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Ankeny Row Cohousing

Designed for aging in place, this modern rowhouse community is a model of sustainable cohousing.

Ankeny Row exterior, showing an exterior courtyard with a person with dog walking along a curved pathway. The building is beyond the courtyard and features wood frame windows and a warm neutral stucco exterior
An open-concept living, dining, and kitchen area of a home in Ankeny Row, a net-zero energy cohousing community in Portland, Oregon. The space features a modern craftsman aesthetic, combining clean lines with warm, natural materials. In the foreground, a cozy sitting area is anchored by a grey armchair and a matching sofa. Two layered area rugs—one a solid deep burgundy and the other a patterned traditional style—add warmth to the light wood flooring. A fireplace with a grey tile surround and a light wood mantel is situated on the left.
A modern, high-performance kitchen at Ankeny Row. The kitchen features a mix of white upper cabinets and warm, light-wood lower cabinets with a horizontal grain. The lower cabinets use large, deep drawers for efficient storage. A classic white subway tile backsplash with dark grout runs from the countertop to the underside of the cabinets, adding a subtle texture to the space. A black quartz countertops provides a sharp contrast to the light wood and white cabinetry.
A custom live-edge dining table as part of the sustainable interior design at Ankeny Row, a net-zero energy community in Portland, Oregon. The table is crafted from bookmatched slabs of Oregon Black Walnut, a material known for its deep chocolate tones and striking grain. It features a "live edge," preserving the natural, organic contours of the tree. Several dark butterfly joints (or bowties) are visible across the surface. These are functional elements used to stabilize natural cracks in the wood while serving as a decorative "handcrafted" detail.
A modern, sustainably designed kitchen at Ankeny Row, a net-zero energy cohousing community in Portland, Oregon, designed and built by Green Hammer. The kitchen is anchored by custom light maple cabinets with a clean, horizontal grain. Some upper units feature glass fronts to display glassware. The floor is made of cork, chosen for its sustainability, durability, and comfort underfoot—materials often used in Green Hammer's high-performance projects.
An open-concept living, dining, and kitchen area of a unit in Ankeny Row, a net-zero energy cohousing community in Portland, Oregon. The space is designed with a warm, "modern craftsman" aesthetic that prioritizes natural materials and accessibility. Exposed heavy timber beams span the ceiling, adding a sense of structure and warmth. Large, wood-framed windows and a glass door on the left allow for ample natural light and a view of the outdoors.
Ankeny Row exterior aerial view, showing an exterior courtyard with lush landscaping. The building features wood frame windows and a warm neutral stucco exterior
A view of Ankeny Row Zero Energy cohousing from the street showing the exterior shading, balconies and expressed wood finishes. The architecture is a contemporary take on the traditional craftsman style typical of the surrounding neighborhood, featuring light-colored siding and warm wood-framed windows.
Project Scope
Architecture, Construction, Cohousing Community
Project Stats

Design: Six residences, each with 2 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms | 1,400 square feet 

Residents share a common house, bike storage, courtyard gardens

Certifications

Earth Advantage Zero Energy 

Earth Advantage Platinum

Energy, Carbon Emissions and Indoor Air Quality

Predicted annual energy savings (pEUI): 121%

EUI: -11.7 kBtu/sf/yr

25-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system

Passive House design principles: Super-insulated, triple-pane windows, a continuous air barrier, heat recovery ventilation and filtration, mini-split heat pumps, all-electric energy-efficient systems and appliances, low-flow water fixtures, low-VOC paints and finishes

Healthy Materials

FSC-certified Meranti wood tilt-turn windows 

FSC-certified framing

Press: Featured in Portland Monthly, October 2015

Collaboration: Interior design by 2Yoke Design

 

Project Description

Ankeny Row is a modern rowhouse community in Southeast Portland that demonstrates how thoughtful design can foster connection and enhance livability. A group of retiring couples set out to create a co-housing community on a quarter-acre brownfield site in Portland’s Buckman neighborhood—one that supports aging in place while reducing costs and environmental impact. Green Hammer was selected through a competitive process to provide integrated design-build services.

The community includes six townhomes, a shared studio for guests and gatherings, and a common courtyard that encourages connection. Each home incorporates Universal Design principles, with primary living spaces on the first floor to support aging in place.

Completed in March 2015, Ankeny Row is designed to achieve zero energy. Year after year, it generates more energy than the community uses over the course of the year.