A cohousing community in the heart of the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle is currently under construction, with move-in anticipated in March 2016. The 4,500 sf urban village infill lot provides nine homes, a community dining room and kitchen, guest room, ground-related commercial space for a 15-person architecture practice, and a 1,600sf rooftop urban farm in a five-story building.
Energy and water use is optimized through extensive integrated, passive strategies, including R-34 exterior walls, triple-pane fiberglass windows, a high-efficiency central boiler for domestic water use, and open-air/weather-sheltered circulation. The compact homes have open floor plans for daylight penetration and all have cross-ventilation. CHUC is partnering with local organizations to manage the farm for year-round food production as well as serving as a demonstration project for the neighborhood.