COMMUNITY - Cohousing - EMMA SCRAGG

Emma works with Riddel Architecture in building conservation and sustainable design projects and as a sole practitioner. She has had a passion for sustainable design and living since starting her studies at QUT, and her thesis, "Urban Ecovillages – Principles of Sustainable Design” has been a useful reference tool for many projects over the years. She has recently finished, with Riddel Architecture, a landmark sustainable home in Hill End (www.hillendeco.blogspot.com).


Emma has travelled extensively in Australia and overseas learning about sustainable buildings and communities. On last year’s cycle journey of North America from Alaska to Eugene she visited many inspiring sustainable communities, building projects and cohousing developments forms the basis of her presentation at the Sustainable Communities Dialogue and are recorded in her blog of the journey.

COMMUNITY AND COHOUSING
Community is an element of design which has not been a focus of mainstream developments over the last few decades. Houses have continued to grow in size and cost, offering more spaces dedicated to solitary activities (media rooms, parents’ retreats, studies, playrooms, ensuites). Not only does this trend reduce opportunities for interaction and sharing, our buildings have large ecological footprints.

The cohousing model has many features which encourage social interaction and richer communities whilst maintaining some level of privacy. Common facilities, gardens, ownership and the planning of cohousing developments all contribute to this.