Reviving Pocket Communities With Multifamily Buildings

Bungalow Courts

Picture a small cluster of housing tucked within a large neighborhood. A harmony of dwellings which fosters interaction between residents and a greater sense of community. This is the idea of pocket neighborhoods.

The concept is to cluster a group of homes around a shared common area creating the environment of a small community within a city. Bungalow courts gained popularity in Southern California in the early 1900‘s as an efficient way to provide homes with garden areas. All the homes were oriented to face the common area and were positioned close to each other. Roads and garages were situated on the outer boundary of the property.

Many of these older bungalow courts turned into rental properties as families migrated to suburban developments that offered larger homes and their own front yards. The expansion of the suburb design provided convenient access for our cars while diminishing interaction between neighbors. Large residential roads, driveways and garages displaced porches and pushed families within the confines of their homes.

While many of the bungalow and cottage housing remain rental property there is growing interest to apply the concept to denser multifamily developments. We are witnessing a growing trend in new multifamily developments in which smaller, denser units are being separated into multiple clusters rather than one large building.

Multifamily architecture and design has been progressing toward efficient use of space that invites outdoor living and neighbor interaction. Federal grants and other funding sources are increasingly being awarded to projects that encourage energy and land efficient designs with close proximity to public transit options.

Courtesy of Portland Courtyard Housing Competition

A small pocket community can be created with a resource-efficient multifamily design around a central courtyard or garden. In lieu of a solid apartment building, a design oriented toward the courtyard encourages a greater sense of community and safety. Providing parking under or away from the structures cultivates interaction between residents walking to and from their units.


Great reading sources:

Ross Chapin, the author of Pocket Neighborhoods, has a site with great sources. His book provides a great background and diversity of applications.

Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs by Ellen Dunham-Jones offers innovative ideas for redeveloping low-density communities.