A New Dream of Home

Housing for Our Times

There is so much philosophy baked into our built environment, and it can have a profound effect on our lives.

As much as I appreciate tiny houses, I've always had a bit of an issue with them. They remind me of Margaret Thatcher's idea of there being no such thing as community, only individuals, but in a built form. Small and separate.

Lately I've been envisioning a multi-unit dwelling that uses green technology, and supports community, and food security for its residents. I’m not an architect, but am prone to big ideas. So here’s my first to share on Substack.

This idea would appeal to the community minded, and some roles and responsibilities would need to be ironed out. But with loneliness reaching epidemic proportions, I think many would welcome a situation like this.

Thanks to the many mosquitoes where I live who sparked this idea for me. At a certain time of year there are lots of them, to the point where most people avoid going outside.

My thanks also goes to the Ashram where I worked and learned about the joys of shared spaces. Pre-COVID, I had a room in a shared space, and it was fun to run into others in the living room, where we could do puzzles, chat and relax together if we felt like it.

Wouldn't it be wild to build homes with community, food security, environmental friendliness and renewable energy in mind?

I've envisioned a fourplex -- or eightplex maybe -- that has a greenhouse/veranda surrounding it on the east, south and west sides where we could grow food all year round, while enjoying time in the summer free of mosquitoes. We could also control the temperatures for when the weather is too hot or cold, and provide lighting for the winter months to keep the garden happy.

As well, we could use grey water to water them, and rig up a rain collection system on the roof to supplement the water supply. I wonder if there's a septic system that is a cross between a composting toilet and a septic tank, where the sewage could somehow be turned into fertilizer for trees on the property.

I also imagine this building having shared spaces between the units, like a meeting space where people could watch movies or socialize, a library, and a great play area for kids. An art studio could overlook the north where the light is best for artwork. There could be spare bedrooms for visitors. People living in these buildings would decide how the shared spaces would be used. I envision normal size apartments, but maybe with smaller living rooms, since the shared spaces might be more enjoyable for groups.

Besides staircases between floors, there could be a ramp outside to the second and third stories. This would make these floors easily accessible for people with mobility issues, and would make moving furniture easier. I envision this on the north side of the building, under the art studio, with a shed for gardening tools and bikes underneath it.

The third story could have solar panels, possibly a sheltered roof garden, and even a telescope if some residents enjoy stargazing.

The project could reuse materials in the vicinity, and would be an opportunity to train tradespeople to create these types of projects.

It could be a showcase for how multiple pressing issues could be addressed.

Maybe there would be pods of these buildings, and they could be co-operatively owned, with low monthly payments and housing security for their residents.

If so, geothermal could be an option for power. It's expensive for one building, but for a number of them it could be affordable. Combined with wind, solar and heat pumps, there would be no need fossil fuels.

And why not have solar panels slanted south above driveways to provide power and to eliminate the need for shovelling snow? Have overhanging roofs around buildings covering walkways so snow wouldn't need to be shovelled from them either. The posts for the solar panels on the yard side could be used to build fencing to keep wildlife out of a food forest. Permaculture design principles could be used so the built environment serves multiple functions that support each other.

There could be great playgrounds for kids, and maybe some of the residents would like to share meals occasionally.

Perhaps there could be shared vehicles and even a small bus for times when lots of people who live there are going to the same place.

There might be income potential with a commercial kitchen, or a meeting space that could be rented out for a small fee. And why not have a free store in a room where people could leave and help themselves to things they're no longer using? Tool sharing is another possibility.

There might be funding for housing development showcasing environmentally friendly projects. The project could be documented so others could learn from it, and build similar dwellings.

We need inspiration, and creative solutions, and communities need projects to be proud of. I’d happily be the first to move into a space like this!