Building communities instead of a lot of houses

[rudolf]

Introducing Ecoshell-I's in several countries and talking with a lot of enthousiastic people we are always faced with the point that starting to build houses never stops there. A lot of houses does not equal a community. A lot has to be done extra (think of parks, sports, schools, social services etc) to make it a good place to live.
Al kinds of communityforms have been thought of during the last centuries. Our question is now:
* What kind of new possibilities are there if you start to build a community build with domes.
* What kind of completely different layouts are possible.
* What effect do they have on the way people live together and the way they see their dome/home their dome/neighborhoud?

Also we are faced with the fact that introducing domes for the economicaly chalanged we run the risk of putting the domes down as 'poor-peoples-housing'. We as the Solid House Foundation are very much interested in options how one can introduce this new concept as 'different' and certainly not 'poor'.

We would be very interested in any kind of discussion around this subject and will certainly incorporate your ideas and visions into projects whenever possible.

thanks!
Rudolf

[Minnesota]

there have been entire villages built out of hot noisy expensive sheetmetal that was much less desireable than the traditional earthen materials available locally for free...all in an attempt to be modern!

[rudolf]

Actually, Michael, we haven't heard of that. Could you tell a little what that's about?
We've been doing some research into introducing domes in central america but have put it on hold while we are constructing in the Alti Plano in Bolivia. But we are still interested.
Curious to hear from you!

[Santih Buchan]

This is an interesting topic and one that I have considered alot. As Rudolf says if domes are going to become a major part of construction in developing nations (as many of us belive they should) the develpoers of these projects must look past just building houses to the whole development. Neighborhoods similar to "New Oroville" could become a standard for construction in warmer climates. And if what I hear is true (I do not have any experience with ecoshells yet) they should, as they offer so many benefits over more standard construction methods and can be built so much cheaper.

This also works into another point that Rudolf brought up:

"Also we are faced with the fact that introducing domes for the economicaly chalanged we run the risk of putting the domes down as 'poor-peoples-housing'. We as the Solid House Foundation are very much interested in options how one can introduce this new concept as 'different' and certainly not 'poor'."

This is a very real possibility if the only projects in developing countries are for "the poorest of the poor". Often the people of these countries are just as concerned about image and class (or even more so) than we are in North America. They will have a hard time accepting this building medium in the first place, let alone if the only time they see these buildings is in conjuction with the poorest people in their country as well as the other developing nations.

I believe that a big part of development is associated with precedent. The newer and more different something is, the harder it is for people to adopt it. Once the precedent is set that these buildings are the best around and a few more developments like New Oroville are showcased around the world, more people in developing countries will see the dome as a desirable place to live and raise a family. This all ties into Rudolfs original topic about building communities and desireable places to live instead of just houses.

It seems that this all comes down to getting the ball rolling! New Oroville was a great step in showing people that domes can be part of a beautiful, welcoming, sustainable development. One thing that is a little unfortunate is that Catalytic Software's interests are not in the domes but in software development so I think that this development is not getting the attention it deserves in relation to the domes and the development. I tried contacting them and got no word back.

Anyway I never intended this to be this long so I will wrap it up but like Rudolf I am very interested to hear others opinions on this stuff.



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[lonejack]

I have just joined the group and have read your posts from October.

I will state that if you are living in a hurricane path and have had your "free matierial," home blown away then maybe you might be interested in something more durrable. We all hope for the community to come together. I think that here is where the long term picture is needed. If you go into a community and build houses for the poor and don't stay and build that community, then your houses will be viewed as "poor man," shelters. If you show how to build churches, schools, clinics and homes, then you might be sucessful in building a community. It might start with some small houses for the currently depressed, but this vision needs to be expanded as soon as possible.

I am interested in beginning such a community in an already established village in Haiti, Les Anglais. Our group has been associated with the brothers and sisters in Les anglais, for 15 years. We have a track record and so the houses we introduce won't be viewed as "poor peoples," houses. What I need to know is if anyone has been building in Haiti, in the last few years?

[Minnesota]

I used to worry about domes becoming known as "poor peoples" housing too. But most of the domes I see being built are far from poor. Most of them are beyond my reach. The only way I'll get one is if I build it myself.

[Melinda]

Yes, there is a group which started building in Haiti, but were interrupted by the political unrest. See: http://www.monolithic.com/gallery/homes/haiti/

This group is working with the people to ensure that the infrastructure is there.

For more information see:
Double Harvest
Route 89 Box 36
Granville, IL 61326
(815)339-6831 Ext. 118

Sincerely,

Melinda of Monolithic

[chadcater]

I think it is all marketing. If these domes are being built with the sales drive as being economical for poor countries and people, it will give that image. If you push them as being economical to build and incorporate , like lonejack said, churches and other buildings also they can keep an image that says they can be built as economically feasible housing, or as a wealthy persons mansion. The people writing articles about these communities also need to watch the wording they use to stay away from the poor people housing frame of mind. Many mansions are built of wood, as are many shacks that line the streets as housing in poor countries. The domes would have to look like good economical housing instead of the shacks that line the streets. I am in the process of dealing with a gentleman to set up small domes for hotel rental villas, and also a govt. in setting up small eco-shells for local housing on an island. They will basically look close to the same.

[ecodoc]

I just joined and noticed that thes forms are a bit old . but maybe ther is still some interest .
I have acvompany in Mexic south of Cancun on the coast Mayan Empire Enterprises we are planing on buildiing low cost eco- frindly housing projects her this year and are resarching all avable methods . so anyone with info on this etype of projects let me know . Thank
Doc

[Minnesota]

Ecodoc, These would be great! Look at the ecoshells and insulated domes too.

[Santih Buchan]

EcoDoc,

Is the project in Mexico aimed at providing low-cost housing for the locals or for tourist accomodation. In that area, if you are on the coast domes definatly offer some big advantages! There is as resort in Belize that is built using monolithic domes. They went throught the 2001 hurricane and the only damage seemed to be to the wood decks and palapa roof. They used the fully insulated monolithic dome (I believe) but said that (and understanably so) it was expensive to build down there. I can imagine that polyurethane foam is not a hot commodity in Belize! The thatch on the roof looks great and in an uninsulated ecoshell would probaly help to keep the building substantially cooler. The website is
xanaduresort-belize.com if you want to check it out.

I am very intersted in building ecoshell buildings in the tropics, and believe that they are a very viable alternative in many third world countries (or any country for that matter). I encourage you to look closely at ecoshells and domes for your projects and wish you the best of luck what ever you do!

Keep us posted on what happens. I'd love to hear more about the project as well.

Santih

[Advanced Ecosystems]

I would like to know how your project is going?

[Seadogbill]

I agree with you about trying to build communities and not just houses. I have seen how as cities grow there becomes a lack of personal interaction with it's residence. I prefer to establish smaller communities that become aware of each other as neighbors and work together on a personal level. I am now trying to establish small farming communities in the Dominican Republic and selling the idea with the government using dome homes as it's main building constructions. I had just post a blog in the newbie catagory. I would love to get some feed back. I'm taking on a huge idea by myself and running with it without any help, which I need badly. I do agree with you that we need not only njust build homes, but communities that are personal with each other. In my travels I have seen how small communities seem to servive hardships a liittle easier because they worked together as like a family does.