Charles Durrett
Encyclopedia
Charles Durrett is an American architect and author based in Nevada City, California
. With his wife, Kathryn McCamant, he is credited with coining the English term cohousing
and introducing the cohousing model for use in North America. (Cohousing is a type of intentional community
composed of small private home
s with full kitchens, supplemented by extensive common facilities. A cohousing community is planned, owned and managed by the residents, groups of people who want more interaction with their neighbours.) In recent years he has focused on cohousing for older persons.
With his wife, he designed Muir Commons
, the first cohousing community in North America, and has designed or consulted on the design of over 50 cohousing communities in North America. He has also consulted on many other cohousing projects around the world.
He is a major proponent of senior cohousing, also known as elder cohousing, which are residential communities specifically designed for seniors. There are at least three senior cohousing communities in the U.S., one each in California, Colorado, and Virginia. More are in planning, according to Durrett. According to an American Association of Retired Persons representative, senior cohousing is "very interesting niche housing" that is needed as an option.
Durrett is author of The Senior Cohousing Handbook: A Community Approach to Independent Living (2009, 2nd edition), and with Kathryn McCamant, is co-author of Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves (1988).
He is recipient or co-recipient of numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects and others for various completed projects. This includes a United Nation's World Habitat Award in 2001 for the East Lake Commons Conservation Community
project in Atlanta, Georgia. A more recent award was the Vision 2020 Award of the Sierra Business Council.
Durrett has an architecture degree in 1982 from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, of Cal Poly Pomona.
In August through October, 2009, Durrett is promoting senior cohousing through a book signing tour in 10 western U.S. cities.
Nevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
. With his wife, Kathryn McCamant, he is credited with coining the English term cohousing
Cohousing
A cohousing community is a type of intentional community composed of private homes supplemented by shared facilities. The community is planned, owned and managed by the residents – who also share activities which may include cooking, dining, child care, gardening, and governance of the...
and introducing the cohousing model for use in North America. (Cohousing is a type of intentional community
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
composed of small private home
Home
A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either...
s with full kitchens, supplemented by extensive common facilities. A cohousing community is planned, owned and managed by the residents, groups of people who want more interaction with their neighbours.) In recent years he has focused on cohousing for older persons.
With his wife, he designed Muir Commons
Muir Commons
Muir Commons in Davis, California, is significant in architecture as the first cohousing community in the United States. It was designed by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett.-External links:*, official site...
, the first cohousing community in North America, and has designed or consulted on the design of over 50 cohousing communities in North America. He has also consulted on many other cohousing projects around the world.
He is a major proponent of senior cohousing, also known as elder cohousing, which are residential communities specifically designed for seniors. There are at least three senior cohousing communities in the U.S., one each in California, Colorado, and Virginia. More are in planning, according to Durrett. According to an American Association of Retired Persons representative, senior cohousing is "very interesting niche housing" that is needed as an option.
Durrett is author of The Senior Cohousing Handbook: A Community Approach to Independent Living (2009, 2nd edition), and with Kathryn McCamant, is co-author of Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves (1988).
He is recipient or co-recipient of numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects and others for various completed projects. This includes a United Nation's World Habitat Award in 2001 for the East Lake Commons Conservation Community
East Lake Commons Conservation Community
The East Lake Commons Conservation Community in Atlanta, Georgia is a residential project which is award-winning for its sustainable design.It was awarded the World Habitat Award by the United Nations in 2001....
project in Atlanta, Georgia. A more recent award was the Vision 2020 Award of the Sierra Business Council.
Durrett has an architecture degree in 1982 from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, of Cal Poly Pomona.
In August through October, 2009, Durrett is promoting senior cohousing through a book signing tour in 10 western U.S. cities.