ared to children, and youth.Permaculture Designs
In our design we tried to maximize those elements offering beauty, serenity
and spirituality, at the same time as increasing the ecological diversity of the
land.
We sought to accomplish the vision of a whole eco-village being both a natural sanctuary and a testament for future generations. To this effect, we designed sustainable constructions, autonomous power systems, permanent agriculture, and a synergic community in evolving process, based on the search for human beings’ true role in the planetary system.
We look for a landscape where every detail may offer a space for the unity of
human art and the creative forces of nature. In order to improve the grounds, we
make planting a priority whenever possible. Restorative tasks aim at recreating
native ecosystems, making this an educational activity as well, especially geared to children, and youth.
Aside from the vegetable garden, forest gardens are designed so they can function as spaces for demonstration, education and research on permanent synergic agriculture.
We are designing a sector where the different stages of development of a functioning permaculture system can be seen, step by step as they unfold.
Ponds:
Several ponds have been d
esigned, and we have already finished two. Both have
been excavated, have a plastic lining, and later protected with soil. We are now
introducing plants and fish in order to improve water quality, and increase
ecological diversity.
Water, as an element, becomes a theme for the integration between wildlife and constructed landscape. On the other hand, it enhances the harmony sensed in the place. In addition, these two ponds fulfill the functions of climate modification and cultivation development.
One of the ponds, located in the visitors area, is fed by gray water from the
showers treated by a system of reed beds. Furthermore, an island in the center
as well the edges of the pond are being cultivated, based on an ancient Andean
system for areas prone to flooding called "chinampa".
The second pond is smaller and is located to the North side of a residential house. This way, a useful reflection of the sun on the water can be achieved to warm-up the house in winter. And in the summer, the pond will refresh the house since Northern winds are generally the warmest, and they will pass over the water before reaching the house. In the future, this pond will receive the water treatment from the first communal shower and laundry center in the residents area.
Waste Water Treatment and Dry Toilet Systems
The project uses a series of ecological technologies aimed at treating gray water, resulting in a high quality water at a minimal cost. At the same time, the entire system is aesthetic, improving the characteristics of the landscape by introducing water and its vegetation as well as its curved patterns.
Another aspect of the design is the important educational function it accomplishes for the general public, schools, universities, environmentalists and other technical figures who visit the eco-village.
The gray water treatment system consists of a canal where layers of different natural materials and vegetation purify the water. The system that is being constructed will send the water to a pond already installed in the visitors area.
We have built and will continue to in the future, composting toilet bathroom facilities using California Red-worms, thanks to a system designed by Crystal Water eco-village, Australia.
Basic Objectives of the Design:
• Spaces which facilitate and emphasize community life and the maximum
harmony/relation possible between
residents, students and visitors, at the same
time as maintaining the privacy of residents;
• Efficient use of resources;
• Demonstration of alternative agriculture methods;
• Balance between project and the native characteristics of the site;
• Graceful union of constructions and landscape - practicality and beauty;
• Daily life as an inspiring living demonstration;
• Use of simple and easily applicable technologies for the development of other such eco-villages.
Agriculture and Forestation:
Currently, about 220 edible and medicinal plants are being cultivated, most
of them from organic,
open-pollinated and heirloom seeds. The majority of these
species have not been grown within Argentina. But of course, the finding and
preservation of native plants of America is a first.
A seed bank and exchange system is being developed that facilitates interchange with other permaculture centers and individuals; thus initiating, slowly but surely, a south-American network.
Gardens, Forest gardens are being developed. More than 600 bushes and trees have been planted for wind-breaks. As well, native bushes and trees have been planted to reproduce the native eco-system, in the wild sanctuary area.
The forest supplies all the wood needed for heating and cooking as well as for building.
Infraestructure
Restoration
From the excising old buildings, already 3200m2 has been restored.
At the moment we have the following facilities available:
9 bedrooms
4 Solar showers
4 washing up
1 kitchen and dinning room
1 class room
1 library and office
1 Aromatherapy Laboratory
1 Garden tools shed
1 wood shed
1 Repairing shop
1 big water tank (for 33000 liters) 18mt hight
4 compost toilet
1 septic latrine
1 green house
Some possible uses for the rest of the big buildings (6000m2 aprox.):
Conference hall
Exhibition hall
Visitors center
Classrooms, study area
Wood working shop
Arts & Craft shop
Big community kitchen, bakery, confectionery, and dinning area
Computers room, bigger library
Health and First aid care room
NEW BUILDINGS
Started since the Natural Building workshop, by Joe Kennedy, (February 1999)
Thanks to his design, with the addition of local architectures inputs, plus the Permaculture design aspects that Silvia and Gustavo added.
After a number of discussions, we decided to use the local soil for building.
The garden shed had been backfilled with this soil, and as we wished to excavate
this shed to create a below ground produce storage, we decided to use it as a
source for all our building needs. The pure clay we used for certain techniques
that demanded unadulterated clay. We used this soil, amended with sand and
straw; to make
adobe bricks, as well as "cob," for building monolithic earthen walls.
The pure clay was mixed with straw to make "straw/clay" bricks that
are extremely lightweight. Caw manure produced an excellent plaster when mixed
with local soil.
We have been collecting recycled materials for some time, so we had all the
windows and doors we needed. We ended up using wood from pallets for a number of
purposes and even used some old bottles. Bricks and tiles from some of the
ruined buildings (some up to 100 years old) were reused is our
projects. Other building materials were purchased (sand, bricks, lumber, cement,
and roofing). We also used on site wood from our forest.
The Power House
This house was designed to house the batteries, electronic equipment and
inverter for the
wind generated electricity. It was needed because the existing battery structure
was too far from the windmills, and much electricity was lost in the
direct-current wires.
The building has two rooms, one to house the batteries, and the other for the
inverter, and electronic equipment. Each room is big enough to hold several
people for educational aim, in addition to the equipment. The battery room is
open to the breezes, as the batteries need constant ventilation. The inverter
room
is separated from the batteries to protect the equipment from fumes, and so that
it could be enclosed from the weather to protect the delicate electronic
equipment.
The battery hou
se is bean-shaped with the indented side facing the sun (north).
A round bench was created of earthbags on this indented north side. This bench
will be covered with living turf so to be a living seat,
and will be protected from the sun by a vine-covered trellis. The building is
oriented towards the north so that roof-mounted solar panels can be most
efficiently used in the future.
The foundation is a rubble-trench system using old bricks for the rubble. A
concrete grade beam tops the trench. A layer of bricks was placed on top of the
grade beam to raise the level of the cob walls off the surface of the ground.
The floor is a concrete slab for durability and for protection against water
(the batteries need to be washed with water regularly).
The walls are of cob and are quite thick (40cm). Small wooden blocks were buried
in the cob wall to reduce the amount of cob necessary, and the walls are
slightly tapered to minimize the use of cob. The
separating wall is made of lightweight straw/clay blocks which we had made and
dried weeks earlier. This wall was interlocked with the cob walls as they were
built for greater strength. Recycled windows and doors from demolished
structures in Buenos Aires were used in this structure.
Resident’s House Prototype
This house was designed to be a prototype for a small, energy-efficient natural
building. It was designed with
passive solar principles (thermal mass north
walls; windows towards the north; north veranda; minimal east;
west and south windows, high insulation in the roof and south wall). The design
was reviewed and approved by Julio E. and Anibal F., bioclimatic experts from
Buenos Aires, and Mariana Bidart.
The design is bean-shaped and faces the north, like the power house. It has two
rooms; a bedroom and a main room that contains a fireplace, bench, kitchen area,
and desk. An attached composting toilet is being built. The walls are slightly
thicker (47cm) than those of the power house for better thermal performance. As
this house was built in the end of the building season all efforts were made to
expedite to cob walls going up.
The wood blocks used as infill in the power house were used extensively and old
bottles as well,
to speed up the wall building process.
The thatch roof, (18cm. - great insulation -) has been built by an Uruguayan expert.
Traditional mud plasters was used inside and out, and the inside painted with
a
light-colored clay or lime-based paint. The earthen floor insulated with
straw/clay tiles.
Another resident house is currently under construction, with the same building method.
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