Architecture: HYBRID
Developer: Jane Lester (Towering Trees LLC)
Project Team: Robert Humble, Andy Fawcett, Alex Herbig, Jhoana Avante
General Contractor: Hybrid Assembly
Landscape: Earthdance Organics
Photography: Alex Herbig & Jhoana Avante
Preserving the site’s mature tree canopy guided early design decisions. Building footprints were adjusted and circulation carefully threaded to protect root zones, allowing every Douglas fir and cedar to remain and define the community’s character. The site is organized to encourage daily interaction. Homes face a central courtyard, connected by boardwalks and front porches, with a Common House supporting shared meals and gatherings while balancing connection and privacy. A restrained palette of eco tones and native plantings reinforces a strong sense of place.
Forest and meadow landscapes composed of regional species support biodiversity while visually grounding the architecture in its Pacific Northwest setting. Homes support aging in place through flexible layouts, minimal level changes, and proximity to shared amenities. The cohousing model adds social resilience, allowing residents to remain independent while supported by community over time.
A “kit of parts” approach informed the building design, allowing units to be efficiently configured and repeated while accommodating variation. This strategy reduced construction complexity, controlled costs, and supported adaptability across households. Material choices emphasize durability, honesty, and low maintenance. Natural cedar siding was left unstained to weather gracefully over time, paired with simple, robust detailing that minimizes finishes while celebrating material authenticity and longevity.
Landscape installation was intentionally led by residents, friends, and collaborators to reduce costs and build community. Over a six-week period, dozens of volunteer gardeners, including members of the design team participated in planting events to install more than 1,600 native plants. Ferns were transplanted from a nearby forested site, and young nursery trees were relocated to the courtyard to mature alongside the
established canopy. Within two months of completion, more than half of the households had moved in. The homes were sold essentially at cost, with several residents becoming ?rst-time home buyers. Boardwalk pathways connect the residences, and welcoming front porches face one another across the courtyard, encouraging daily interaction. The resulting community is a tranquil urban oasis, demonstrating how thoughtful design, shared stewardship, and respect for existing natural systems can foster connection and long-term resilience in a dense urban
context.
- Cohousing Community