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ECO-VILLAGE, AMODEL OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

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DOI: 10.4314/jfas.v8i3s.312

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 Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences
Research Article
ISSN 1112-9867 Special Issue

Available online at http://www.jfas.info

ECO-VILLAGE, AMODEL OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

Y. Gorji Mahlabani1*, F. Shahsavari2 and Z. Motevali Alamouti2

1
Associate Professor of Architecture, Imam Khomeini International University
2
Master of Architecture, Imam Khomeini International University

Published online: 15 May 2016

ABSTRACT
Ecology is one of the important issues in creating sustainable residential areas like eco-cities and
eco-villages. Today, development of cities and villages has created many environment damages
and presenting some solutions to minimize these damages is useful. We should find a new model
of residential area to fulfill with the new community requirements and create sustainable
development in urban and village residential areas. The present study introduces and evaluates
eco-village and how eco-villages have considered the concept of sustainability. Also, this study
evaluates how sustainability goals based on the main solutions of sustainable architecture can
focus on three important criteria of ecology, society and culture. The study method is based on
document and analytic descriptive study. Finally, some solutions are introduced to create eco-
villages based on the criteria in sustainable architecture.
Keywords: Eco-village, Ecology, Sustainable architecture, Sustainable development.

Author Correspondence, e-mail: gorji@arc.ikiu.ac.ir

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jfas.v8i3s.312

Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0
International License. Libraries Resource Directory. We are listed under Research Associations category.
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1836

1. INTRODUCTION
The main idea of present study is that the present villages and cities cannot provide good
residential areas for a high quality life. Therefore, we should find a new model of residential area
to fulfill with the new community requirements and create sustainable development in urban and
village residential areas. Urbanization and village dwelling have been two dominant forms of
residency for a long time. These human habitats are evolved gradually and are adapted well with
life style, social and environmental limitations of societies as the model of habitant and housing
style is a part of culture of society. In recent years, as society and culture are changed, residency
style and living model are changed and one of the most important changes is the lack of full
consistency between life style and habitat. The analysis of urban and rural residency shows that
in transition from traditional society to a modern society, residency model cannot adapt with new
life style and social and economic requirements. Thus, this leads to unduly migration of villagers
to city and urban problems are increased [1].
We should present solutions to problems of urban and rural communities. In other words,
regarding suitable model of residential area to achieve good criteria of high quality life, we
should go beyond the common attitudes regarding rural and urban planning and challenge the
common methods for localization, knowledge of planning and views.
In villages, the services and facilities are reduced and behavior of villages is affected by city
dwellers. Berje and Roye (1977) states the end of dualism between city and village. Shapoyi
(1988) believes that villagers are not under developed compared to the city dwellers (Cited in
Sharie, 1994). In Iran, service providing is developed in villages [2].
The following hypotheses are formulated as:
 Present models of rural residency cannot fulfill the requirements of current and the past
community.
 The present models of rural residence cannot guarantee sustainable development of
society.
As the dominant form of residency in our country is city and village dwelling, by changes in
culture of society, living styles are also changed. Also, there is an inconsistency between life
style and human habitats. This issue presents the necessity of reviewing for adaptation with the
requirements of society and creating sustainable development. Today, beside theoretical views,
there are important practical aspects regarding environment and society.
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1837

These aspects are associated with quantitative and qualitative increase of environment in which
human community is encountered from local to global level. Global warming and climatic
changes, deforesting, desert generation, pollution, destruction of biodiversity and various
opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering and biological
technology are all familiar terms in routine life. These items show environmental crisis. For the
first time, human being has the capability to change the environmental fundamentally via science
and technology. Also, he can destroy life via chemical, microbial and atomic bombs. The present
human being is the first generation who thinks that environmental change can make the life of
future generations hard. Thus, the analysis or the role of environment in society theory is
considered both theoretically and practically. If people think the majority of environmental
issues arise from social activity or behavior of human being, the analysis of environmental social
theory is of great importance [3]. If we try to create conditions for a sustainable civilization on
earth, cities, townships and villages should be promoted to increase efficiency of resources and
energy, reliance on responding the needs, less pollution and increased sustainability [3].
Over the recent century and with growth of industry and technology in the world, deprivation of
rural areas is increased. As villagers have low income compared to those of city dwellers,
villagers are more vulnerable and this leads to their migration to the cities. This is due to
geographical dispersion of villages, lack of economics to present social and professional services
and lack of specialized agriculture (low productivity), limitation of land resources and lack of
correct management of authorities [4]. Eco-village has adequate potentials to present proposed
models as small examples of public participation and eco-villages can be new situation to detect
new solutions [5].
Today, eco-villages are small committees with a stable and unified cultural structure by common
ecological, social and spiritual views. These committees can be city or village or with high or
low technology or be dependent upon environmental conditions. A common element is their
deep responding of nature and human as an integrated part of natural cycle. Eco-villages show
social dimensions, natural and economic environment of stability in an integrated trend with
human participations as a continuous part of a balanced ecology [6].

2. THEORETICAL BASICS
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1838

With the progress of human community, the problems of people are much complex. Today, in
the issues of development and in biological paradigms of habitats and sustainable development
on environmental dimension and its ecological dimension and social and economic dimensions
are considered [1].Based on new social ecological approach, scholars of society sciences attempt
to perceive the effect of natural ecosystems and human being on each other. This approach
attempts to explain environmental issues by social methodology and these issues are involved in
human destiny and condition of human community and study them as social issues. In addition,
ecological social approach is important as ecologists don’t describe people as disturbing factors
of nature and social science scholars are prevented to view that human being is based on culture
and is separated from ecological processes [7].Ecological social attitudes follow this view that
human being happiness in job, food, health, energy and wealth are dependent upon environment
but this relationship is bidirectional. To fulfill our needs, we are dependent upon earth and it
seems that human life is dependent upon earth life. Thus, we should use and renovate
environment at the capacity of natural ecosystem toleration to fulfill human welfare [8].The
analysis of rural residential areas shows that with the extensive plans regarding improvement of
service and welfare indices in village and reduction of gap between cities and villages in terms of
welfare, social and economic indices, the population growth of villages is negative and they
cannot maintain the common life style in villages. In other words, rural residential areas cannot
present a good model of residential areas for present generation and cannot be used as a high
quality model of residential area for future.Our definition of a good residential area is the one in
which the residents have selected life voluntarily and are satisfied with it.

3. TERMINOLOGY OF ECO-VILLAGE
To investigate the term eco-village as the combination of ecology and village, it is required to
investigate the root of each of these terms. The Word 'ecology' derives from the Greek oikos,
meaning 'household' or 'place to live and logos means study and knowledge. Literally, ecology
means the living place of creatures but refers to the “effect of environment on live creatures, the
effect of live creature on environment and mutual relationship between live creatures. The term
ecology was coined by the German zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1869)[9].
In Iran, village is a social unit in which some villagers gather in economic, social, cultural and
political fields. Village is the basis of social life in Iran and its importance as a unit in rural life is
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1839

established in medieval age to the present. Village is a domain of geographical space in which a
small social unit with some families with common affect gather in it and they perform most of
the activities to fulfill their needs via using land in their residential area and this social unit in
which people are mostly active in agriculture is called village [9].By combining these two terms,
literally eco-village is effective living place of natural environment on environment in which a
group of people gather for collaboration in economic, social and political fields.

4. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ECO-VILLAGES

The role of villages for making a living is of great importance. The economy of the countries in
the third world including our country is mostly reliant on agriculture production and agriculture
activities are performed in villages. On one hand, to improve traditional methods of agriculture
products and optimal use of land and production and distribution resources of agriculture
products and poverty eradication and for social and cultural renovation of villages, the rural
development importance is manifested.
Thus, future problems of third world countries including unemployment, poverty, low income,
hunger should be resolved in villages. Almost, 32% of population of country live in villages [10].
Population change is a one-way flow from village’s to cities.
In eco-village, ecosystem refers to a system created by interaction between the internal
components of a village or between the elements of a village and surrounding environment and
eco-villages attempt to achieve to following principles:
1- Protection of rural ecosystems
2- Encouraging interaction between rural and urban areas
Macro goals of an eco-village is different form one place to another one. Generally, most eco-
villages are purposeful communities in a field of city or village, they form a group with common
interests and they share the existing benefits. One of the goals of eco-village is providing an
efficient model. In order to live in a sustainable environment, to form the communities of an eco-
village, collaborative approach in planning can be a good tool to achieve the goals [11].
Definition of eco-village
Eco-villages are urban or rural communities of people to combine a supportive social
environment with a life sty le with the lowest effect on environment. Eco-villages are the
communities in which people feel that they are supported with their surrounding and are
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1840

responsible to it. These villages create deep feeling of belonging to a group. They are small
enough in which any person can feel security, power, being seen by others. People can
participate in taking decisions effective on the life of themselves and society [12]. Eco-villages
attempt to develop economic and social security via creating self-reliant and participative
communities and local living. An eco-village is a friendly township with the participation of
people improving natural, social and economic growth to enjoy these resources. The residents of
eco-villages reduce energy per capita as organized and improve natural landscape and protect
green areas, use public transportation and purchase form local stores [11].Eco-villages are
residential areas as formed with considering environmental principles and economic and social
issues. The main purpose of establishment or development of this new type of village is creating
a good example of sustainable development at small rural size. A small development in which
human and environmental values are considered as acceptable.
The history of eco-village
The term eco-village was raised for the first time by Robert Gilman (1991) in a paper “The Eco-
village Challenge”. Gillman defines eco-village as:These villages are combination of a human
habitat as human activities don’t damage natural environment and support human health. Eco-
villages combine social, ecological and spiritual aspects. Although these dimensions can be
emphasized in some areas and in other parts as weak or be eliminated completely. Indeed, eco-
village is a community in which people live together to achieve environmental, economic and
social goals [13].The trend of eco-village was appeared in the past and according to the report of
global organization of eco-village, some of environmental participations are performed in a silent
space without the supervision of any organization. The term eco-village was appeared in 2004
and then later many conferences were formed and some examples were continued in Iceland and
Swiss in the years 1920 and 1930 with the idea of normal life. Different projects were performed
simultaneously during 1970 to 1980 in US, Germany and Denmark and then it was named eco-
village later.
The efforts of Europeans to build small villages based on ecological idea started in eco-villages
of Germany. This issue was formed in Germany with the serious political oppositions regarding
nuclear landfill in Grabon city[6].Then people were inclined to create small ecological
associations to show dissatisfaction of their state and this life style was common among them.
Later, Denmark with its important role in eco-village and applied a group of active citizens of
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1841

Gaia city and surrounding villages for the first time in the late 1980 and applied technologies and
started to establish global eco-villages. Due to its experience in presenting managerial
recommendations and organizing in buildings, Denmark was introduced with participative
methods as the leader of development of eco-villages. The first conference of eco-villages and
sustainable committees were held in 1994 in Scotland and eco-villages were defined based on
five climates in the world. Then, strategy of global eco-villages was finalized in the second
summit in Denmark in 1994 and global network of eco-villages started their activities with a
secretariat in Denmark in Union of Gaia city [14]. For better perception of this issue, some
images of Gaia village in Argentine are shown.

Fig.1. Images of an eco-village and activities for its development [15]

Case study
1. Eco-village in Florida
An eco-village in Florida is the first economical project with net -zero energy. Florida eco-
village will be the first affordable net-zero project in the US.An innovative housing development
is set to get underway in Dunedin, Florida that will see the creation of the first affordable LEED
Certified Net Zero Energy townhome development in the US. The Eco-Village will consist of 25
townhomes, all of which are designed and engineered to maximize energy efficiency.
Developer Planet Green Group aims to make eco-friendly as well as affordable. The aim of the
project is to provide affordable homes for everyone, but especially ‘Hometown Heroes’ such as
police officers, firefighters, nurses, teachers, veterans and other professionals. Each house will be
priced as low as $600 per month, making them ultra-affordable.

Fig.2. An eco-village in Florida[16]

Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1842

The homes themselves have been designed to combine building science and high-performance
products with the ability for homeowners to observe energy consumption. They are designed to
reduce overall household energy use, CO2 emissions, indoor water consumption, and reduce
associated energy costs. One of the features include a solar system that converts sunshine into
electricity and eliminates any electric costs. Others include power-saving appliances, LED
lighting and home energy management systems to allow homeowners to better understand home
energy use and monitor energy consumption[16].

Fig.3. An eco-village in Florida[16]

2. GAIA village in Argentine
Gaia village is an eco-village in Argentine. In this village, rituals are performed. The main
purpose of development of this village is presenting solutions for global crises. This village is not
a place to escape from an earthly heaven and it is a small sample of a live lab to fulfill goals for
sustainable development to share their activities with them. The main principles of this eco-
village are as follows:
 Shared life
 Coordination and balance
 Participation
 Democracy
Gaia village is not a self-reliant one. This village is managed by local community and there is
special focus on reduction of strict rules. Also, restoring security in this village is based on unity
[15]. In 1996, the first project of this village is consistent with environmental development. In
this project, some buildings in village as applied already to establish milk devices and were
deserted since 30 years ago and were renovated. In the next step, a comprehensive design of
energy management is performed on all buildings of this village.One of the measurements in this
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1843

village is tree planting in all areas starting with organic garden plants. Other activities to create
alternative living money is producing new economic resources with establishment of some small
enterprises.In the following Figure, some images of Gaia green village and relevant activities of
environment development are shown.

Fig.4.Gaia village[17]
The principles of an eco-village
The development of eco-villages or rural sustainable development can be classified in seven
topics of sustainable living, sewage management, optimal management of energy resources,
environment improvement, optimal water and agriculture management, improving health and
cultural, social and spiritual development. In each of propose headlines, some solutions are
explained.
1- Sustainable living: One of the problems in Iran villages is lack of consistency of living
with environmental goals. For example, in some villages, non-sustainable use of surface
water and underground resources can destroy natural vegetation. In other areas, unduly
pasture use by livestock has destroyed pastures with high biological value. The concept
of sustainable living is providing welfare without inflicting damage in rural development.
2- Waste management: One of the biggest problems of villages in Iran is great storage of
waste and if organized solutions are not presented, besides epidemic of diseases, severe
soil, water and underground water pollution can be created.
3- Environment improvement: One of the important features of rural textures can be
internal and external nature perspectives, natural bed, semi-open spaces in the passages
and combination of gardens with residential units, coordination in the total texture in
terms of details and using materials, villages and their importance in improving searching
and visual beauty, semi-open spaces and platforms for sitting, water pond in villages,
easy space technology and using stone and mortar as the main elements, combination of
stone and brick materials or brick, dried mud and stone, combination of wooden beams in
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1844

walls of building, combination of garden space with residential units and formation of
house garden units and etc.
4- Optimal management of energy resources: There is another important point and it is
energy consumption growth with three times more than population growth. Based on
these views, we should find new resources. The resources that besides providing required
energy of the world, no damage is imposed on environment. Today, global communities
focus mostly on renewable energy. These energies are less destructive compared to fossil
fuels. One of the renewable energies is solar energy, wind, mass biological energy, tide
energy, geo-thermal energy and water energy.
5- Optimal management of water and agriculture: Based on dry climatic conditions and
development of agriculture sector as food providing member, modern irrigation methods
and efficiency of water in agriculture are manifested. For example, irrigation efficiency in
pressurized irrigation systems is higher than 70% and it indicates reduction of water loss
compared to the 30% efficiency of traditional irrigation methods.
6- Improvement of health: City dwellers view of rural environment is living in a healthy
space as effective on maintaining the health of village dwellers. This view is an ideal for
a rural life but health of residents of village is not suitable.
7- Cultural, social development: Development of concept of an eco-village requires a good
cultural and social capacity in village to make changes to achieve this concept. One of the
required cultural, social issues is the social collaboration and team work among the
villagers and change and progress with modern conditions of the world.

4. CONCLUSION
Most villages are deserted and others are encountered with identity crisis. These problems direct
the rural and urban planners to new solutions to eliminate residential area crisis. The position of
rural life is the requirement of formation of sustainable villages.
Variety of rural roles, creating self-reliant community with sustainable living is the necessary
factor for formation of high quality habitats.
Based on the introduced criteria in eco-villages, energy sustainability is of great importance and
as shown in the history of creating eco-villages regarding creation of a sustainable ecological life
by people shows that creating this small activities can create eco-villages.
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1845

Three main dimensions in eco-villages are as follows and to achieve an eco-village, the
following solutions are presented [18]
1- Ecologic dimension: It explains the relationship between people and their living
environment. Some of the important points here is energy storage, waste recycle with
emphasis on recycle for low effect on environment, using water treatment plants and
using some methods of design to produce food products and establishing ecological
buildings.
 Developing organic food in community of region
 Establishing houses by natural and local materials by local architecture tradition
 Using renewable energy system with local focus
 Evaluation of biological cycle of products and activity
 Protection of water, air and soil health via correct energy management and avoiding
resources and energy waste
 Encouraging bio-diversity and protection of natural non-residential areas
 Recycle of waste and creating a self-refining system
2- Social dimension: This criterion is dedicated to need of people to pass leisure time and
creating protected natural environment form social view. In eco-village, each of people
can participate in decisions.
 Maintaining one’s identity
 Learning how to take correct decisions and resolving disputes
 Dividing common resources and providing mutual support
 Emphasis on preventive healthy methods
 Providing useful work for all members
 Providing a complete life for children, elderly and minority group
 Promoting permanent education
 Encouraging to unity and respecting the differences
 Development of cultural manifestations
 Social capital, identity and social consistency
Eco-village economy is planned as a social and family life is supported with saving in financial
needs.
Y. Gorji Mahlabani et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847 1846

 Self-reliant economy
 Ecologic or green economy
 Entrepreneur
 Local production, regional to global market
 Alternative banks
 Local income production
3- Cultural/spiritual dimension: Eco-villages are inclined to renovate and find new
cultural manifestations via communication of human being and nature and the world.
Culture and spirituality in eco-village are shown as:
 Development of happiness via religious rituals and the festivals following natural cycle.
 Emphasis on creativity and art as the manifestation of unity
 Expressing a spiritual worldview by global relationship
 Respecting the ecological rules
 Respecting the spiritual statements by various methods
 Respecting the manifestation of different cultures
 Facilitation of individual growth and correct spiritual tradition
 Reliance on variety

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How to cite this article:

Gorji Mahlabani Y, Shahsavari F, Alamouti M Z. Eco-village, amodel of sustainable
architecture. J. Fundam. Appl. Sci., 2016, 8(3S), 1835-1847.

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