THE FAMILY HOME

What is in a Ecovillage Home?

In the Ecovillage we are planning to build in Ilkusemet, Kajiado, the family home can have up to 4 small additional structures  (staff houses, storage/granary,cabin/den, etc.). Homes are built on upto two acres, and can be divided into four parts.

Like anywhere in the world, your home is your castle. At the Ecovillage, we require that it be an eco-house. What does that look like? You tell us. We have ideas but every owner can bring in their design and have it approved by all.

On of the important aspects we want to see:

• Must use sustainable building techniques, e.g.: earth bags, adobe, earth-ship, cob, etc..
• Must meet the building code set by local government and a part from concrete foundation, contain no more than 10% cement in the external building and zero cement in the internal finish
• Must be as passive energy as possible, by harvesting water, recycling grey water, having solar panels to meet energy needs, optional use of biogas and waste is directed to composting.
• Kitchen gardens must be organic, with no use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers.

At the ecovillage, we want you to think outside of the box. We want you to see your home as a showcase. An example of what is possible. Rather than following the designs we see in Nairobi that do not work with the land, we encourage each member to build something that uses nature as it's guide.

Use sun light to brighten your spaces. Use the wind to cool your homes. Use natural material to keep you warm at night and in the cold seasons.

It is not necessary to bring in all your materials from outside. We challenge owners to use as much building material that is in their environment.as possible.

After all, at the Ecovillage, we are striving to be part of the solution, not the problem.

If you feel the same, join us! We would love more like minded folk in our community!

A HOUSE IS A HOME

What makes a house a sustainable home? A house that uses the materials at hand, a house that shrinks away from materials that have a negative impact on the environment and instead reach for designs that conserve energy and reduces waste and choose materials that are locally available.

A sustainable home looks different for every one. There are so many choices these days. 

Here are just a few.

COB BUILDING:

In Europe, cob building dates hundreds of years ago. In our continent, African have been and still build with mud and straw. These structures are described as monolithic, that is, the material, straw and mud, is worked layers after layers to create a massive form. It is not like laying bricks! But the art is in shaping the material to wall that are as thick as three feet or less.

ADOBE - EARTH BRICKS:

Did you know that about a third of the world's population live in a adobe houses. Similar to cob building, adobe structures are energy efficient and the bricks are extremely durable. Adobe is mostly made from a mix of clay and sand.

RAMMED (COMPACT)  EARTH:

is a method of building where a mix of earth is compacted in layers between forms. Each layer tends to be approximately fifteen centimeters thick. With a small amount of cement in the mix, a wide range of soil types can be used in this method.

BAMBOO HOUSES:

As an alternative to timber, bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative. Sturdy, the hollow tube in the bamboo has been proven to make the bamboo a strong material that is also not favoured by termites - a bonus! Bamboo builders, who seem to be artisans as well, look at their bamboo homes as a natural flow from form and function.

With a little imagination one could design the perfect space for a small or large family. We at Ecovillage Project Kenya plan on creating a home for its residents. We want to feel at home while care for the environment we plan to leave for our children!