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_{Photo by Cohabs}

Shaw 1000 is part of an evolving model of urban living. One of seven co-living projects in Washington, D.C. designed by Square 134 Architects for Cohabs, a Belgium-based platform offering fully furnished shared housing in major cities worldwide, the project reflects a new approach to density, community, and adaptability.

Located within the Shaw Historic District and currently under construction, Shaw 1000 transforms a stately single-family home into a 10-bedroom shared residence. Rather than subdividing the house into isolated units, the design reimagines it as an intentional living community—balancing private bedrooms with generous communal kitchens, lounges, and gathering spaces that encourage connection.

The project carefully navigates the character and constraints of the historic district while introducing contemporary amenities and infrastructure to support modern co-living. The result is a layered space where historic fabric and new interventions coexist, creating housing that is flexible, social, and rooted in its neighborhood context.

Learning Objectives:

• Define and describe what a co-living residential project is, including how this housing model addresses density, life safety, accessibility, and shared amenity requirements that impact occupant health, safety, and welfare.
• Articulate the building and zoning code parameters governing co-living projects within the District of Columbia, including considerations related to egress, fire protection, occupancy classification, light and air, and habitability standards.
• Develop a deeper understanding of the social and environmental advantages of co-living as a housing type, including its potential to support housing affordability, reduce per-capita resource consumption, and promote community well-being.
• Explain what the team learned about the programmatic and spatial preferences of residents in the District of Columbia compared to residents of other major national and international cities, and how these preferences influence design decisions affecting safety, comfort, and quality of life.

Presented by: 

Ronald Schneck, Jr. AIA, NCARB
Principal 
Square 134 Architects PC