Co-Housing+: Towards a Greater Urban Community in Toronto

This thesis grew from understanding the present common values of today’s contemporary society, where people are less unified and prefer their secluded private realm showing diminished interest in integrating with the public sphere. The significance of social values and the benefits of being and living with others are lost to many societies impacted by the consumer culture. The research focuses on the enduring patterns of social relations and the design aspects of the well-established cohousing model in order attain the desired sense of belonging in the proposed design. The thesis proposes co-housing+, a mixed-use community-oriented residential complex in Toronto, which is designed to promote a balanced private and public life for the inhabitants, creating an urban community.