Cohousing

Intentional Communities With Shared Common Spaces & Private Residences

Rendering of Crow Woods Cohousing, Curtesy of Hybrid Architecture

Bringing a cohousing community to life is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Many groups need a helping hand to help them stay on course and create a thriving and beautiful home.

Below are some of the projects that I have been a part of through my work.

Learn More About Cohousing

Crow Woods

Nine homes and a common house, centered around a courtyard and garden in Seattle, WA

Rendering of Crow Woods Cohousing, By Hybrid Architecture

This project is a notable example of missing middle housing, achieved by maximizing the allowable density allowed by right in a Neighborhood Residential zone. By developing two oversized single-family lots into three lots, each with a single-family home and two attached accessory dwelling units, this project is being built under residential building code and without any zoning variances.

Status: Securing Construction Permits for Summer 2024 Groundbreaking

Anticipated Move-In: Fall 2025

Owner/Developer: Towering Trees LLC

Role of Marjorie Design: Project Manager & Client Representative

Real Estate & Development Consultant: Hybrid Development

Architect: Hybrid Architecture

Site Area: 23,250 sqft

Zoning: NR2 (Neighborhood Residential 2)

Housing Types: 1 Bdr + Den, 2-Bdrs, 3-Bdrs + Den, 4-Bdrs

Home Features: all homes will have a kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room, and covered front porch

Site Features: native & edible landscaping, preserved mature trees, shared work/dining space, storage, hot tub, fire pit, and garden

Context Map, By Marjorie Design

Project Courtyard Renderings From Hybrid

“It’s been an amazing journey and I could not have done any of it without Emma’s expertise, energy and commitment.”

— Jane Lester, Developer of Crow Woods

Project Interior Rendering From Hybrid

Project Interior Renderings From Hybrid

Burien Village

27 small homes & generous common spaces nestled in a lush landscape in Burien, WA

Rendering of Burien Village, From ecoTHRIVE Housing

The Burien Village is a cooperative that includes 27 beautiful ecoCottages. Residents own a share of the village through a limited equity cooperative. Community amenities include gardens, play areas, gathering areas, and open space. A welcoming beacon for the village will be the common house with a large kitchen, dining/meeting space, and shared laundry facilities. Two main bus lines connect the village to local businesses and regional transit hubs. Working closely with the City of Burien, ecoTHRIVE Housing secured a zoning variance to develop a cottage village in a single-family residential zone through Burien’s Affordable Housing Demonstration Program. This collaborative effort between a community-led developer and a local jurisdiction highlights the potential for innovative solutions to address pressing social challenges.

Status: Securing Permits For Construction

Anticipated Move-In: 2026

Owner/Developer: ecoTHRIVE Housing

Role of Marjorie Design: Project & Operations Consultant

Development Consultant: Dara Ith (Utopia Design+Develop)

Architect: James Raptis

Site Area: 78,408 sqft

Zoning: Residential Single Family

Housing Types: Studios, 1-Bdrs, & 2-Bdrs

Home Features: all homes will have a kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room, loft, and covered front porch

Site Features: native & edible landscaping, preserved mature trees, shared common house, storage, raised garden beds, and natural play area

Site Map of Burien Village, From Environmental Works

Inspiration Images (Angela Hahn, Landscape Architects, Claire Takacs, Gestalten)

“Emma has a unique combination of skills that were exactly what we needed (everything!) when we transitioned from a passionate group of people with a shared vision to a nonprofit 501c3 organization with an actionable project. ”

— Denise Henrikson, co-founder and managing director of ecoTHRIVE Housing