feedback from First Dreamlife Group meeting

[char...@homecall.co.uk]

Feedback First Meeting 05.03.08
NEXT MEETING WEDS 2ND APRIL 7.30 ( venue tbc )

Thanks to everyone who came along on weds evening to get the ball
rolling on the Dream life project!
Charley gave an outline of the Groups twin aims :
- to research/produce a model or plan for achieving sustainable
living as part of Transition Town Lewes
- to work towards implementing a sustainably designed housing project
sharing certain facilities
(Details of the project are below)

Since we were joined by a local architect for this meeting we went
over the basic features of a sustainable building and discussed some
of the different sustainable building types such as earth sheltered,
RuralZed kit homes, Segal self-build etc - and their relative costs,
speed of erection and likelihood of getting planning permission.
Our conclusion was that there would be a range of housing styles/
designs to choose from but that a scheme involving a mix of designs or
approaches to building would be harder to get through planning.

Colin gave us some good insights into the experience of communal
living and will be a great source of information when we come to
discussing in more detail the social/legal frameworks involved in this
project.

We also began to discuss possible sites and how to find them which
will be covered in more detail hopefully in the next meeting!
AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: sharing VISIONS for sustainable living and
discussing where and how the project could be realised.



Outline of Project so Far
DLGroup in context of Transition Town Lewes :
∑ research a model for sustainable living / energy descended lifestyle
∑ research feasibility of creating sustainable housing project within/
near existing community
∑ use underlying principles of permaculture design / eco-architecture
and Transition Technology ( i.e. energy descent, consciousness ascent,
community integration)

Proposed Model :
∑ sustainably designed low energy housing / buildings - various types
∑ renewable micro-power generation, heating, recycled waste & water
management
∑ Permaculture / organic garden
∑ location within town or near to public transport and other amenities
∑ owner-occupied and managed
∑ sharing for sustainability ! i.e. to reduce costs, share maintanence
of site and to build 'real' community

Shared Aspects of Project :
∑ those suitable for less than 100 units = water treatment systems +
wind turbine
∑ workspace / storage where appropriate
∑ recreation space
∑ car /bike pool
∑ laundry room or other communal facility where appropriate

NB model different from that of Eco-village or Co-housing but borrows
elements from both in order to provide maximum environmental and
social sustainability

Proposed Site:
∑ local urban or urban fringe.
∑ New build or eco-renovation to existing buildings.

Eco - Architecture
∑ Principles = orientation, passive solar gain + renewable microgen,
water harvesting etc
∑ Building options = new build types various, eco-renovation
∑ Zedfactory kit homes http://www.ruralzed.com

Next Steps ?

∑ finding land or property
∑ planning permission
∑ financing
∑ legal frameworks
∑ frameworks for consensus decision making + social dynamics

[John Baker]

http://wikipedlla.com/feedback_from_first_dreamlife_group_meeting

> Feedback First Meeting 05.03.08
> NEXT MEETING WEDS 2ND APRIL 7.30 ( venue tbc )
> Thanks to everyone who came along on weds evening to get the ball
> rolling on the Dream life project!
> Charley gave an outline of the Groups twin aims :

> - to research/produce a model or plan for achieving  sustainable

> living as part of Transition Town Lewes
> - to work towards implementing a sustainably designed housing project
> sharing certain facilities
> (Details of the project are below)
> Since we were joined by a local architect for this meeting we went
> over the basic features of a sustainable building and discussed some
> of the different sustainable building types such as earth sheltered,

> RuralZed kit homes, Segal self-build etc  - and their relative costs,

> speed of erection and likelihood of getting planning permission.
> Our conclusion was that there would be a range of housing styles/
> designs to choose from but that a scheme involving a mix of designs or
> approaches to building would be harder to get through planning.
> Colin gave us some good insights into the experience of communal
> living and will be a great source of information when we come to
> discussing in more detail the social/legal frameworks involved in this
> project.
> We also began to discuss possible sites and how to find them which
> will be covered in more detail hopefully in the next meeting!
> AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: sharing VISIONS for sustainable living and
> discussing where and how the project could be realised.
> Outline of Project so Far
> DLGroup in context of Transition Town Lewes :
> ∑ research a model for sustainable living / energy descended lifestyle
> ∑ research feasibility of creating sustainable housing project within/
> near existing community
> ∑ use underlying principles of permaculture design / eco-architecture
> and Transition Technology ( i.e. energy descent, consciousness ascent,
> community integration)
> Proposed Model :
> ∑ sustainably designed low energy housing / buildings - various types

> ∑  renewable micro-power generation, heating, recycled waste & water

> management
> ∑ Permaculture / organic garden
> ∑ location within town or near to public transport and other amenities

> ∑ owner-occupied  and managed

> ∑ sharing for sustainability ! i.e. to reduce costs, share maintanence
> of site and to build 'real' community
> Shared Aspects of Project :
> ∑ those suitable for less than 100 units = water treatment systems +
> wind turbine
> ∑ workspace / storage where appropriate
> ∑ recreation space
> ∑ car /bike pool
> ∑ laundry room or other communal facility where appropriate
> NB model different from that of Eco-village or Co-housing but borrows
> elements from both in order to provide maximum environmental and
> social sustainability
> Proposed Site:
> ∑ local urban or urban fringe.
> ∑ New build or eco-renovation to existing buildings.
> Eco - Architecture
> ∑ Principles = orientation, passive solar gain + renewable microgen,
> water harvesting etc
> ∑ Building options = new build types various, eco-renovation

> ∑ Zedfactory kit homes  http://www.ruralzed.com