Habitats with well-earmarked but shared green spaces -- YES or NO for you?

Happened to come across this picture of this residential hub in a Reddit post. The visuals look amazing, in terms of green spaces and co-habitation, if not more.

The bush-hedge-boundaries portray the dwellings as if they were of the shape of pie-of-a-circle, each one having a unique identity of its own.

Each of the units are demarcated by green hedges as boundary walls. The respective spaces within each unit are then tastefully designed so to have a simple living space, besides the landscaped individual lawns, interspersed with private gardening or farming arcades.

Who wouldn't like to live in such green and clean spaces after all.. the community living in close-knit residential plots despite having their own respective carved-out private spaces.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DESIGN GREEN & ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY HABITATS

Developing residential spaces with lush green ambience in various environments can be achieved through a combination of traditional passive design strategies and modern sustainable technologies that prioritize water conservation and green building codes of practice.

Architectural Strategies

Courtyards and Atriums: Incorporating a central, open-to-sky courtyard (or aangan) is a traditional method used to create a cooler microclimate. These spaces allow hot air to rise and escape (stack effect), while the surrounding vegetation and sometimes small water features use evaporative cooling to provide cooler air to adjacent rooms.

Thick, High Thermal Mass Walls: Using materials like adobe, rammed earth, or stone helps absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, which regulates indoor temperatures and reduces reliance on air conditioning.

Strategic Shading and Orientation: Homes are often designed with the longest walls facing north/south to minimize direct sun exposure. Roof overhangs, recessed windows, pergolas, and vertical gardens block harsh solar radiation from walls and windows.

Green Roofs and Living Walls: Vegetated roofs and walls act as an extra layer of insulation, reducing heat gain and cooling the surrounding area through the process of evapotranspiration.

Sustainable Landscaping (Xeriscaping)

Native and Drought-Resistant Plants: Utilizing indigenous species (like saguaro cactus, ocotillo, and agave in the Sonoran Desert) is crucial as they are naturally adapted to the climate and require minimal water.

Water Conservation: Implementing systems for rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling (reusing water from showers/basins for irrigation or WCs) significantly reduces the strain on local water resources.

Microclimates: Strategically placed trees and shrubs can create shaded microclimates around the home, further reducing the ambient temperature. 

Similar Case Studies

Desert House (Alice Springs, Australia): This home, designed by DunnHillam, is built into an existing ridge to take advantage of the earth's thermal mass, and uses a "fly roof" to create an updraft and remove heat.

Ecolodge (Siwa, Egypt): Paris-based architects designed this holiday home using locally sourced mud, sand, and salt from nearby lakes, integrating it within the landscape and demonstrating effective use of local, sustainable materials.

Desert Pearl Residence (Arizona, USA): Features an innovative curved roof design that provides extensive shade. 

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#townplanning #landscapes #GoGreen #GreenBuildings #Sustainability #bricksNmortar

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