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VALLEY OAKS VILLAGE
Michael designed Valley Oaks Village Cohousing in Chico, CA. It is a twenty-eight unit cohousing community on 4.6 acres, built at a density of approximately 6.5 units per acre. Site planning and floor plans were designed by consensus. The architecture is designed to be reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. Only a very few homes have passed hands in the eight years since Valley Oaks Village has been built, and these for reasons such as divorce or jobs changing out-of-state. Once people find their way into cohousing they tend to put down roots, staying put for a longer time.
The Common House (south side, above) with its lounge (above, center) and multipurpose room (right), is at the heart of the community. Common meals, gatherings, celebrations, meetings of groups from the larger community, private parties - all center around the common house. It also contains a children's room, a laundry, an office, a second shared office, a sauna and an exercise room. There is also a swimming pool and a workshop.
The landscaping at Valley Oaks Village is very lush and dense, providing respite from the hot Chico sun and softening all the views.
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