build it green

Build It GreenThe Philosophy of an Eco Village

What is an Eco Village?

According to Robert Gilman, an Eco Village:

1) Is built on the human scale

2) Allows for human activity that is harmlessly

integrated with nature

3) Supports healthy human development

4) Can continue indefinitely

The Human Scale

• Design to fit the average person– Doorways and openings, seating, work surfaces, etc. are

proportioned to the human body

• The Human Scale takes into consideration different aspects of everyday living– Lines of sight, acoustics, lighting, spatial geometry

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man is based on the third part of Vitruvius’ De Architectura and is an example of the human scale. Vitruvius said that human figure was the principle source of proportion in the Classical schools of architecture.

The Human Scale

• Today human scaling is widely unutilized for three main reasons

1) To achieve a monumental effect A larger than life structure means a greater social impact (sometimes)

2) AestheticsIn the Modernist Movement, for example, structural purity and function

are emphasized over human scale

3) We build to the Automotive scaleBuildings are simplified so that their effect is greatest from the

perspective of a moving automobile

Integration with Nature

• The existence of a true Eco Village is in no way detrimental to the environment.

– Ideally, the Eco Village can benefit nature in some way• Compost, etc.

• Everyday life in the Eco Village is “natural”, in this sense meaning minimal mechanization and chemical/biological manipulation.


• The site is able to give direction in planning the village’s layout– For example, a site’s contours can often tell where

structures should be placed.

– Trees should be conserved and built around, rather than removed

– The paths made by animals represent a natural flow through the space and can be utilized, but should be preserved


• Structures in an Eco Village should appear natural to the site– Use of natural shapes, local materials, and organic

motifs

• This idea first appeared as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Organic Architecture– Long, low, horizontal lines; materials in their natural

forms; blurred line between outside and inside.

Wright’s Fallingwater is considered the pinnacle of his work on organic architecture. Suspended over a waterfall, the home utilizes natural color schemes, materials, and motifs that work to make the inhabitant feel outside while inside.


Some materials include, but are not limited to, sandbags, straw bales, and old tires.

Human Development

• Living in an Eco Village should be a positive, enriching experience

• Living with less (by way of technological, biological, or chemical advances) does not mean that life becomes less fulfilling

• Three main benefits1) Natural Education2) Health3) Strong sense of Community

Human Development

A Natural Education– Living in an Eco Village allows for learning by doing

– Children and adults learn about nature by being surrounded by it

• For example, they learn about plant growth cycles by raising their own crops

– Instills values of conservation and good stewardship

Human Development

Health– Living in an Eco Village can mean limited exposure to

pesticides and other harmful chemicals

– Communal work means outdoor exercise

– Stress associated with metropolitan living is eliminated

– Diet is improved by fresh produce grown on site.

Human Development

Community– Eco Villages are composed of small, close-knit housing

groups or clusters• Often, some kind of communal gathering area allows for sharing

meals and relaxing together

– The village is built by the community, so they have a sense of ownership and pride

– Problems facing the Eco Village are faced as a group• Field labor is shared• Structural repairs and additions to the Eco Community are

contributed to by all

Sustainability

• An Eco Village is able to remain productive while not harming the environment and taking from the resources of future generations

• Sustainability has three primary areas:1) Economy2) Society3) Environment

Sustainability

Economy– An Eco Village is not free

• Land, construction materials, agricultural equipment, etc. must be acquired and maintained to keep the village up and running

– To cover these expenses, the Eco Village requires some source of income

• Possible sources of income include produce, various arts and handcrafts, etc.

– The Village does not require profit, only to break even

Sustainability

Society– The Village must create an environment that protects

and benefits its community– People have to continue to want to live there for the

Village to continue

Sustainability

Environment– Resource extraction must be limited, and easily

replaceable– An Eco Village, if at all possible, is off-grid

• Solar or wind power generation• Rainwater collection• Grey water recycling• Composting toilets

– Organic food production meets most of the Village’s needs

Sustainability

Environment– Things added by the community should mimic the

natural environment• Biomimetics: nature is used as the inspiration to solve practical,

human problems– Example: When planting crops, the Eco Village could use the

model of the plains, which have many species growing in the same area, most of which are perennials

• Biodiversity is conserved

• Use of natural geography

SustainabilityOn this terraced tea plantation, other native plants are allowed to grow at the same time. This increased diversity can protect the target crop from pests, helps reduce nutrient depletion, and allows for year-round harvesting.

Munksøgaard Eco Village, Denmark

Kakwa Ecovillage

The Ecovillage, Currumbin

Some eco villages are targeted to young, modern singles and families. This eco village has more amenities and less agriculture than some of its earlier counterparts.

Some Other Ideas

• Cohousing– Originated in Denmark in the 1960s– Tightly clustered private homes are arranged around a

“Common House” for community dining, working, relaxing, etc.

• Community areas often include child-care/play areas, gyms, workshops, and offices

– Closely packed housing and resource sharing has both economic and environmental benefits

Some Other Ideas

• Biomimicry– As stated earlier, biomimicry (biomimetics) can be used

to naturally improve agriculture– Is useful in a wide variety of fields

• Construction• Medicine• Water management• Energy production• Robotics