Cohousing Film: The Best of Both Worlds

Want to make a difference? We're raising money to get a film made that tells the story of cohousing, from a first person perspective. Help us make the film that lets people know the true benefits of cohousing, including social, economic and environmental impacts.  Thanks in advance for your contribution!

This very important film will communicate many core ideas about cohousing, as expressed through first-hand observations of residents—going back to the very first cohousing community in the US through a project now under construction. Check it out, and if you can, help us get this film completed with a tax deductible donation.

We each want to make a difference, right? Well it turns out cohousing is part of the difference and getting this communicated through a film is a key part of making this solution more readily adopted.  Here are some of the great things that cohousing does to create a more sustainable way of life that is lighter on the planet and provides real social and economic benefits as well:

Cohousing Benefits for the Public Good

1. Uses fewer natural resources by maximizing solar access and houses that use far below average. (McCamant & Durrett Architects won the Geela Award for exceeding state energy requirements by 59%.)

2. Exceeds overall State Energy Standards for residential homes by at least 50%.

3. Creates an intergenerational neighborhood with the strong sense of community supported by people knowing each other, caring about each other, and supporting each other.

4. Allows over 50% of the site to remain undisturbed natural open space by clustering the homes and limiting automobile access.

5. Provides small rental units integrated into the neighborhood.


6.  Creates 50% fewer car-trips than typical residential developments.


7. Minimizes the impact on any adjacent neighbors by clustering homes on the interior portion of the site.


8. Emphasizes walking and bicycle usage. Takes full advantage of the proximity to the town center and the group’s ability to local commerce and amenities for daily errands.


9. Minimizes water use through landscaping with regional and native species, and through education and accountability.


10. Provides affordable option for first-time home-buyers and housing for a diversity of incomes.




About McCamant & Durrett Architects/Charles Durrett
Charles Durrett, with Kathryn McCamant, introduced the concept of cohousing to the United States with the seminal book Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves. The latest edition is Creating Cohousing, Building Sustainable Communities. Durrett has written several other books on cohousing, including Senior Cohousing: A community Approach to Independent Living—The Handbook.

Durrett and his team at The Cohousing Company/McCamant & Durrett Architects, have designed more than 50 cohousing communities in the United States and around the world, including Muir Commons in Davis, California, the first cohousing community in North America. His work has been featured in Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian, Architecture, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and many other publications.
Learn more at cohousing.com 

About Filmmaker & Author John DeGraaf
John DeGraaf is an accomplished documentary filmmaker and author. He has served as a producer of documentaries for Public Television for 42 years, including 31 years as independent producer at KCTS, the Seattle PBS affiliate.  DeGraaf has acted as a producer for more than 40 documentaries.  His current projects are: Green New City; Vallejo, California’s Quest for Sustainability; The Best of Both Worlds: Cohousing’s Promise.


As an author, DeGraaf books include What’s the Economy for, Anyway? (2011, 2012). co-author of Affluenza (2001, 2005, 2014—now published in nine other languages—and David Brower: Friend of the Earth (1992 children’s book); editor of Take Back Your Time (2003).  He has published more than 100 articles in newspapers and magazines and online publications, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Progressive, New Age Journal, Co-Evolution Quarterly, Utne Reader, YES! Resurgence, Experience Life, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Sacramento Bee, Earth Island Journal, Worldwatch State of the World Book, 2010, Minding Nature, Wild Hope, Vox Populi, Huffington Post, Grist, Alternet, Common Dreams, Sierra, Front Porch Republic, Resilience, Connections and Truthout. Learn more at www.johndegraaf.com