In Canada today, many popular housing typologies do not foster the idea of community. As a result, inhabitants may be subject to a sense of loneliness, as the architectural design promotes living in social isolation. This thesis will explore ways to combat social isolation using an alternative form of housing, one which promotes social interactions and communal involvement. This form of housing is referred to as "co- housing". Within this thesis, I will develop a Co-housing Design Handbook for new co-housing groups that would facilitate the process of planning and designing 'retrofit' co-housing for communities - a model which has yet to be experimented with in Canada. I will specifically be analyzing the city of Guelph, Ontario to exemplify how existing neighborhoods could become retrofit co-housing communities and enhance the current social and urban fabric of the city.