Kitchen at Toiora High Street Cohousing Dunedin Photo: Andy Spain
We're checking in with two innovative co-housing initiatives at separate ends of the country. The concept is common in Scandinavian countries, and the first urban cohousing development, Earthsong in West Auckland opened its doors in 2002. Since then two other communities have been established. There are 24 units at the Toiora High St Cohousing community built on the site of an old primary school in Dunedin. Resident and project leader Catherine Spencer says Toiora is home to young families, professionals and retirees. And residents moved into the multi-unit Cohaus housing community, in the central Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn two years ago. The 2400 metre site is home to 20 households of 52 people living in units, flats and terraced housing. Architect Thom Gill lives there and says it's so much more than a boutique housing colab project and holds lessons for not pursuing greenfield developments.
Cohaus Photo: Adam Luxton
