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This sustainable
development was
created with us by the members of 24 households. We
designed this cohousing community in a
neighborhood planning process. It includes12 single family and 12 duplex homes,
designed as sustainable housing, the renovation of a 200 year old
farmhouse and a
common house. The Town of Acton Planning Board gave approval
to this project with their "Planned Conservation Residential Community" special
permit.
The site plan was designed to encourage
interaction between neighbors by clustering houses in four neighborhoods, each
with a neighborhood center that are linked by an accessible pedestrian lane with
the common house as a focal point on this site. House lots
are small, but there is a lot of common land conserved as open space and used by
all in this sustainable development.
Sustainable Development Strategies
Site Plan:
Minimize cut and fill
Minimize water run off
Preserve as many trees and landscape features as
possible
Multipurpose landscaping with native plants, many
selected to enhance wild life, because they provided feed and shelter.
Low maintenance lawns
Separation of cars from pedestrian traffic with large
car free area
Energy Conservation:
Energy crafted homes building envelop
Energy efficient heating systems &
appliances
Many buildings with solar heat and
solar domestic hot water options
Energy efficient light fixtures
Resource Conservation:
Unit sizes smaller than what is standard in this area
Small
house lots together with common conserved open land
Choice of resource efficient building materials
Effective day lighting
Water conservation with low water use fixtures and
appliances and in some units with gray-black water separation and composting toilets
Low Toxicity:
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Pollution source control with materials with low
volatile organic chemicals
Good ventilation systems, passive and active
Closed combustion appliances
Detailing to prevent mildew
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Planning:
The unique planning and design process for this
cohousing community development involved extensive collaboration with the client community of twenty
four families. Peter Quinn was co-architect on this project. We provided full
architectural services.
Scope of work:
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Feasibility studies and site analysis
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Programming with client community that worked through
consensus decision making process (24 households). Program sessions were developed
for site plan, common house and homes.
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Schematic design, with participatory input from
residents.
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Research on sustainable
housing and design approaches.
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Design development.
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Construction
documents with computer aided design. Project was done on fast
track basis.
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Negotiations
with contractors. Participation in contractor selection and value
engineering.
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Customization
of units with up to $100,000 in additional construction cost.
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Interaction
with landscape architect and other consultants.
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