Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
Dutch Architect Envisions an ‘Urban Forest’ with Houses That Look Like Trees
Wouldn’t it be awesome to live in a forest and a city at the same time? Would if you could have a house that was surrounded by green but still be close to the downtown conveniences? This dream may actually become a reality thanks to Dutch architect Raimond De Hullu.
De Hullu’s has envisioned a green neighborhood which is set up as an off-grid community entirely powered by renewable energy. It will have onsite water and waste treatment. The buildings themselves would be make out of organic insulation material and recycled wood.
It will essentially be an ‘urban forest’ which would be eco-friendly and self-sufficient.
This community would be set up in four-floor buildings that would come with triple glazing windows and solar panels for electricity. There would be large windows, skylights, and french design balconies. De Hullu calls this design “a treehouse combined with modern luxury.”
OAS1S
The community design projected is called OAS1S and would be a bit more dense than a suburban neighborhood but not as dense as a commercial district. It would have a maximum of 100 building per hectare (2.47 acres).
In addition to houses, there will also be space in this community for offices, hotels, and commercial units.
The architect is aiming for maximum eco-friendliness but also want to make sure the buildings feel like a forest by mimicking the greenery of trees.
“Detached and clustered tree-like houses are mixed with trees within an organic and compact layout. Car parking is kept at the fringes of the communities. By a short and delightful walk through a car-free park, people reach their home,” he said.
These designs could be set up in already established cities creating a beautiful green feeling while reducing the carbon impact of the city. They could also reduce the carbon emissions from cars by making the homes conveniently located within walking distance of a city center.
What is also incredible about De Hullu’s plan is that be is working to eliminate individual land ownership and making his plan affordable to anyone. They would be set up in a land trust based on the work of Henry George.
He was an American political economist that talked about how the concept of land ownership is false. We didn’t create land so we cannot own it. Land is needed to sustain life and therefore, shouldn’t be owned. This is a similar debate in water laws when the government fines people for collecting rainwater because they claim the government owns that water.
Without individual ownership of land, even lower and middle-income families could afford to purchase a home in the Urban forest. This would be a great way for a community to work together and make decisions together.
Check out this video to learn more about the project.
Thanks to: http://www.ewao.com
