Living Lightly on Earth: The Urban Eco Village

Abstract

Imaging living a low-impact lifestyle surrounded by nature, food, freshwater and air, wildlife, and a community with a common desire. An eco village is a community with shared land that promotes positive values including ecology, solidarity, quality, tolerance, generosity, diversity, hospitality, respect, and collaboration all while being self-sufficient. These communities are more commonly found in rural and off-grid locations and have numerous benefits that should be shared on a larger scale. Although living off grid is a desirable lifestyle for some, a large amount of the population strive to live in urban settings. With sustainable living becoming a growing desire, a redesign of an urban eco village would not only satisfy multiple needs of the common individual, but will create numerous environmental benefits as well. The vertical densification of sustainable living and nature will combine the benefits of the common Eco Village with the benefits of an urban typology to attract and encourage a sustainable lifestyle and personal growth.