centrumeiland permaculture design, amsterdam(march 2014)
Centrumeiland is the continuation phase of IJburg-Amsterdam implementation. This new island is built with filling in the inland sea of IJmeer. Now, in the times of Financial and Environmental crisis, the question is, what is the best thing to do on this island? Which direction Amsterdam should go?
Should Amsterdam follow the same pattern of urban development? Should Amsterdam governments sell this land to Building Corporations or private people to build houses, apartments the same way it was done in IJburg? Or, do we need a different approach for urban area development? Considering the Environmental and Economical crisis and the origins of where and how they are created? What direction are we going? Should we think of sustainable solutions? Or we keep on going with central supplied, cement built and dependent houses to create urban areas? Do we have enough money, energy for supporting that system for another 10 years like past 10 years? What do you think?
Does Eco Living Concept fit in Amsterdam Urban Development style?
I believe, the times have changed. There is a new situation we are facing now. We are more aware on our environmental impact on our planet. Our Building sector, Banking sector, Food sector, Education sector, Healthcare sector...all sectors are leading us to one direction. Consumer based, dependent, centrally managed, globalized World. Do we want to live in such a world? Or we want to transform it to a direction that provides peace, happiness, health for everyone? While we have started experiencing Economical and Environmental issues, should we make any change on our lives? The answer is laying in the hearth of this project. We believe, we have to do some changes in our lifestyles personally and as community. We have to act now to adapt and make changes towards more sustainable life styles. That is why we choose a different approach to our buildings, lifestyles, food and energy solutions.
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein
We believe, for our life styles and housing, a whole new and different approach is needed. We need to move away from consumer based and dependent type of housing and lifestyle towards productive and environmentally aware lifestyle. Creating new human establishments cannot be based on the old era of industrial age. Those times are over. We need to accept and adapt to the new situation. The aim should be to create most self sustainable, moderate and community building human habitats. The design shown here is suggesting to built on this idea.
Should Amsterdam follow the same pattern of urban development? Should Amsterdam governments sell this land to Building Corporations or private people to build houses, apartments the same way it was done in IJburg? Or, do we need a different approach for urban area development? Considering the Environmental and Economical crisis and the origins of where and how they are created? What direction are we going? Should we think of sustainable solutions? Or we keep on going with central supplied, cement built and dependent houses to create urban areas? Do we have enough money, energy for supporting that system for another 10 years like past 10 years? What do you think?
Does Eco Living Concept fit in Amsterdam Urban Development style?
I believe, the times have changed. There is a new situation we are facing now. We are more aware on our environmental impact on our planet. Our Building sector, Banking sector, Food sector, Education sector, Healthcare sector...all sectors are leading us to one direction. Consumer based, dependent, centrally managed, globalized World. Do we want to live in such a world? Or we want to transform it to a direction that provides peace, happiness, health for everyone? While we have started experiencing Economical and Environmental issues, should we make any change on our lives? The answer is laying in the hearth of this project. We believe, we have to do some changes in our lifestyles personally and as community. We have to act now to adapt and make changes towards more sustainable life styles. That is why we choose a different approach to our buildings, lifestyles, food and energy solutions.
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein
We believe, for our life styles and housing, a whole new and different approach is needed. We need to move away from consumer based and dependent type of housing and lifestyle towards productive and environmentally aware lifestyle. Creating new human establishments cannot be based on the old era of industrial age. Those times are over. We need to accept and adapt to the new situation. The aim should be to create most self sustainable, moderate and community building human habitats. The design shown here is suggesting to built on this idea.
GENERAL GUIDELINES of CENTRUMEILAND with ECO LIVING:
The design is based on sustainability, productivity, affordability and environmentally low impact life style.
Commitment:
This project is a commitment. The people, who will live on this place is commiting to a life style. A self sustainable life style. Building type, heating, cooling, cooking, energy(electricity), water, sewage treatment(grey and black water) will be self sustainable. As a concept, it is suggesting to the governments:
1. No need of infrastructure work for an urban area, it means, no need of underground sewage, water pipes and maintenance,
2. No need of Water supply, Gas supply, heating system supply and maintenance or costs
2. No need of area regular implementation work or maintenance work or costs
3. No need of any waste(sewage, rain water, plastic, paper, glass, textile, organic) collection and maintenance
I would be very curious to hear the costs savings of above items. It is not only one time costs but continues savings because of maintenance costs.
Environmentally Low Impact:
From the building type to land implementation, this project supports environment. The housing can be Earth-ships style with adjustments to the Netherlands. The aardehuis in Olst is a perfect example. These visionary people have already done it and we can learn from them. With this type of housing, the aim is, first to store the energy rather than using external sources, secondly using minimum energy for maximum outcome. Most of its structure is bio-degradable material from local resources. It is light enough that there is no need to plug in beton pillars to the ground. This is mandatory in most of the NL due to multi floor buildings. Electricity is based on solar and wind energy. Heating system is based on storing the energy as a principle with good isolation with strawbale walls. Recycling and reusing the resources is a mentality change.
We recommend, No cars on the island. We propose smaller roads with only safety width for emergency vehicles. A car park can be established outside of the island for the residences. This "no-car" idea establishes a calm habitat on the island and also very children friendly place.
Productivity:
Productivity comes with a mentality change. In our culture(Worldwide), everyone of us are trained from the birth to death to be a good consumer. This is no longer sustainable; economically and ecologically. Because of our consumer based life styles, we are destroying the natural environments and depleting our natural resources. We have to change this mentality and start producing our own food, create and store our own energy locally, create minimum waste and recycle the rest of our wastes. Consumerism should be transformed to Productive living. The Goal of Permaculture is reversing Consumer Model to Creation Model.
Sustainability:
What is sustainability? If we are talking about sustaining human beings, then we should look at the solutions which are productive rather then consumer. This leads to the debate of Centralization(Control) and Localization(Sustain).
In this Eco Living and Community project, the aim is:
Food: 70% of self sustainability
Water: 100% self-sustainability
Electricity: 100% self-sustainability(Cables for electricity and internet is needed. Electricity will be functioning both ways with the principle of; sell when have it more than needed and buy when needed)
Sewage and Water Recycling: 100% self-sustainability
Heating System: 100% self-sustainability
The idea behind this design is, to provide people a life without a mortgage or paying long term rents, provide a life without electricty bills, water bills, heating or cooling bills. We are suggesting a life, which is productive and meaningful. A life for living and caring.
Commitment:
This project is a commitment. The people, who will live on this place is commiting to a life style. A self sustainable life style. Building type, heating, cooling, cooking, energy(electricity), water, sewage treatment(grey and black water) will be self sustainable. As a concept, it is suggesting to the governments:
1. No need of infrastructure work for an urban area, it means, no need of underground sewage, water pipes and maintenance,
2. No need of Water supply, Gas supply, heating system supply and maintenance or costs
2. No need of area regular implementation work or maintenance work or costs
3. No need of any waste(sewage, rain water, plastic, paper, glass, textile, organic) collection and maintenance
I would be very curious to hear the costs savings of above items. It is not only one time costs but continues savings because of maintenance costs.
Environmentally Low Impact:
From the building type to land implementation, this project supports environment. The housing can be Earth-ships style with adjustments to the Netherlands. The aardehuis in Olst is a perfect example. These visionary people have already done it and we can learn from them. With this type of housing, the aim is, first to store the energy rather than using external sources, secondly using minimum energy for maximum outcome. Most of its structure is bio-degradable material from local resources. It is light enough that there is no need to plug in beton pillars to the ground. This is mandatory in most of the NL due to multi floor buildings. Electricity is based on solar and wind energy. Heating system is based on storing the energy as a principle with good isolation with strawbale walls. Recycling and reusing the resources is a mentality change.
We recommend, No cars on the island. We propose smaller roads with only safety width for emergency vehicles. A car park can be established outside of the island for the residences. This "no-car" idea establishes a calm habitat on the island and also very children friendly place.
Productivity:
Productivity comes with a mentality change. In our culture(Worldwide), everyone of us are trained from the birth to death to be a good consumer. This is no longer sustainable; economically and ecologically. Because of our consumer based life styles, we are destroying the natural environments and depleting our natural resources. We have to change this mentality and start producing our own food, create and store our own energy locally, create minimum waste and recycle the rest of our wastes. Consumerism should be transformed to Productive living. The Goal of Permaculture is reversing Consumer Model to Creation Model.
Sustainability:
What is sustainability? If we are talking about sustaining human beings, then we should look at the solutions which are productive rather then consumer. This leads to the debate of Centralization(Control) and Localization(Sustain).
In this Eco Living and Community project, the aim is:
Food: 70% of self sustainability
Water: 100% self-sustainability
Electricity: 100% self-sustainability(Cables for electricity and internet is needed. Electricity will be functioning both ways with the principle of; sell when have it more than needed and buy when needed)
Sewage and Water Recycling: 100% self-sustainability
Heating System: 100% self-sustainability
The idea behind this design is, to provide people a life without a mortgage or paying long term rents, provide a life without electricty bills, water bills, heating or cooling bills. We are suggesting a life, which is productive and meaningful. A life for living and caring.
Integrating with IJburg and Amsterdam:
This Eco Living project is open to connect and create value for Ijburg as well. Part of Centrumeiland is spared for Community Centers for people who live in IJburg. These centers are also designed to be self_sustainable. The Center buildings are inspired from Cocasa Earthship building(www.cocasa.nl), which was suggested to the Amsterdam governments through Arcam(Architecture Bureau of Amsterdam).
Also, in this concept, there are 3 Recreational Ateliers, which are also suggested to be self-sustainable. These ateliers are for IJburg and Amsterdam artists, creative architects, wood workers, etc. to find space to create their art and valuable work.
Eco Camping is another facility the Eco Living concept includes. Part of the island has been spared for tent camping purposes. There is a facility building, which is also act as education center and organic food selling point. People from IJburg or all around Amsterdam can come and have relaxing time in this camping but also take advantage of being in a self-sustainable village to learn from provided workshops, courses and visiting the homes of those live in the village as a first hand experience.
Horse Care Unit: Including a horse care unit is not by chance in this design. To transform a sand dune to fertile earth, we will need many-many organic compost and build this over the surface of the land. The land transformation comes with it. Horse manure is a gold for this activity. Nutrient rich fertilizer and nitrogen provider for a compost. In this way, we can cooperate with nature, care for horses and use their wastes for our advantage. Win-win scenario I believe.
Public House and Community Center of Eco Village: This building will be self-sustainable and also open to public with its facilities, such as an art movie house, Organic Food Store, Education Rooms and Cafeterias around it. People from Ijburg and all around Amsterdam can enjoy their time with visiting this island with all its activities and at the end of the day can enjoy their healthy food and go to an art movie.
Blijburg: Blijburg finds its place next to recreational ateliers and Ijburg Community Centers on the North corner of the island. As a wind protected area and at the lowest leyer of the island, it will provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere to its visitors.
This Eco Living project is open to connect and create value for Ijburg as well. Part of Centrumeiland is spared for Community Centers for people who live in IJburg. These centers are also designed to be self_sustainable. The Center buildings are inspired from Cocasa Earthship building(www.cocasa.nl), which was suggested to the Amsterdam governments through Arcam(Architecture Bureau of Amsterdam).
Also, in this concept, there are 3 Recreational Ateliers, which are also suggested to be self-sustainable. These ateliers are for IJburg and Amsterdam artists, creative architects, wood workers, etc. to find space to create their art and valuable work.
Eco Camping is another facility the Eco Living concept includes. Part of the island has been spared for tent camping purposes. There is a facility building, which is also act as education center and organic food selling point. People from IJburg or all around Amsterdam can come and have relaxing time in this camping but also take advantage of being in a self-sustainable village to learn from provided workshops, courses and visiting the homes of those live in the village as a first hand experience.
Horse Care Unit: Including a horse care unit is not by chance in this design. To transform a sand dune to fertile earth, we will need many-many organic compost and build this over the surface of the land. The land transformation comes with it. Horse manure is a gold for this activity. Nutrient rich fertilizer and nitrogen provider for a compost. In this way, we can cooperate with nature, care for horses and use their wastes for our advantage. Win-win scenario I believe.
Public House and Community Center of Eco Village: This building will be self-sustainable and also open to public with its facilities, such as an art movie house, Organic Food Store, Education Rooms and Cafeterias around it. People from Ijburg and all around Amsterdam can enjoy their time with visiting this island with all its activities and at the end of the day can enjoy their healthy food and go to an art movie.
Blijburg: Blijburg finds its place next to recreational ateliers and Ijburg Community Centers on the North corner of the island. As a wind protected area and at the lowest leyer of the island, it will provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere to its visitors.
Ecological Design of Centrumeiland:
6 Layers and Windbreaks:
Main challange on this island to be self-sustainable is not being on sand. It is the wind and underground water level. Without blocking the wind, talking about growing plants and trees is unrealistic. Without enough depth for the root growth, it is unlogical to imagine to create orchards and food forests.
Firstly, we need to create levels of depth on the ground for the trees. It can be done with making the ground higher with sand mixed with organic wastes from the governments. This is the main cooperation point with the governments. This mixed 6 layers with 1 mt hight in each level will createthe base for the island. Ground levels and each 1mt level over each other will create on the top level 6mt high hill in oval shape. Every level will be 1mt higher than the lower side. After the levels settled down on the ground, the root growth will be granted for the trees on the island.
These windbreaks are mainly from nut trees but as a design these windbreaks will be multi layered structure with trees.
Main challange on this island to be self-sustainable is not being on sand. It is the wind and underground water level. Without blocking the wind, talking about growing plants and trees is unrealistic. Without enough depth for the root growth, it is unlogical to imagine to create orchards and food forests.
Firstly, we need to create levels of depth on the ground for the trees. It can be done with making the ground higher with sand mixed with organic wastes from the governments. This is the main cooperation point with the governments. This mixed 6 layers with 1 mt hight in each level will createthe base for the island. Ground levels and each 1mt level over each other will create on the top level 6mt high hill in oval shape. Every level will be 1mt higher than the lower side. After the levels settled down on the ground, the root growth will be granted for the trees on the island.
These windbreaks are mainly from nut trees but as a design these windbreaks will be multi layered structure with trees.
Living in a Food Forest Village: The Permaculture Design of Centrum Eiland is actually a Food Forest. The other elements are embedded into this forest. It contains mostly edible trees but also includes wildlife supporting, bee supporting plants and herbs, many nitrogen fixing and mineral accumulating plants. The soil building and natural life establishment will come in time with the inhabitant's life styles. Composting and recycling of organic material will add to the soil. The mentality and the life style is the key to success.
Having fruit trees, nut trees, berries and many beneficial plants will create in time a natural environment and habitat for natural balance.
Having fruit trees, nut trees, berries and many beneficial plants will create in time a natural environment and habitat for natural balance.
STRUCTURE of the DESIGN:
Eco Village: It is where the people live in self-sustainable houses with their life style. It contains 88 houses. Each household is called a Module. Half circle of 8 Modules are called Units. 11 Units make the total Eco Village. This also includes the Village Community Center at L1 as it is in the design.
Eco Village: It is where the people live in self-sustainable houses with their life style. It contains 88 houses. Each household is called a Module. Half circle of 8 Modules are called Units. 11 Units make the total Eco Village. This also includes the Village Community Center at L1 as it is in the design.
THE MODULE:
1. SUNSHINE MODEL
1. SUNSHINE MODEL
The facts about this model is listed on the design. As a shape, it is inspired from the sun and its beams. Each beam has a purpose. The sun itself is the one creating life as a center for all living beings in nature; Water.
The pond's water is supplied from the green house rain water collection. There is fish and water plants in it.
The pond's water is supplied from the green house rain water collection. There is fish and water plants in it.
2. TRADITIONAL MODEL
In this model, horticulture is taken as base. The Permaculture zones are applied. Rain water harvesting, Bees, Chickens and Ducks are embedded. Productivity and land usage is maximized.
THE UNIT:
It represents each 8 houses group as community. The semi-circle shapes on the design, which contains 8 Modules in it.In the middle of the houses there is community center and community lake.
UNIT with SUNSHINE MODEL:
Human Settlement as Community:
The purpose of this project is to establish a self-sustainable living practice. Eco living concept is about helping people to become more environmental responsible, live more self-sufficiently and ethically, and providing people with the information they need to make responsible decisions about how they live their lives. A community of like-minded people, who know the importance of looking after our planet and celebrating the diversity it contains.
Each Module(Eartship) will have their private place at the backside of the house as an outdoor place. This place will have herb beds with a connected pond. A large area behind the Earthships is reserved for vegetable gardens which is surrounded by the fruit trees.
The houses will have their background gardens for food production. Each house will have space for indoor production(Green House) as well. Aquaponics technic can be used for internal food growing, which offers fish products as an additional outcome. Each house will have a large greenhouse with under earth heating system which is connected to the Earthship house(see below). This way the food production will continue also in winter.
Each Unit(semi-circle community) will have a middle area for meeting. In this area there will be a natural and large outdoor pond, which will be used for swimming for the children. A part of the Earthips rainwater will be linked to this large pond and water purification plants will be surrounding this pond. A playground and small sandy beach will be created in front of the pond. This big ponds are also permanent establishments for the wildlife growth.
There will be a Unit(community) gathering place in the middle of the Unit for meetings and celebrities, having some meals together and festivities.
The purpose of this project is to establish a self-sustainable living practice. Eco living concept is about helping people to become more environmental responsible, live more self-sufficiently and ethically, and providing people with the information they need to make responsible decisions about how they live their lives. A community of like-minded people, who know the importance of looking after our planet and celebrating the diversity it contains.
Each Module(Eartship) will have their private place at the backside of the house as an outdoor place. This place will have herb beds with a connected pond. A large area behind the Earthships is reserved for vegetable gardens which is surrounded by the fruit trees.
The houses will have their background gardens for food production. Each house will have space for indoor production(Green House) as well. Aquaponics technic can be used for internal food growing, which offers fish products as an additional outcome. Each house will have a large greenhouse with under earth heating system which is connected to the Earthship house(see below). This way the food production will continue also in winter.
Each Unit(semi-circle community) will have a middle area for meeting. In this area there will be a natural and large outdoor pond, which will be used for swimming for the children. A part of the Earthips rainwater will be linked to this large pond and water purification plants will be surrounding this pond. A playground and small sandy beach will be created in front of the pond. This big ponds are also permanent establishments for the wildlife growth.
There will be a Unit(community) gathering place in the middle of the Unit for meetings and celebrities, having some meals together and festivities.
HOUSING STYLE: EARTHSHIP CENTRUMEILAND
Centrumeiland is a chance to change our direction. It can be the beginning of our new way of living. A productive living style with people who are aware of natural balance and proactively practise this awareness in their lives.
As a building type, Earthships are taken as model. There are some adjustments to the structure and the functionality of the buildings. You can find more details on Earthships here: http://earthship.com/
There is another Earthships Village in the Netherlands. You can find the details here: http://www.aardehuis.nl/en/
If we are really talking about sustainability, here is the solution. It has been built, tested and found successful in more difficult climates than the Netherlands. It is affordable, sustainable, energy efficient. Also very beautiful.
The idea is to create connection between the people, create community, security, hope for the people. Trust between each other. I'm suggesting to build a village of a new spirit, a community but also I would like to provide each household their own privacy and space.
The bottom line: We see a future island which can be a model for the world. Centrumeiland can be the base community for the next generation communities, who demonstrate their lifestyle how it should be done. They can be the teachers for many other communities. This Eco Living design represents the new way of thinking. It is an evolved way of living. It is suggesting to live in balance with nature with health, with sanity, with peace.
There is an extention to Centrumeiland Eco Living design. The idea is to create a sister island to Centrumeiland but instead of creating a sand dune, we create an island floating on water over the inland sea of IJmeer. It is also self sustainable community, connected and supported by Centrumeiland but living on the water. It is a design of an Eco Living Project on water. Please see the details on Octagon Village Eco Living Project.
ARCAM Info: http://www.stadinzicht.arcam.nl/eco-park/
For Support and Participation: If you are interested to join the group and make this dream possible, please join our Facebook group, the link is below:
There is an extention to Centrumeiland Eco Living design. The idea is to create a sister island to Centrumeiland but instead of creating a sand dune, we create an island floating on water over the inland sea of IJmeer. It is also self sustainable community, connected and supported by Centrumeiland but living on the water. It is a design of an Eco Living Project on water. Please see the details on Octagon Village Eco Living Project.
ARCAM Info: http://www.stadinzicht.arcam.nl/eco-park/
For Support and Participation: If you are interested to join the group and make this dream possible, please join our Facebook group, the link is below: