Cohousing offers community

If rising house prices have taught Kiwis anything, it is that the dream of owning your little piece of Aotearoa doesn’t have to look the same for everyone.

The single family suburban box on a quarter acre section is slowly being replaced in cities and small towns with flats, apartments and townhouses. This trend is likely to accelerate when new medium density rules are introduced next month.

But another less recognised alternative in the housing mix is cohousing, a form of collaborative housing where residents actively participate in the design and operation of their own neighbourhoods.

On Friday, July 22, one of the founders of the Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood in West Auckland, and a part-time Matheson Bay resident, Robin Allison, will give a talk at the Leigh Hall.

Allison, who trained as an architect at the University of Auckland in the early 1980s, has recently published a personal account of the Earthsong story called Cohousing for Life.

She freely admits that cohousing is not for everyone, but there is growing interest across the motu from a range of communities, as well as iwi.

“There seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction with the limited choice people have at the moment. That’s the beauty of cohousing – it doesn’t have to be done just one way. There are many ways of approaching it.”

The first residents of Earthsong moved in in 2002. By 2008, the project was finished and all 17 homes, owned under a unit title arrangement, were occupied.

“Cohousing is really the best of both worlds – you get to own your own home and live independently, but you are also part of a neighbourhood with shared spaces and the safety that that brings with it,” Allison says.

She says there is a cross-section of people at Earthsong, from young families to working people and retirees.

The community is founded on permaculture principles, and sees itself as a model for a socially and environmentally sustainable community.

The homes are built using eco-friendly materials such as rammed earth and natural untreated timbers.

They face north to capture plenty of sun to warm the coloured concrete floors for passive solar design.

Solar water heaters, rainwater collection, non-toxic materials, natural oils and paints all add up to low-energy, healthy houses that are warm in winter and cool in summer.

A feature of the neighbourhood is a large common house, which is used by everyone for meetings, parties, seminars and shared dinners. It includes guest rooms, space for teenagers and a yoga room.

One lawnmower is shared by all residents, as well as four washing machines. There is also a workshop where tools and equipment are shared.

Food is grown organically, both in private gardens as well as in a community garden.

There is an eight cat limit and generally, no dogs are allowed, although Allison says that rule has been bent on the odd occasion for old dogs.

She says turnover of residents is generally lower than the NZ average, and house prices are on a par or maybe slightly below the rest of Auckland.

“When someone buys into Earthsong, they become a member. This means agreeing and understanding the vision, purpose and values of the community.”

She says it takes time and energy to make a community like Earthsong work.

“We wouldn’t be human if there weren’t conflicting points of view at times, but generally people within the community are committed to working through these issues constructively.

“It was one of the reasons the community was developed to the size it is. If it was too small, then when conflict arose it could have a disproportionate effect. But with the larger group, it doesn’t impact on the group as a whole.”

Earthsong conducts tours of the community four times a year. The next tour will be held in October. For more information, visit www.earthsong.org.nz.

The Leigh talk starts at 7pm and entry is by gold coin koha. Hot drinks provided, BYO wine or beer.