The physical design of a co-housing community encourages both social connection and individual space. Co-housing communities are established around three principles that make them unique from traditional neighborhoods. They emphasize growing the community, increasing sustainability, and aging successfully. Private homes contain all the features of conventional homes; however, residents also have access to extensive common amenities such as open space, courtyards, and a common house.
The Common House serves as a community space within a co-housing community. The house features a large kitchen, a dining hall, and auxiliary rooms that allow for a range of activities for the residents to participate in. The physical design of the Common House is inspired by the carpenter gothic style found throughout rural America. In particular, Seaside Chapel in Seaside, Florida.