How Vancouver Embraced Cohousing, with Sustainable Style

The newest addition to a nondescript block on Vancouver’s east side is comprised of four, 1-3 story buildings that house 31 units in a refreshing, unobtrusive mix of white and wood. Designated LEED Gold, Vancouver’s first cohousing project came to fruition in 2016, all thanks to the vision of a group of people who recognized the potential in the creation of an intentional community.

Cohousing, you say?

The cohousing concept rests upon the basic tenet that people need people, not to be confused with cooperative living. Based on the Dutch model, traditional condo plans are altered to shrink personal living areas and designate large communal places where residents interact, play, and dine together at will. The ultimate hope is that a collaborative living model will improve the overall quality of life for residents.

Shared Goods, Skills, and Time

Taryn Griffiths, part of the cohousing community and her 6-year-old son Wilder, was attracted by the promise of a vibrant, interactive community, something she hadn’t found in her previous neighborhoods. “Kitsilano and Yaletown didn’t provide a feeling of community. After becoming a mother, the isolation only felt more intense. The idea that I could be part of a multi-generational community that shared goods, skills, and time drew me in”.
And share they do: from tools to kid’s toys, bikes, and more, there is even a designated ‘sharing shelf’ where residents can give and take at will. Griffiths recently benefited from skill sharing; her green thumb neighbor has inspired her to tend her very first garden this year.

Made Sustainable

Beyond the feel-good aspect of weaving together a tight-knit community, the group as a whole felt strongly about sustainable features and building practices.

It boasts the first community-owned solar energy project.

Go Solar

Ninety photovoltaic panels make themselves at home on the rooftops and are expected to produce 25,000 kWh of energy per year. In an interesting new twist on energy give and take called net metering, the excess energy produced by the solar initiative is sold to BC Hydro. When the needs exceed what the solar panels produce, BC Hydro sells to the project.

It’s Electric!

In a bold show of forward-thinking, electric vehicles played a vital part in the initial design. Although only two electric vehicles currently make their home here, 30% of the parking stalls are designated for level 2 charging, paving the way for multiple EVs in the future.

Inspired by the success of the cohousing model, there are already more underway. Offered as a solution to Vancouver’s sky-high housing costs and meeting the human need for a supportive community, it might not be long before cohousing communities are commonplace.

Article by:

Joy Wood

Joy grew up in the natural beauty of the North Okanagan, nestled near the foot of the Monashee Mountains. Hailing from a family of home builders, both the environment and home construction became closely intertwined in her youth. Today, she and her builder hubby are raising their family in Vancouver, where she avidly follows the current sustainable construction trends as the city aims for the title of ‘Greenest City’ by 2020.