Co-op Villages - the next evolution

[Geoff]

A friend gave me this book and is certainly a subject I am interested in. Namely how can we totally transform the way we live and the footprint we have on this earth. I think the book has merit, a lot of merit, and it would be very interesting to go and see how they are doing in Florida, where a prototype village for 500 people has been created.

However the book is poorly edited, and lacks creative flair. What I mean by that is they seem determined to have a LOW COST village, no matter what it looks like. I thought it reminded me of Army Barracks. I do believe that with careful selection of a site, and clever architectural design, one can build lower cost, if not low cost homes. But I don't think I would be willing to move into this village. I like a bit of comfort, and a bit of "harmony" and style. They try to make out that by sharing we can reduce the number of appliances we use, such as washing machines and dryers. Yeah I get that, but they then suggest 30 people can use 2 of each. Huh?

ISBN 978-0-9794865-0-0

http://www.co-opvillagefoundation.org

Actually it looks like although the book was published in 2007, that they STILL are not off the ground. Thats a clear vote the formula is not attractive enough.

hugs
Geoff

[Geoff]

The way things are, I came across the concept of "Tiny Houses" and i think some of this magic needs to penetrate the guys trying the co-op experiment: https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tinyho ... 6061679140

And this is kinda extreme: http://www.theatlantic.com/features/arc ... er/379947/

but this is kinda cute: http://www.katzarchitecture.com/katzarc ... m/L41.html

And here are 12 amazing designs : http://www.countryliving.com/homes/real ... se#slide-1

And a chilled out lady uses a container first then a flatbed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsVxgOj ... ture=share

Yup its as I thought, you need creativity with the small.

hugs
Geoff

[Sandy]

Hi Geoff,
I'm am having more fun looking at all these URLs. Not getting a thing done today, but certainly enjoying all the amazing ideas for tiny living. Some of them are just awesome!

Funny thing this morning, Michele was just speaking of a book she is reading on this similar subject called, "The Fifth Sacred Thing," a Utopian/Dystopian novel set in the year 2050, and in San Francisco.
This is how she describes it...

The people have set up a society where all are equal, where all is shared, where everyone has enough, enough to eat, to drink, and whatever skill a person offers the society is as valued as any other skill, so no one is above and no one is below. All religious and spiritual traditions are alive alongside one another and equally revered, and as well no one cares about race or things like that. All are truly equal. They honor air, fire, water and the earth as sacred things no one can own or limit or put a claim on top of; all will share these 4 sacred things equally and honor them as well. The "Fifth Sacred Thing" is spirit. Outside San Francisco however people live without enough water and so on, and they are under an oppressive government regime, and other races are below, and women are below and so on. So you have the Utopian society juxtoposed with the Dystopian society. And a healer from San Franciso travels into the fray to try to help others to heal ...

Living in a community of this sort you posted in your first post sounds lovely, but like you, I can see that a little imagination in the building could make for a much homier feel. It's exciting to consider all the options out there.
Love,
Sandy