Comments on: How to Build a Village by Claude Lewenz

By: Wendy

Wendy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:33:47 +0000

so good to read this Joanne. Lucky me, I got to live in villages in North Wales and England for 4 years as a child. We had the village green, the village patio and the village hall where lots of community stuff was organised. Love Wendy

By: Bob Tomlinson

Bob Tomlinson — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:03:31 +0000

Have a look at livingvilage.com or search the Wintles on utube. We started with a similar idea in 1993 and, with the help of a large number of people on the way, have manged to create a new neighbourhood which epitomises many of the elements desrcibed by Claude. This has been a great success and we are now working with others to build much larger villages. The test will be if we can keep the original ethos with a much larger development. It’s a big challenge!

By: The Nourisher

The Nourisher — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:58:57 +0000

That would be great. Let’s just say it’s on husband’s list of todos. Will contact you all when we’ve a platform to gather other villagers. I’m for Uki as a place to start but also have hope for regenerating abused land too.

By: Asphyxia

Asphyxia — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:32:31 +0000

Is anyone building such a village in Australia? Have any groups been established that plan to do so? I would join…

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:08:50 +0000

Christopher Alexander (builder, architect) has written several wonderful books on building cities, towns, neighborhoods, and buildings. His lifelong research is perhaps the most comprehensive and serious study of identifying 250 or so patterns that form the seed of all great built environments, whether they’re cities, towns, or any kind of building. Alexander has all but been written out of architecture schools today because, presumably, his theories are in direct opposition to the “me” world of ego-driven, stylistic architecture that focuses on “art” as the ultimate end product, rather than living.

I’ve always wanted to help research, design, and build a modern-day, pedestrian-oriented, carless village like venice or amsterdam with beautiful buildings, public transportation, and all the wonders of fountained public squares, street cafes, cozy homes, rooftop gardens, varied architecture and street widths, an organic street plan, etc. It’s encouraging reading the comments posted that we’re getting close as a society to recognising that we need villages like this again, and that they are within our grasp if we simply decide to do it.

Who’s in? All we need is a roster of 10,000 people interested in living there and we could find a 100 acres someplace to do it. Christopher Alexander, no doubt, would love to help.
-paul

By: mary and alan earle

mary and alan earle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:09:52 +0000

Beloveds blessings and love to all. I am that I am one with all life. I love the word community makes my heart sing and what I realise after 15 years of evolving without home and attachments not because I have judgement against merely because it was my time together with my beloved partner to let go and simply be maryandalan. And it is so heartening now in 2000 and Divine to see beloveds believing they can live their dreams. I have known for many years I will live in an all universe planet with beloveds whom I know are simply an aspect of the Divinity that I am.Homes I see are domes totally empty and we create in the moment whatever we require The vegetation is totally different to the one of our beautiful Mother Earth smaller and full of life and light and have leaf fruit and flower all edible and where children sit and play and dig a hole with their hands in the earth a spring is born. There are no needs everything simply is. There are no rules there simply is a total understanding sometimes without audible words dialogue flows Thank you for sharing your dreams may we all live our dreams NOW in 2000 and Divine PeLoHa (Peace Love and Harmony) in this moment eternal We are ONE

By: Nitin Bala

Nitin Bala — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:03:39 +0000

Thats a great way to live…I am 27 now, Indian by birth living in Dubai and is a resident of Australia…! Still i opt to live in a village rather than these Big petro-dollar cities that make no sense at all. I would suggest those interested to see a near to self sufficent living by driving down to Murwillumbah, Hare Krishnas farm community, close to 20 families have been living there for quite a long time growing their own crops, vegetables, schooling their children also learning how to cut down your desires for more money and comforts in life !
Even in India there are so many villages that are thriving on self-sufficiency and with mutual love and respect for individuals. Hope a day will come, where the world will be a cluster of self sufficient villages rather than one big global village which the government of Dubai is trying hard and is failing !

By: Carolyn Tracy

Carolyn Tracy — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:32:18 +0000

I have been dreaming of such a community for so long and have been lost trying to organize it …..I just finished my resume to get a job with a developer in project management so that I can work my up to solidifying my ideas and making it happen….Now it is right here! I want to start one of these…your right, he makes it sound so simple…my girls are 10 and 12 and I am so afraid they will grow up on computers and tv before I can get them into a village like this! The differentiation from a commune is, I think, the key to making this a successful concept for the mainstream…Whenever I try to explain my idea to someone new, they say ” oh a commune” and check out….

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:23:33 +0000

What a breath of fresh air! Now I am keen to visit such a village. The idea really appeals to my sense of good living. It would fulfil many of my dreams for extended community, sustainable regenerative growth and healthy living. I have always thought that our way of living is so wasteful and can be isolating, disempowering and soul destroying.

I have ordered the book to find out more.

Thank you.