devanihd

Executive multigenerational family home with subdivision on hill this one.

Embracing Community Living: A Co-Housing Proposal (Design Experiment and Research) for Professional Women 45+

As modern living evolves, co-housing offers a promising solution for fostering community, sustainability, and shared responsibility. My project, “Connecting: Co-Housing,” developed at Victoria University of Wellington by Hardik Devani under Dr. Jan Smitheram, is designed for professional women aged 45 and above, emphasising communal living and mutual support.

Co-housing provides numerous benefits, enhancing social interaction, reducing isolation, lowering individual costs through shared resources, and promoting sustainable living practices.

Located at 5-11 Garret Street, the design includes open-plan communal spaces for cooking and dining, individual bedrooms and ensuites for privacy, a ground-floor commercial area for a café, art gallery, or research centre, and courtyards and recreational spaces for outdoor activities.

Architectural features include entry, lockers, bike storage, refuse collection, and a mechanical room on the ground floor. Levels 1 and 2 feature separate dwellings for each group, with living areas, kitchens, dining spaces, and additional bedrooms.

This project draws on insights from Trish Becker-Hafnor’s TED talk on community and connection, James Berghan’s work on Māori co-housing, Juli Carrere et al.’s research on the health benefits of co-housing, and Donnelly et al.’s guidelines for older women’s housing.

“Connecting: Co-Housing” balances communal living with personal privacy, fostering a vibrant and supportive community. As we innovate in housing, co-housing offers a sustainable and inclusive path forward for professional women seeking both independence and connection.

Explore the project plans and share your thoughts. Let’s build a future where community and sustainability thrive.

2024

So along with the Architecture for Devani Architecture and it’s inherent consulting, design and development capabilities- I decided to study Government, Business and Law papers alongside to add further value to the world of what can be possible via Design and Architecture.

So to add to the architectural and development skills, I decided to study and add Government, Business and Law into my skill set! This add further depths to our expertise and added value to all our valued clients and partners 😎

Reunion with my sweet sis 💕

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