BAY STATE COHOUSING COMMUNITY, 2023
Malden, MA
Bay State Cohousing is a 30-unit community self-developed by its residents’ family at the northern edge of Metropolitan Boston. Following the Cohousing ethos, each of the 30 units provide the amenities of a private home, while also creating a community around shared spaces and resources. The urban site for this community takes the principles of smaller living at all unit sizes—micro-studio to three-bedroom—to free up space and resources for the benefit of the larger group.
The project moved forward through a collaborative design process, including workshops, consensus building, and familiarizing the group with design decisions at every phase and scale of the project. The design had to address myriad concerns—from site access, environmental issues, and neighborhood perception, to the daily lives, chance meetings, and social vibrancy of its residents.
Photography: Naho Kubota
Project Team: Jenny French, Anda French