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23 July 2008
A Community For The Future, Today
Design and development of a unique, advanced community has moved
from idea to implementation. Designed to offer low-impact,
high-value lifestyles where people live, work and play, a new
eco-village will bring together leading technology in building and
community infrastructure to offer an enriching lifestyle with a modest
ecological footprint.
With the support of local authorities and the Carlow-Kilkenny Energy
Agency, sponsors Astraea, Ballin Temple and Dean Design are now
welcoming interest from development partners and future
residents.
The 30 acre site in the Irish countryside will offer homes in a natural,
sustainable community. Low-impact build objectives include zero-carbon;
self-sufficiency in energy and water; and self-management of waste. The
approach imitates nature in unit design, facilities, layout,
infrastructure, living conditions and lifestyle.
High
tech home design, leaning on Buckminster Fuller's
dymaxion example, follows biomimicry and the Precepts of
Ecological Design (Todd et al.). Post and beam construction is the principal
technology with thick walls, wide overhangs and utility
greenhouse.Living areas to the south and utility areas to the north.
Natural build like straw, earth and timber are available too.
Homes offer
independent space as well as sharing interdependent community
infrastructure, like micro-solar, -wind and -hydro power. Homes are
comfortable and easy to maintain with low-energy appliances, water
saving utilities and living system waste management. Equipped with good
IT connections, professional work and global communication can be
pursued on site.
In this community, for young and old alike, residents will enjoy the
privacy of their homes, as well as the benefits of a friendly
neighbourhood where there are no walls
between houses; homes are separated naturally by hedgerows, trees and
gardens.Organic fruit and vegetable gardens, poultry, apiary, orchards and
woodland provide fresh food, biofuel and timber. A small lake and
paddock add to the diversity of life. And it is a short walk from a
nature club in ancient woodland.
There is also an IT and entertainment centre, library, trading post,
children's play area, sports area, art centre, wood, metal and
mechanics workshop and learning centre based on Pestalozzi's principles
of "hands, head, heart".
Tom Butler, one of the sponsors, said "This is the realisation of a
dream for me. First conceived over eight years ago, it had not found a
receptive audience. But now, with increasing concerns over energy
security, food security, financial market turbulence and degrading
biosphere, many people from all walks of life are beginning to look for
alternative approaches to living. With this community we can take a
big picture, holonic approach. We can offer a wonderful integrated
place to live, work and play, and also an example from which everyone
can learn. It is important for me personally to create a natural
environment because it is on my doorstep and I am very sensitive to the
local impact. It is so encouraging to be working with people like
Pat Buckeridge, founder of Dean Design, who brings creative and
flexible engineering solutions and who has been instrumental in
catalysing the project from idea to reality. We look forward to
welcoming more people to share this vision."
The sponsors of this project will demonstrate how high-value living can be achieved without costing the earth.
For further information or general interest, please contact Tom Butler on
Telephone: +353 59 9155037
or + 353 86 8179238 or +44 (0)20 8133 7898
Skype: astraeanet
Email: info @ astraea.net
Post: Ballin Temple,
Ardattin, Carlow, Ireland
Web: www.astraea.net
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