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