November 30, 2010 7:00 PM. 30 attended.

Cohousing Architect/Author Chuck Durrett:Community by Design (SF)

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We're pleased to announce that our friend and mentor, cohousing movement co-founder Charles Durrett, will be giving a rare talk in SF this month. In the talk, entitled "Cohousing: Community by Design," Chuck will discuss "key strategies to designing cohousing communities with social and physical structures that support thriving neighborhoods and sustainable lifestyles."

If you're interested in joining us (including perhaps for dinner before or drinks afterwards), please RSVP here. Note that this is not an EBCOHO-sponsored event, but we are listing it because we believe it is of interest to our members. Info from the event flyer is below. The talk is scheduled to run 7-8:30 PM.



Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves
  • Sustainable neighborhood design
  • Individual homes combined with extensive common areas
  • Shared spaces for meeting, dining, creating, workshops, storage, etc.
  • Community gardens and edible landscaping
  • Environments designed for pedestrians, kids and active adults
  • Energy-efficient and sustainably-designed buildings
  • Designed with the future residents



Charles Durrett and his wife and business partner, Kathryn McCamant, are the leading North American experts on cohousing and have designed over fifty cohousing communities. An architect, Charles has written several books including The Senior Cohousing Handbook, and along with McCamant, Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, which introduced cohousing to the U.S. He and his firm, McCamant & Durrett Architects, also designed the new Early Child Education Center on the SFSU campus.
A dynamic speaker, he will share his talent for designing cohousing neighborhoods that support thriving communities and sustainable lifestyles.

  • Betsy Morris
    Betsy Morris

    Wow - we've got a waiting list already. We'll confirm what space is available and upgrade folks on the list as fast as we can -- note that EBCOHO supporting members and members with profile photos and updated profiles will get first dibs at additional spaces. We'll also see about booking an East Bay appearance for Chuck so those on this side of the Bay don't have to travel to the far reaches of San Francisco.

    Posted November 21, 2010 at 5:26 PM
  • Susan
    Susan

    Did everyone on EBCOHO find out about this just today? I responded immediately and noticed many people had already signed up.

    Posted November 21, 2010 at 6:45 PM
  • Raines Cohen
    Raines Cohen

    Susan, I was surprised at the leap of activity. The "20 guests" I've got are placeholders for those RSVPing elsewhere, directly through The Cohousing Co., SF State students, and the like.

    Posted November 22, 2010 at 5:16 AM
  • Terri Knowlton
    Terri Knowlton

    I need a ride to SF from Berkeley, Sacramento @ University. Anyone have room?

    Posted November 28, 2010 at 5:49 PM
  • Kathy Bibby
    Kathy Bibby

    Just got an email that a spot opened up and am responding yes

    Posted November 29, 2010 at 9:38 AM
  • David Buchanan
    David Buchanan

    Meet for dinner before? EBCOHO focused?

    Posted November 29, 2010 at 1:56 PM
  • victoria wells
    victoria wells

    i would be interested to meet for dinner, but don't know the city places...coming from Marin. If any one is on for dinner, let me know when and where, I'd be delighted.

    Posted November 29, 2010 at 4:00 PM
  • David Buchanan
    David Buchanan

    Restaurant possibilities probably best on Ocean Ave between 19th and Junipero Serra. Anyone want to meet and eat at 6:00? Call me at 408-482-1919.

    Posted November 30, 2010 at 2:19 PM
  • victoria wells
    victoria wells

    I am really disappointed, I fought an hour traffic getting there from Marin, looked for parking for 45 min. asked around the school where the building was, no one knew...got completely lost walking around and end up going home...I wish I had better directions. I would've loved meeting Chuck...I was looking forward to this meeting so much...bummer

    Posted November 30, 2010 at 9:35 PM
  • Kathy Bibby
    Kathy Bibby

    I also fought traffic coming from the peninsula and thought I'd arrive in plenty of time...WRONG. I was an hour late for the event because there were no directions other than an address and a room number. Really need more specific directions when hosting an event in this type of venue!

    Posted November 30, 2010 at 11:17 PM
  • tom merle
    tom merle

    Having tried to provide directions to buildings at Stanford and Cal I know it can be very difficult. But attendees should try to use commonsense. A campus map clearly shows where the HHS building is and where the garage is located. Print out the map and take it with you (unless students are in a program they won't know where a building is) Once at the building one should be able to locate the room.

    Posted December 2, 2010 at 6:41 PM
  • Susan
    Susan

    I used to be a student at SF State but I had no idea where the classroom was. I went to the website and looked it up on the campus map. What I've learned from similarly frustrating experiences is to check out directions on the internet before I go almost anywhere.

    Posted December 2, 2010 at 11:23 PM
  • tom merle
    tom merle

    I note that Mr. Durrett is exploring a site in Downieville and that he lives in Nevada City. The most promising sites are out in the boonies, but you have to be selective. Why not take an RV park and bring in Park Models plus a large common/club building. Here are two examples and surf around to look at the housing units deemed Recreational Vehicles by the State. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alternative-housing-ideas/1...

    Posted December 3, 2010 at 12:59 AM
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30 attended

RSVPs closed

4.50 4.506 (6 ratings)
  • Event Host
    Raines Cohen
    Cohousing Coach and Aging In Community Author, Co-Organizer
    +10 guests
    Checked-in
  • Susan
    EBCOHO supporting member through 7/30/2011
    I loved the whole event: the slides, the stories, history, and broad perspective that Chuck could offer because of his years of experience in building and living in cohousing communities. My personal hope was to gain information about creating cohousing in San Francisco. It was invaluable to hear Chuck's perspective on past projects in SF and how to navigate the steps we'd have to take to make a dream become a reality. Thank you, Chuck, for staying late to continue the discussion about San Francisco.
  • Natalie
    Parker Street Coop member/EBCOHO supporting group
    Loved the talk and the many slides. Chuck Durrett is very creative and talented.
  • Kathy Bibby
    I thought it very inspiring to see so many people come out for this...of all genres and ages! Was an hour late because I couldn't find the place and was sorely disappointed in that. Because of that, I've giving this a 3 star. Otherwise, I am grateful that Chuck was kind enough to meet with a smaller group after and really get to some nuts and bolts about forming and building intentional communities. Thank you!
  • Len Marsh
    Chuck is THE expert on Cohousing and a wealth of inspiration, knowledge and great suggestions. Do not miss the chance to hear Chuck present--after all, he wrote the book on Cohousing in America.
  • Mona
    Supporting EBCOHO Member through 10/29/2011
    +1 guest
  • Anthony Cagle
    +1 guest
  • stephen kelly
    Mr. Fun/EcoVillage 510 founder&EBCOHO supporter til 10/1/11
  • Fred K
    Rural off-grid community Zero-Energy builder
  • David Buchanan
    Supporting EBCOHO Member through 12/31/2010
  • Jennifer Ryan and Bill Bank
    Temescal Creek Cohousers&former EBCOHO supporting mbrs from DC
  • A former member
  • A former member
    +1 guest
Optional supporter dues

$100.00 /yr; $250 for groups/sponsors

This covers: Supporting members get event discounts, Cohousing Coaching, a book, introduction

Payment is accepted using:

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  • Cash or check - “at meetings, tours, workshops and other events that we put on (but not at our partner events that we sometimes cross-post here).

Your organizer will refund you if:

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Cohousing Coaches

Our business is Planning for Sustainable Communities.

Prudence Crandall House

Coop house and informal ecovillage with neighbors on 66th Street

Folsom EcoHousing

Cohousing neighborhood of 38 green homes getting ready to build!

Janelle Orsi

Co-author of Sharing Solution guide & other legal resources.

Phoenix Commons

Senior Cohousing @ Park Street Bridge. Aging in Community Study Groups

Eastlake Coho now North Oakland Coho

Monthly Potlucks and Game Nights, orientations, fun!

Golden Gate Cohousing/Parker Street Fdtn

New Cooperative Community in the historic Oak/ville neighborhood

Cohousing California - Resource Network

Web portal to communities, openings, and trainings

Congrats Parker Street Coop

Your supporting membership means a lot to us in EBCOHO.

Yay! Triple Point Cohousing

6 households of adults and kids where Oaktown/Eville/Berkeley meet.

Bay Area Community Land Trust

Membership and advocacy for permanently affordable housing cooperatives.

Jerry Michalski/Sociate

A visionary connector of people and ideas for The Relationship Economy

Member, US Green Building Council

We are a professional member of USGBC; Raines is a LEED Green Associate.

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