LAURA SELWOOD – WSA On Display 2020

“A 100 percent sustainable, self-build, co-housing scheme“

I am hoping to solve the climate and housing problems on the Isles of Scilly, including the second home ownership issue which leaves many residents struggling to own homes because of the increased house prices. This led me to develop key ‘Zero Waste’ principles. Considering the Scilly problems and the three pillars of holistic sustainability (community, economy and ecology) I am proposing an Ikea- type/ wiki-house instruction booklet to self-build a 100 percent sustainable self-build co-housing scheme. This includes improving on existing sustainability standards.
I want to go beyond the Passivhaus certification and address embodied carbon and wellbeing.
I also want to push the co-housing principles to the max. Reconsidering the common house (a key element of a co-housing scheme) and adding the additional element of a zero waste, resident – run recycling centre, with workshop and shop to initiate a circular economy- waste to resource system on the island.

Illustrations of the 3 key drivers of the scheme: Materials for their lifespan, Holisitc Sustainability approach and A Cyclical House System.

The THREE KEY DRIVERS

1. Materials used for their lifespan
2. Holistic sustainability
3. A cyclical house system

The overall site plan displaying the landscaping of wild and more defined allotments acting as a buffer zone between front door and communal paths.

The SITE PLAN

A contrast between the structured “growth gardens” and “free,wild gardens” shows a buffer between public and private. Each residence and the commonhouse/ recycling centre have their own 2 metre buffer perimeter.