One of our goals in the year of 2008 was, ”to be central to the building process and to steer it”. Therefore we elected ”divided entrepreneurship” before general or total entrepreneurship. As the building proprietors we have been purchaser, administrator, site manager, architect as well as cleaning staff…but with support from differing sides of course. To all those involved, we send a big thanks to them on the right hand column. Thanks!! During the planning and construction period of Ecotopia på Österlen (2006 – 2013) we have been orienteered by Swedish, Austrian and Lithuanian Ecological Building. Our main inspiration and knowledge has been:
- Energy Expo (Energiesparmesse) in Wels, Austria (2006-2011) Read more…
- Sustainable Building and Living Course at the High School of Dalarna (2008-2009)
- Varis Bokalders & Maria Blocks book (The Whole Building Handbook/Earthscan, 2010) Link to bookstore…
- Student project (2008-2009) wich was held in part on the farm, with the Faculty of Architecture from the University of Linz, Austria Read more…
- Permaculture design project on the farm (2009) with international permaculture designer Barbara Brodegger Read more…
- We have been working together with Feng Shui advisor Marianne Winkler from Salzburg, Austria
- We have been working with Energy expert Wolfgang Holzmann from Weibern, Austria (2009-2012) Read more…
- We have taken part in a clay building course in Järbo, Sweden (2010) with Johannes Riesterer
- Took a study tour of Lithuania (2011)
- We have been working together with the clay building association of Lithuania (2011)
- We have been working together with Herbert Gruber, chairman of the association for ecological building and strawbale construction in Austria (2012) Read more…
- We have been working together with Julio Perez of Gaia Architects from Oslo, Norway (2013) Read more…
These short and long term goals that we formulated in 2008 have steered the building process of Ecotopia på Österlen:
- to live energy efficiently to save the natural environment
- to live and build in unison with nature
- to live easily and cheaply, while improving life quality
- to become self sufficient on renewable energy (heating & electricity), water, ecological food, etc.
- to build ecologically and energy efficiently without more costs
- to build an own eco-cycle house from concept to realization
- to build a healthy house
- to ask many questions about heating solution, building materials, etc. for conscious decision making
- to find competent local entrepreneurs & suppliers
- to compare quality and prices between different Swedish and European products and services
- to transmit research results to a building process
- to bring one’s self to a central role of the building process and to steer it