Ecovillages

(recycled wine barrel houses at Findhorn Ecovillage, Scotland)

Ecovillages are intended to be socially, economically and ecologically sustainable intentional communities. Some aim for a population of 50-150 individuals because this size is considered to be the maximum social network according to findings from sociology and anthropology. Larger ecovillages of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller subcommunities to create an ecovillage model that allows for social networks within a broader foundation of support.

(more on Wikipedia)

(Living Routes - info on ecovillages)

Model: Social Sustainability

Links:
Green For All
Sustainable South Bronx

Frameworks Presentation

Visitors included the Director of the La Flor Campus, the Head of the Earth University Foundation and the Campus Architect.

Educational institutions are vital labs for creative inquiry, entrepreneurial force and experimentation.

So says, Mariana Amatullo, co-founder and director of Designmatters at Art Center College of Design in a very interesting piece about advocacy design at Core 77. Have a look, if not exactly in line with the work that we are doing, it is quite inspiring.

Sustainability Frameworks

Together the La Flor and Innovation Studios are identifying different mental models for sustainability. Our intention is to use these frameworks to identify different ways of focusing or directing the development of the La Flor campus. While these frameworks are not mutually exclusive, by defining them in opposition to one another we are better able to determine their characteristics and the logical outcomes of their implementation.

Carbon Neutral PPT

Abundance Model