THE DRAWING BOARD-June 2011

A cohousing development reinterprets the New England vernacular

This project is a zero-lot-line, open space cohousing development located on a waterfront lot. When the project is completed, over 80 percent of the site will remain undeveloped, 40 percent of which will be protected in a conservation and view easement.

This project integrates three unique residences and a common house into a cohesive whole, maximizing solar panel exposure and allowing universal access between each unit. The design maximizes opportunities for community interaction without compromising individual privacy. There is a strong reciprocal relationship between the buildings’ form and the orientation and unique characteristics of the site.

The buildings have superinsulated, high-performance envelopes made with resilient, low-maintenance materials. They will be heated with a central biomass boiler. The design uses daylighting, natural ventilation, and controlled solar gain to reduce heating, cooling, and electrical loads. The goal is a project that is net zero and uses renewable energy.

The building respects and reinterprets the New England vernacular and incorporates green elements into an aesthetic that is contemporary yet timeless.

RICHARD RENNER ARCHITECTS: 207-773-9699,
RRENNERARCHITECTS.COM