[sudo-discuss] communal living / Good Earth Hamlet // eco village in india

[Romy Ilano]

http://www.goodearthhomes.net/Hamlet.html

back to the topic of communal living spaces / alternative archiectures... i
stumbled on this webiste today. good earth homes makes ecovillages and
beautiful experimental apartment complexes in India.

check out how the building is made! everyone's windows face inward... it's
quite beautiful. it reminds me of the pretty hof buildings in Berlin with
huge courtyards.

what do you think of this? It's also a nod to a more communal lifestyle...


Yes, I know these things are for the more well-heeled, but it's a start
right? As a tech worker I know I'm more privileged than most people in the
SF Bay area.

Hamlet
Cochin

Good Earth’s first venture into community housing was 'Good Earth Hamlet'.

An attempt at community housing which bridged the existing gap between
independent houses and the urban stereotype block of flats. The emphasis
has been on community spaces to encourage interaction while at the same
time providing for individual privacy. The half-acre plot is on the banks
of the Kaniampuzha river located in Chalikkavattom, a quiet suburb of
Cochin. The central courtyard creates an intimate space, free from vehicles
and safe for children to play. The circular form is most economical, both
in terms of space and structure. Seventeen units, using an FSI of one, and
a height of ground and two upper stories are appropriate, considering
structural economics, as well as the blending in with the surroundings. The
setback areas serve as private backyards for the ground floor units, and
the first floor duplex units have terraces at each level.

As one enters the hamlet through wooden gates, a paved pathway leads to the
green, undulating courtyard beyond which one catches a glimpse of the
waterfront through the stilted semi-open area. The stilted areas on the
ground floor act as wind tunnels and enhance the air circulation in the
courtyard. The structure is recessed in parts at the first and second floor
level to form terraces overlooking the courtyard. These terraces break down
the mass of the structure and together with the sloping roofs make an
interesting form. Walking around the courtyard, past the collage of
corbelled seats and bay windows, one is drawn to the waterfront, where a
club and crèche lie on either side of the semi-open space used for
interaction.

Each individual unit has been designed to have an identity, in terms of its
planning and location in the community. *Every*home has adequate natural
light and cross ventilation. The interior spaces flow into each other,
having walls only where required. The bedrooms are oriented towards the
outside, while the living areas overlook the courtyard. In keeping with our
principles of cost-effective construction, the structures minimize the use
of Reinforced concrete and steel. The 9" brick walls had the outer face
exposed and flush pointed, and the inside plastered. Arches are used to
span large openings and windows, while doors are spanned with pre-cast thin
lintels. Economical timber sections of jack-wood and *anjali* are used for
the doors and windows.

Filler slabs, using rejected Mangalore tiles, make up the roof and the
floors, thus making the slab lighter and also reducing structural steel.
Besides being economical, the filler slab also keeps the inside cooler and
is ideal for hot and humid climates. The interiors are kept simple with
terra cotta flooring and lime washed walls, with an occasional arch or a
bay window to add character to the space. The sewage system uses a series
of septic tanks for the solid waste, while the grey water is separately
treated. The rainwater from the roofs is allowed to percolate through the
courtyard, thus recharging the ground water. Organic waste is collected for
composting; to achieve a sustainable recycling system. Thus the design
works efficiently, using minimum circulation space and a maximum of the
site to create a built environment, which enhances the lives of its
inhabitants. A result of enthusiastic teamwork between the architects,
engineers, masons and other skilled workers, the project was completed
within the estimated cost, in a period of 16 months. The hamlet today, with
perhaps a flower patterned curtain on a window, clothes hanging on a
terrace, people conversing across terraces and a tricycle left in a
courtyard, feels warm and secure, giving room for individual expressions
while embracing them into the community.
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