They take pains to say they are an architecture firm, not a developer, and that there are numerous zoning issues that make establishing a pocket neighborhood difficult in certain areas. So far RCA has helped build 14 pocket neighborhoods in the northwest. This layout of multiple small homes clustered together reminds us of the upcoming Napoleon Complex by Four Lights. These cottages are less than 1000 sq ft and include design elements like large windows and built-in cabinetry that make the space feel larger and use every square inch of space to its fullest capacity. As well, a house that is ‘not so big’ is more likely to be fully lived in and cared for. With slightly snug houses, the porch, gardens and shared common buildings get used more, which fosters connection among neighbors. If houses are too large, residents tend to spend all their time indoors. While there are a number of pocket neighborhoods with larger houses, Ross Chapin Architects (RCA) seems to promote “cottage style houses” as the optimal house-style for the neighborhoods. Those design principles include a cap on the number of houses in the neighborhood (12 max, but multiple clusters can be joined by walkways), no cars or traffic in the commons, no parking in front of the houses and the active rooms like porches should face the common spaces. There are a number of design principles that make pocket neighborhoods successful, but style is not one of them. The key idea is that a limited number of nearby neighbors gather around a shared commons that they all care for. They can be detached single-family houses, attached townhouses, or clusters of urban apartments.

Residences in a pocket neighborhood can be any style - Craftsman Cottage, Contemporary, Spanish Mission, Screaming Solar or Modern Modular. Pocket neighborhood houses need not be new and they can be any style, as indicated on PN’s website: Strategic use of low fences and perennials create further barriers for the tightly spaced houses. the ‘open’ part of one house like its entrance faces the ‘closed’ part of another like its side or back–separation is created without a big yard. One particular design flourish that supports this is the orientation of the houses. In a smart move, pocket neighborhoods are designed to promote community but also have enough autonomy and privacy for members to do their own thing.

Homes for sale in pocket neighborhoods