestrian pathsRoutes for foot traffic
- laundry roomSpace for washing clothes
- guest roomsLodging spaces for visitors
workshop · play areas · meeting rooms · accessible design · passive solar · green building · density · walkability
intentional community
Planned values-based residential collective
- shared livingOccupying housing jointly
- neighborsThose dwelling nearby
- residentsPeople living somewhere
communal meals · consensus · collaboration · belonging · multigenerational · village · collective · fellowship · gatherings · potlucks
consensus
General group agreement
- meetingsOrganized group assemblies
- facilitationMaking tasks easier
- bylawsOrganization's internal regulations
committees · decision-making · membership · conflict resolution · working groups · dues · shared responsibility · participation · transparency · accountability
ecological
Relating to ecosystems
- solar panelsLight-converting power generators
- rainwater harvestingGathering precipitation for later use
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
car sharing · tool library · bulk buying · energy efficiency · permaculture · waste reduction · bike storage · local food · green spaces · sustainable design
affordability
State of being purchasable
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- joint ownershipShared legal claim together
- down paymentInitial sum toward purchase
mortgage · maintenance costs · bulk purchasing · shared amenities · cost sharing · development costs · sweat equity
courtyard
Enclosed open-air space
- shared spacesAreas used collectively
- pedestrian pathsRoutes for foot traffic
- laundry roomSpace for washing clothes
guest rooms · workshop · play areas · meeting rooms · accessible design · passive solar · green building · density · walkability · porches
- communitiesgated community, family, retirement community, neighbors, cohousing
- lifestylessimple living, city life, family life, minimalism, rural life
- living arrangementscohabitation, roommates, housemates, flat share, apartment sharing
- Communescommunes, communal living, kibbutz, hippie commune, utopian communities
- residential facilitiesnursing home, assisted living, group home, care home, foster home
- alternative lifestylesintentional community, communal living, off-grid, homesteading, van life
co-housingsuburban sprawl
Unplanned outward residential development
private estate · hermitage · secluded cabin · single-family home · detached housing