Structural Design

Definition

Structural design in regenerative villages involves creating buildings and infrastructure that are durable, healthy, and aligned with natural systems. Imagine software through a village OS that could design a 400-home neighborhood on 60 acres, with 25 actors, where one-third or less consists of smaller village structures, with some larger detached dwellings.

Key Principles

• New principles for new times: The time is now for building upon new principles and designs for collective wealth and well-being
• Team collaboration: Structural design requires bringing core team members together on the land to work on project design collaboratively
• Design principles guide development: Clear design principles help guide all aspects of structural design and development
• Threshold understanding: Understanding thresholds and limits is essential for effective structural design
• Holistic approach: Structural design integrates multiple considerations—materials, geometry, systems, and purpose

Methods and Approaches

Structures for ease: You need structures that make development easy and accessible. Some practitioners have experience as developers, understanding both the technical and social aspects of building communities. Your mission is irrelevant until you find a group to work with.

Regenerative business design: These approaches engage deeply with the regenerative business design process, integrating sustainability into every aspect of development.

Inclusive culture design: The way to create a culture that has inclusive participation for everyone requires innovative design and social-productive design approaches.

Democratic design: You cannot design a village that only allows people who can provide capacity to be part of the democratic process—design must be inclusive of all who want to participate in decision-making.

Full-structure building technology: This is a complete building system. Domes that are molded and precast in factories using highly automated injection molding processes can be the most affordable and sustainable homes on earth.

Design process timeline: Understanding timelines for when you can start exploring how to gather online and begin the village design process is important for planning.

Benefits

• Durability and longevity: Well-designed structures built with materials that last for hundreds of years provide long-term value and reduce replacement costs
• Health and well-being: Structures designed with healthy materials and biophilic design support human health and well-being
• System integration: Structural design that integrates all systems (energy, water, waste) creates comprehensive solutions
• Efficiency: Optimized structural design minimizes material use while maximizing strength and functionality
• Community support: Effective structural design supports community life and enables transformation experiences

Key Insights

Circular design integration: Structural design is about circular city design where it provides all of your resources and uses a resource-based economy rather than a monetary-based economy. This approach integrates structural design with broader resource management systems.

Long-lasting materials: If you can build with materials that last for hundreds of years, using healthy materials and structures including biophilic design, and have all the different systems integrated, you create structures that provide long-term value.

Expert collaboration: Bringing together experts in biomimicry, ontological design, and sacred geometry reveals forgotten wisdom and knowledge from ancient traditions that can inform modern structural design when implemented with appropriate resources.

Specific material selection: Structure, form, and materials are all very specifically selected to achieve design goals, requiring careful consideration of material properties, geometry, and integration.

Legal structure importance: It's really important to connect with the right lawyer who's done these types of projects before, so they can help with entity structure and formation. There are many different creative ways of structuring projects legally.

Integrated systems: Structural design should integrate all systems (energy, water, waste) so that structures provide comprehensive solutions rather than isolated components.

Design process: Understanding when you can start exploring how to gather online and begin the village design process is important for planning structural design timelines.

Examples and Case Studies

Comprehensive design projects: Projects that integrate all knowledge, projects, and structures demonstrate how structural design can create comprehensive solutions that support community goals.

Multi-stakeholder design: Projects that design for multiple stakeholders (first buyers, renters, users) show how structural design must consider different needs and use cases.

Designer collaboration: Working with designers who specialize in regenerative projects demonstrates how professional design expertise enhances structural design outcomes.

Sample unit development: Creating sample units that are fully furnished and designed allows people to experience the vision, demonstrating how structural design supports community building and engagement.

Best Practices

• Build on new principles: The time is now for building upon new principles and designs for collective wealth and well-being
• Plan comprehensively: Have a plan for the concept, the design, and the price point that corresponds to both first buyers and people who will be using and renting
• Work with experienced designers: Engage designers who have experience with regenerative projects and understand the unique requirements
• Create sample units: Develop sample units that are fully furnished and designed so people can experience the vision
• Select materials specifically: Structure, form, and materials should all be very specifically selected to achieve design goals
• Integrate expert knowledge: Bring together experts in biomimicry, ontological design, and sacred geometry to access forgotten wisdom
• Connect legal and design: Work with lawyers experienced in these projects to ensure legal structures support design goals
• Design for multiple stakeholders: Consider needs of buyers, renters, and users in structural design
• Integrate all systems: Design structures that integrate energy, water, waste, and other systems comprehensively

Implementation Guide

To implement structural design in your regenerative village project, consider the following approach:

Phase 1: Vision and Planning (Months 1-3)

• Bring core team members together on the land to work on project design
• Develop design principles that guide structural design
• Create concept and design plan
• Engage experienced designers and experts (biomimicry, ontological design, sacred geometry)
• Work with lawyers to ensure legal structures support design goals

Phase 2: Design Development (Months 3-6)

• Develop detailed structural designs
• Select materials specifically for durability, health, and integration
• Design structures that integrate all systems (energy, water, waste)
• Plan for multiple stakeholders (buyers, renters, users)
• Create sample units to demonstrate vision

Phase 3: Construction Planning (Months 6-9)

• Finalize structural designs and material selections
• Plan construction process and timeline
• Coordinate with other systems (energy, water, waste)
• Prepare for construction phase
• Engage construction professionals

Phase 4: Construction and Refinement (Months 9-24)

• Begin construction with focus on quality and integration
• Monitor construction for alignment with design principles
• Refine designs based on construction learnings
• Complete structures and systems integration
• Prepare for occupancy and use

Phase 5: Optimization (Ongoing)

• Monitor structural performance
• Optimize based on use and outcomes
• Continue refining design approaches
• Share learnings with other projects
• Plan for future structural development

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications, standards, and requirements to be added.

Challenges and Considerations

Construction costs: Some design challenges include construction costs, which can be significant. Material engineering can help solve some issues, but cost management remains important.

Climate regulation: Temperature and humidity regulation problems can be challenging in structural design. Material engineering can address some of these issues, though there are limitations—you cannot build and have everything inside in all cases.

Material limitations: While innovative materials can solve many design challenges, they have limitations that must be understood and worked with.

Integration complexity: Integrating structural design with all systems (energy, water, waste, climate control) can be complex, requiring careful coordination.

Design process coordination: Coordinating structural design with other aspects of development (legal, financial, community) requires careful planning and communication.