Landscape Architect & Specifier News

AUG 2013

LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.

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The Spokane Hillyard Village Project envisions an experimental community of housing built with recycled materials and off the power grid. The village would grow food in greenhouse gardens and edible forests, and recycle water on site. A three and a half minute video of the project is available at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Ci_VvUS5ePI&feature;=youtu.be Spokane LA Students Help Plan Sustainable Village This spring, Washington State University l a n d s c a p e architecture s t u d e n t s in Spokane, led by Bob Scarfo, associate professor in landscape architecture within the school of Design and Construction, helped plan a self-sustaining community in the Hillyard neighborhood, a Spokane neighborhood just northeast of downtown. Hillyard Village Project (HVP) is inspired by the Earthships concepts of New Mexico architect Mike Reynolds. Earthships is about building environmental and people-friendly homes ("biotecture") from recycled materials, and living off the power grid. HVP began in 2010 after months of discussion between Prof. Scarfo and Hillyard community members about developing green industries in the area. Richard Burris, the executive director of the not-for-profit HVP, is a retired city and land planner. Burris' goal is to collect data on life in a semi off-grid, food producing residential environment, and to assess what households would gain by reducing costs in five areas by at least 10 percent. The five areas are on-site energy production (solar panels and tapping into geothermal resources); alternative housing; gray water retention; local transit with electric carts; and onsite food production. Burns has approval for the venture from the Spokane City Council, city planning, and the health district. He's working to lease a site owned by the school district, but they are not yet "on board," says Prof. Scarfo. Burns estimates the cost of the HVP at about $2 million, and hopes to acquire funds from grants, loans, rents and food production. The first run at developing a design for the "village" and the life support systems involved Washington State University landscape architecture students (sites designs); Eastern Washington University School of Business students (market analysis); and On Track Academy students (investigated prefab structures). Prof. Scafo says the project has contributed to city officials and staff thinking about the future of housing and neighborhood life in different ways, and has given the landscape architecture students experience in design development with community members. "We're going to reach a crossroads, given current energy issues, so it would be nice to know the kind of construction that will reduce certain energy needs and strain on the power grid," added Prof. Scarfo. Information Request # 567 100 Landscape Architect and Specifier News

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