Mariposa EcoVillage

Phil Hawes, Architect/PlannerNatural Systems Developers, LLCAmarillo, Texaswww.naturalsystemsdevelopers.com

Natural Systems Developers

- For something to be sustainable it must be capable of being maintained without interruption, without weakening or losing power or quality. It must endure without failure in a prolonged, unflagging manner. Webster’s Dictionaries

Informed by nature’s systems, we design and build economically and ecologically sustainable villages.

INTRODUCTION

Mariposa EcoVillage site near Amarillo, Texas

INTRODUCTION

• * Planning and preliminary design• * Restore damaged ecosystem using principles from

nature and permaculture• * Design and develop infrastructure systems• * Establish educational base to train workforce and

impart skills• * Start building homes and public buildings using this

trained and established workforce• * Develop industrial and commercial base• * Sell homes to workforce and others

Mariposa EcoVillage ProcessINTRODUCTION

Small European villages are the historic models for the community’s physical form, with the addition of modern amenities.We are currently in the preliminary design phase of master planning.

PLANNING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN

Design Models

One Square Mile 5,100 residents 2,040 homes 16 mixed-use neighborhoods: - Commercial - Industrial - Parks, Plazas, Trails, - Education - Restaurants - Entertainment

EcoVillage Site PlanPLANNING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN

Preliminary EcoVillage Plan

PLANNING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN

We are developing 630 acres to create Mariposa EcoVillage, an ecologically and economically sustainable community.

The site is an old gravel mine on a High Plains grassland.

PLANNING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN

EcoVillage Site

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Land RestorationScarred land will be restored through permaculture, composting and soil building techniques.

Community-Owned UtilitiesResidents in the community

willown their own utilities:• Electricity & Gas• Water• Sewage Bioremediation• Telecommunications• Bio-Mass Composting• Solid Waste Management• Transportation

INFRASTRUCTURE

All energy needs will be met by renewable sources:

Wind – Annual average 14 mph

Sun – Over 260 days /yr

Hydrogen from water

Methane from waste biomass

Renewable EnergyINFRASTRUCTURE

Water will be drawn from an aquifer and recharged by runoff water injection to balance withdrawal. The purification process will use ozone or hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light.

WaterINFRASTRUCTURE

Water supply

Drinking

Cooking Bathing Laundry

UV & H2O2

Biogas

System

Liquids SolidsPathogen killSettlingUnderground water

clarification

Nutrient rich water

CompostingHarvested grasses

Compost

Biogas

Recycled organics & foodwaste

CHP

Water Reclaim

System

Sludge

Rainwater

INFRASTRUCTURE

Water Cycle

The community sewage treatment system will use principles of bioremediation that rely on living systems to purify waste water.

by Torben Gade

INFRASTRUCTURE

Waste Water Remediation

Electric rapid-transit system for local needs No cars or trucks in the interior of the community Non-fossil fueled rental vehicles available to reduce the

need for individual car ownership.

Skyweb Express

INFRASTRUCTURE

Transportation

INFRASTRUCTURE

The compactness of the EcoVillage encourages walking, bicycling or even

your personal horse-drawn SUV!

Taos Pueblo

YemenMorocco

EDUCATION

Earth-built BuildingsIn the Americas for over 800 yearsIn Europe for over 500 yearsIn the Middle East and North Africa for over 3000 years

Rammed earth, adobe, light-clay, strawbale, earthen & lime plasters, lime mortar, bamboo, wood and stone

Natural Materials BUILDING

Where possible, highly refined materials are limited to those with very long lifetimes, such as ceramic tile, copper, Corten, cast iron and bronze.

High embodied-energy materials are sparingly used, as in efficient ferrocement thin shell and tensile structures.

Materials & Methods of Construction

by Frei Otto by Felix Candela

BUILDING

Art in the Eco-Village

Public art will enliven the EcoVillage’s buildings - sculpture, stained glass, mosaics, street theater and other artistic expressions.

BUILDING

Water, sewage purification and food production are inter-related and are addressed as a synergistic whole.Food is locally grown to provide the caloric and nutritional requirements for residents.

COMMERCIAL BASE

Local Food Production

For every 85 people, a half-acre climate controlled green house will produce four vegetable crops per year.

Protein production will focus primarily on agro-forestry, which studies have shown to be more efficient than an equal area of annual grains.

COMMERCIAL BASE

A food processing center will serve community needs for drying, canning, pickling and preserving.

Harmful insects will be controlled through integrated pest management. No pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers will be used.

COMMERCIAL BASE

In addition to earthen materials, building components will be manufactured on-site in small factories and workshops to promote economic independence.

Community Manufacturing

Ferro-cement roofing Doors & windows Cabinets & furniture Solar heaters Ceramics Machine shop Foundry Sheet-metal shop Welding

COMMERCIAL BASE

• A community credit union will offer no-interest home loans.

• Community health, home and auto insurance will be negotiated for bulk rates.

• A community clinic will provide inexpensive health care for residents.

• Education will encompass kindergarten to post-graduate studies.

Money, Health and EducationHOME PURCHASE

Eco-Village Diversity

The community will promote diversity of language, religion, culture, economic and social strata, and ethnicity.

HOME PURCHASE

Contribution to Natural EcologyAll Eco-Village functions are designed to emulate the cyclic processes of natural ecosystems.

We will use principles of restoration ecology to increase biodiversity and preserve endangered species habitat.

SSUMMARYUMMARY

Global WarmingSustainable community paradigms are needed to meet the challenges of global climate change, pollution and diminishing fossil fuels.

SSUMMARYUMMARY

A population of 500 with bio-remediation of waste water that demonstrates the cyclic flow of the sun’s energy through living systems to convert sewage and organic waste to fertilizer, and then to food.

Prototypical NeighborhoodSSUMMARYUMMARY

by Phil Hawes

Model of EcoVillage PrototypeMariposa is a full service EcoVillage for 5,000 residents on 630 acres.Truly ecologically and economically sustainable EcoVillages are a critical step on the path to bring life back into balance and build a sustainable world.Mariposa will be one of the first of the modern prototypes.

SSUMMARYUMMARY