Our idea is to build a 100 homes
eco-village in the vicinity of Vilcabamba, the homes will be made of concrete
and iron, mass produced with fast construction technology, all the labor is to
be provided by the people who are going to live in them. Our job is to help them design the domes,
design the community center and surrounding areas using permaculture techniques,
acquire the land, negotiate loan, negotiate ABC bonus, teach them problem
resolution techniques, teach them how to build it, manage the construction
which will include agriculture/permaculture.
We need at least one person who wants to jump and organize it all, at
this time is only an idea. The only
real fact is that there is $1,800 available to anyone willing to build a home.
The ABC plan Plan ABC (Ministerio de
desarrollo urbano y vivienda) has close to a billion dollars for new
low cost homes, unfortunately few are 
getting build under the plan, in
fact none in our area, take a look at the picture, paint is falling of and no
homes yet. Most people do not
understand it or even know how to apply, never mind actually building their own
home, this is were we can do a tremendous amount of help, by doing one
eco-village and teaching them how to use these funds in a NONE traditional way,
this we can do with the eco-village concept.
We are working on signing a joint-agreement to work together with the local
providential government. We have also been working with the local
universities to design new ecological models, in fact two student graduated
with a thesis on this subject see TESIS –
Planning and Design
Ahoro = Savings; Bono = Bonus; Credito = Credit.
El plan ABC es Ahoro, Bono, Credito. They give $1,800 per home, the idea is:
Ahoro $300, most people do not have this money, on the other hand they can do all the labor; Bono $1800; Credit $500; Total per home: $2,600
Our idea is just on using the $1,800 + $500 credit, total of $2,300
We have
done the preliminary math for building 100 square meter concrete dome homes and
it cost in material approx. $800 + $200 equipment cost to a total of $1000 per
home, this leaves us with $1300 for the land purchase (which we hope someone
will donate), communal building AND agriculture. Our idea is that all this be done in two hectares, leaving 50%
for agriculture, this homes will all be living space, no internal facilities
for water, sewer etc, this will all be communally shared in a few small
building surrounding the community and one large main community center for
coking, washing, child care, entertainment, etc.
The first thing to do is complete a detailed cost analysis, second is get the people involved, cause they are the ones who are going to build it and live in it. After we have the cost analysis complete we can know if additional funds will be needed or not, for example we may be able to convince the vendor of some of the equipment to donate it or sell it for less, same goes for all the materials, transportation fees, consultants, land, etc. Third do a complete project proposal with all the details; this will have to be done in order to get the funds and to convince others to help.
Take a look at http://www.monolithicdome.com/pres/win9899/index.html Keep in mind that the weather here is the same all year round, no need for insulation, heating nor cooling. We have experience building domes see www.uevn.org/Ecuador and we have experience on community, see www.uevn.org With this technology we can build one house per day, completing the 100 home project in less than six month.
The people in this area are desperately in need of new home; we have presented the idea to a few and they love it, it solves many of there immediate needs and problems they have; they are willing to listen to this new idea and work hard at getting it to work for them, all they need is some good guidance. They have seen the ABC advertising and know that it has not done anything for them yet, therefore our proposal is quite welcome. We also have spoken to architects, engineers, attorneys and government official familiar with the ABC plan and they all like and support our idea of doing the concrete domes in a eco-village style.
This presents an unique opportunity to anyone interested in getting experience in many areas such as construction, management, real estate, conflict resolution, permaculture, and much more…
It is up to you to take charge and start doing it!
Email: viviendas @ condorhuana.org
EE.UU. FAX 413-653-3812
Last update: 06/03/00