House Cluster
. . . the fundamental unit of organization within the neighborhood—Identifiable Neighborhood—is the cluster of a dozen houses. By varying the density and composition of different clusters, this pattern may also help to generate Density Rings, Household Mix. and Degrees of Publicness.
Problem:
People will not feel comfortable in their houses unless a group of houses forms a cluster, with the public land between them jointly owned by all the householders.
Background & Research: Not Included on the site—Go read the book!
Solution:
Arrange houses to form very rough, but identifiable clusters of 8 to 12 households around some common land and paths. Arrange the clusters so that anyone can walk through them, without feeling like a trespasser.
Usage:
Use this pattern as it is for low densities, up to about 15 houses per acre; at higher densities, modify the cluster with the additional structure given by Row Houses or Housing Hill. Always provide common land between the houses—Common Land and a shared common workshop—Home Workshop. Arrange paths clearly—Circulation Realms—and lay these paths out in such a way that they create busier paths and backwaters, even within the cluster—Degrees of Publicness; keep parking in Small Parking Lots, and make the houses in the cluster suit the households which will live there—The Family, House for a Small Family, House for a Couple, House for One Person, Your Own Home . . .
pg. 197