Green, Urban Cohousing: Eastern Village
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 11. 1.05
Eastern Village Cohousing is a very urban green community. Located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, it consists of 56 cohousing-style, condominium units. It was awarded LEED Silver certification in September 2005, making it the first LEED-certified cohousing structure. The main building was originally an abandoned office building constructed in the 1950s.
The structure's courtyard had been a parking lot but is now a green space that includes benches, sculpture, a patio, and a children's play area. The building incorporates such features as ground-source heating and cooling, non-toxic finishes and renewable materials. Residents, many of whom contributed to the design process, actively participate in the management of the facility and grounds, including "green housekeeping" and other low-impact maintenance strategies where practical. The resident group has agreed contractually to install only Energy Star appliances, both initially and through a replacement policy. :: Eastern Village Cohousing via Building Green
Note: The Eastern Village Cohousing site does not seem to be working time of publishing.
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I am looking for a design for houses and flats which incorporate cycle storage into the building itself. Many people interested in green housing also cycle yet no-one seems to be designing in their needs to store bikes in their house. Or are they? Please let me know as I am trying to introduce this as a planning requirement for house building in north London and need best practice examples.
Gina Harkell
You can also find the Eastern Village website at http://www.easternvillage.com.