Washington Village Cohousing

BOULDER, COLORADO

Client

Wonderland Hill Development Company

Project Scope

Site Planning, Architecture

Project Size

0.99 Acres

Project Description

Washington Village is a LEED-ND Cohousing project located in one of central Boulder’s historic neighborhoods. Pel-Ona Architects & Urbanists designed six single family homes within the first phase of the 3-acre development.

The site plan is strategically choreographed to maintain privacy while providing each single family home with a gracious front porch opening up to the common park. In addition to the shared outdoor space, each home has a private courtyard that is large enough for dining and gardening. Each building floor plan opens up to its courtyard.

The building massing and details were designed to integrate into the context of the existing neighborhood. All of the houses have traditional forms, large front porches, and are one and a half stories tall. Each building has a second floor studio/bedroom, a carefully oriented courtyard, and a full basement. Large, terraced window wells landscaped with native plants provide natural light to the lower level.

These homes demonstrate the latest in green building technology including geothermal heating, photovoltaic electricity production, and energy and heat recovery ventilators. SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) are utilized in select areas.

Project Date

2015

Project Website

The front facades of the homes are modest, consistent with the existing neighborhood character, while the two-story portions are located along the alley.

Each of the six single family homes at Washington Village front onto the common park with a gracious porch. In addition to this shared outdoor space, each home has a private courtyard large enough for dining and gardening (spaces highlighted in yellow on the plan).  The six building floor plans are designed to open up to their courtyards while the site plan is strategically choreographed to maintain privacy.