Introduction – Community & Culture
“In many situations the local community
is integral to the ecotourism products. The benefits of ecotourism
should be distributed to the local community.” (Ecotourism
Australia EcoCertification)
As Janis Birkeland summarises in Design for Sustainability, the
built environment has traditionally derived from the design ‘of,
for and by’ the industrial order, rather than ‘of, for
and by’ its inhabitants. This has resulted in sub-optimal
design: developments that do not capture the benefits arising from
considering the cultural behaviours and general needs of the surrounding
community. Today’s modern eco-development place greater emphasis
on providing facilities that cater for the needs and cultural behaviours
of the community while enriching lifestyles: they generate economic
growth in the area through tourism, sourcing local employment, business
transactions with local industry (e.g. demand for products such
as food, locally-sourced materials; and services such as repairs
and maintenance); they provide social opportunities for the community
to interact; they educate the community on issues related to sustainability
and eco-design; and are generally involved in activities involved
in the local community beyond what is required to run the business.
Case study – An example of what is possible
An outstanding example of community – and culturally –
sensitive urban development is the BedZED project. Located in London
Borough of Sutton, The Beddington Zero-Energy Development (BedZED)
is a compact mixed-use urban development comprising of 82 units
and over 2500m2 of space for commercial and community facilities.
The housing is a combination of one and two bedroom flats, maisonettes
and town houses, and the workspaces are located such that commuting
and car use is reduced or at best eliminated. Rental income from
workspaces offsets the building costs associated with super-efficient
design. Apart from producing no net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
from energy use, BedZED meets range of targets:
- Environmental – low-energy and renewable fuel, including
biomass combined heat and power (CHP) and photovoltaics (PVs),
water saving, reclaimed materials, Green Travel Plan, biodiversity
measures, and private gardens for most units.
- Social – mixed tenure, two-thirds affordable or social
housing, lower fuel costs, healthy living centre, community facilities,
sports pitch and ‘village square’, crèche,
café.
- Economic – locally sourced materials, workspace for local
employment and enterprise, locally available renewable energy
sources.
References: Case study summarised
from Building Research Establishments BedZED Case Study, available
on the bioregional website, http://www.bioregional.com/publications.htm#housing
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