vol. 2, no. 13 | Social Architecture
This past week, Mark, Livvy, and I went to check out a cohousing community in the city, and we had some really great conversations with some of the residents about the difference between good neighbors and good friends, and about how architecture can play a role in social health. It left us with a lot to think about—and a lot dream about—and one of the things I’ve kept thinking about since then is the concept of a “common house”.
In the Danish model of cohousing, residences are private and separate, with other shared communal spaces. And the common house is a communal building where the residents gather to share meals, host events, entertain children, and meet about the various projects of the community. It is primarily intended for the people who are part of the cohousing community, though guests are welcome from time to time, as we were.
I’ve been thinking about it a lot because it seems to me that in some ways The Company is a kind of common house. But, like, a really scrappy, less convenient, more impermanent, more porous, more transitory common house. Really more like a common pop-up. A tent.
Maybe someday we’ll figure out how to own a place like this. Guarantee some longevity. Maybe someday we‘ll also figure out how to live closer to it, so that, if we have little or big loved ones to tend to, we can more easily care for them while still being around. But in the meantime, I’m quite happy we’ve at least got this spot to share with each other. That we didn’t have to wait to find thirty to forty other families to spend over half a million dollars each.
I feel very inspired by what we saw, and by what we’re continuing to learn. I also feel very grateful for shared spaces of any kind, and for all of the good neighbors and good friends we have here.
—Ivan
Happenings
This week:
Glint: Right, Tuesday, August 12
True, personal stories, told live, without notes. Pretty much exactly like The Moth, except without the competition, on Tuesdays instead of Fridays, and everyone knows each other (or is about to). Our next theme is “Right“.
Do you have a story of a time you were right—or when you thought you were? Do you have a story of moral goodness or justification? Of something being true or correct? A story of taking a right turn? A story of correcting something? Or of something owed to you or to someone else? Whatever your interpretation, we want to hear it.
Come hear stories from Joe, Marcia, Ivan, Livvy, Beth, Allyson, Fer, Madeleine, and Jessica P. We’ve got a few teller slots left, so if you’re interested in telling a story, reply and let us know.
$10, or free for tellers and members.
Note: Cuppa will be open during this event!
Weekly Wednesday Worknight, Wednesday, August 13
The Company is about combining creative work with good friendships. Make an appointment with your side project this (or any) Wednesday at a Worknight, where we oscillate between enforced, focused, quiet time and optional chatty social time.
$5, or free for Company and Moonlight members
Offsite: Mixed Taste: Ancestral Chocolate and the Sonnet, Wednesday, August 13
Some of us are are going to check out Mixed Taste, an event where two people present lectures about very different topics, and then somehow both answer the same questions from the crowd. Some of us have gone before and have raved about it to others of us, so some others of us are excited to check out the very last one of the season.
$22.28
Future Weeks:
Offsite: Make & Tell, Thursday, August 21
Make & Tell is a seasonal event series hosted by The Made Shop, and it’s the event that inspired our In the Making series. We’ve paused In the Making for the summer because Make & Tell is back! And we so heartily encourage you to go. It is where we first met Justin (who convinced us to start The Company), and where, a summer later, we met Michelle (who convinced us The Company was worth it). There are also quite a few people that we didn’t meet, but who heard about us there, and who we’ve since had the pleasure to meet (including our new friend Liz!).
$23.18
Offsite: Orbis Garden Party, Saturday, August 23
Our dear friend and Company member Mark leads a nonprofit called Orbis that provides co-living, personal growth, and community engagement opportunities for young leaders. To help welcome their newest fellows, and to introduce the larger community to Orbis, they’re hosting a garden party, where you’ll have the chance to meet the new fellows and check out the lovely Orbis mansion. Some of us got to see it a few weeks back and it’s such a cool space. Join us and show your support!
$12.51–$44.52 (pay what you can)
Mary Ann’s Book Club: Station Eleven, Monday, August 25
(This is still quite a while away, but it’s the kinda thing you gotta prepare for.)
This month we’ll be reading Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Described as “a gripping post-apocalyptic novel that weaves together survival, art, and human resilience in the wake of a devastating pandemic. You'll be drawn to its beautifully written, nonlinear narrative that explores the power of storytelling, connection, and hope even in the darkest times. (also a limited series on HBO!)”
I personally loved the limited series, and I’m very excited to have finally started reading the book. I think it’s a very refreshing counter to more prevalent visions of the post-apocalypse.
Alex started it last week, and finished it last week, and about it said:
“Favorite fiction I've read in memory. Fastest possibly I've ever read a book. Wow.”
Snacks and drinks will be provided to fuel our conversation.
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Also coming up: PowerPoint Party No. 30 (September 6), Mild Salsa Class (September 7), Cuppa Clothing Swap (September 14).
Nostalgia
Do you remember the mild salsa class? The new leaders and followers? How only some of us shuffled partners? Mark and Michelle’s move catalogue video?
Or Jaime’s first day back? The lunch with Dan and Lexi?
Lunch with Lizzie and her mom? Learning about Kuwait and Germany and Texas? The afternoon with Madeleine and Ryan? The sluggish recess in the impossible heat?
Do you remember the much bigger danger sign? The addition of the skull?
The recess with Michelle? Your endless walk?
Do you remember Mixed Taste? Or the pre-worknight game of Snakes of Wrath? The Worknight with Amber, and then Micah showed up? All the immense happiness the laminator brought? That Amber said to tell José that he’s very cool?
How we skipped recess because it was far too hot, and Livvy wasn’t around to enforce it? Or our watch party for the incredibly poignant and gory ghost movie? That we talked about how likely Ian was to whip out a little Mandarin (or mandarin)?
The Friday when we met Liz for the first time? How we ate lunch together, hung peach signs together, went to recess together, and met Molly together?
Do you remember the consolation park day? How we split into conversations about religion and conversations about dating? How long we lingered? How excited we got?
Do you remember the dogs, or the bubbles, or how perfect the weather was? How we closed things off with a very unnecessary but very fun human pyramid? That, before parting, we airdropped a long overdue PowerPoint Party presentation?
Bureaucratic Minutiae
The dangerous trap door continues to be dangerous but is far more clearly signed.
Upon reading an earlier issue of Paperwork, Patrick has informed us that the name of the salsa move we were trying to remember was in fact ‘Hesitation Left’, which is such a satisfying clarification but we will continue referring to it as ‘Patrick’s deception’.
At Worknight: Livvy started writing the first draft of a letter; Amber finished one game panel and printed and laminated it, and called Tiana; Ivan uploaded Paperwork photos to the website and cleared out The Email inbox; Norton researched fun pseudonym generation schemes; Alex finished an adjective unit and finished planning noun phrase for proper noun; and Micah worked on journaling.
Finally, a reminder that The Company is a member-supported gathering place, and if you know any of us, you’re welcome to pop in any time for free (outside of events). If you know that one of us is here and you’d like to come by, reach out and we can let you in.
Photos
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This issue of Paperwork was written by Ivan, and shot by Ivan, Livvy, Beth, Drew, and Michelle. Photo selection and editing by Ivan and Livvy. Editorial support provided by Livvy and Norton. This issue, and The Company itself, was made possible by the support of our members, Halie, Drew, Justin, Mason, Lexi, José, Mary Ann B., Trevr, Allyson, Lizzie, Madison, Melissa, Elijah, Michelle, Jim, Jaime, Jacob, Mark, Sabrina, Beth, Dani, Chris, Will, Rebeca, Sarah, Mary Ann T., Alex, Jessica P., Jessica S., Mike, Ben, and Sam.
Do you know anyone in the Denver area who might be looking for creative community? Feel free to forward this email along to them. Everyone loves Paperwork.
😘