Small Homes, Big Community: Architect Ross Chapin on Designing for Connection

When we think of neighborhoods, most of us picture long rows of houses, driveways, and maybe a park down the street. But what if there was a better way to live — one that put connection, belonging, and beauty at the heart of community design.

Today’s guest has dedicated his life to re-imagining how we live together. Architect Ross Chapin is the visionary behind the concept of Pocket Neighborhoods — intimate clusters of homes gathered around shared green spaces that foster connection while still preserving privacy. His work has been called both revolutionary and timeless and has influenced how people are thinking about housing not just here in the Pacific Northwest, but across the world.

Ross’s book Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World has become a blueprint for architects, developers, and everyday dreamers who want more than just walls and roofs — they want communities where people actually know and support each other.

From award-winning projects on Whidbey Island to neighborhoods that have taken root across the U.S. and beyond, Ross has shown that small-scale design can have a large-scale impact.

In today’s conversation, we’ll dive into the origins of the pocket neighborhood idea, why human-scaled design matters now more than ever, and how these kinds of communities might be one answer to the challenges of affordability, sustainability, and connection in our modern world.

So whether you’re dreaming of a new home, wondering how neighborhoods can evolve, or just curious about how architecture shapes our daily lives — you’re going to want to lean in to this one.

 

Visit Ross Chapin's WEBSITE as well as FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.

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