Together by Design: The Art and Architecture of Communal Living

by William Richards

With a growing population comes a growing need for innovative, sustainable housing. Together by Design explores the architectural and social benefits of communal living and shared spaces.

Whether it's families in a multigenerational home, millennials sharing rent, or older singles seeking companionship, cohousing and other types of intentional communities offer economic, social, and environmental advantages for all demographics. Collective housing alternatives originated in Denmark in the 1960s and gained popularity in the United States in the 1990s, laying the groundwork for today's inventive shared living alternatives.

Featuring color photography, renderings, and site and floor plans, this survey of more than fifteen contemporary projects explores communal living through architecture, public policy, design, lifestyle, culture, and environmental sustainability.

Genres: Architecture

160 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Brita Bergland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in a single day because I found it so interesting! Richards focuses on all the right things as he guides us through a myriad of different solutions to co-living from around the world. The book isn’t overly academic or technical, but the few references there are to architectural and philosophical traditions I really enjoyed, and they helped to structure the different solutions in accordance with different schools of thought. It’s slightly marked by being written during covid, but not so much so that it’s lost its relevance post-pandemic. Recommend for all interested in rethinking how we live together and what needs architecture should be focused on solving for us.

[Smith Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Together by Design: The Art and Architecture of Communal Living by William Richards is a thoughtful and visually engaging exploration of how shared living spaces can reshape modern housing.

What stands out is the book’s holistic approach blending architecture, sociology, and sustainability. The discussion of cohousing and its roots in Denmark provides valuable historical context, while the examination of its growth in the United States shows how these ideas have evolved to meet contemporary needs.

The inclusion of real-world projects, complete with visuals and layouts, adds depth and practicality. Rather than staying theoretical, the book demonstrates how communal living can address affordability, social isolation, and environmental concerns.

A compelling read for architects, urban planners, and anyone interested in innovative housing solutions and the future of community-oriented living.

[Aeson Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up from the library out of curiosity, having no prior background knowledge of the topic. It was so interesting I finished it in 3 days, learning about the reasons why people live together not just from an individual perspective but also a societal, cultural, and evolutionary perspective, and the benefits that people can receive when architectural design promotes a collective value of community. Beautiful photography also.