Public spaces

Organic Living

Social

Social inclusion is about the inclusion of people who share similar aspects such as age, ethnicity or thoughts (Bergman, 2018). Thus as these houses are mainly targeting the same mindset people who are caring about the environment and have a high eco-friendly awareness about the nature. So it will increase the social cohesion in these clusters.

Ecological

The cluster houses are highly eco-friendly typologies. as they are connected to solar panels and insulation windows. The houses is built from sustainable materials. The inhabitants are able to grow their own food in their community gardens, connected to water harvesting and water recycling. The setting of the houses are to live by the nature and the green. All these elements are integrated to achieve the sustainability in Okotoks.

Complete

These ecological cluster will give Okotoks a new identity by having these socio-ecological typologies and it will be an example for Okotoks how the combination between the social and the eco-friendly houses can take place and a new destination for a forgettable target group in the town.

Sustainable Houses Eco-friendly and nature Low Density

Organic Living

The eco-friendly clusters house are “the belong to the nature houses”, it is the lowest density in the entire area. These clusters are in sustainable settings, and the main focus groups for these houses are the environmental friendly residents, who wants to enjoy the nature and the sustainable life. There are 75 houses connected to the existing nature of the area. The houses are positioned in a way to be exposed to the natural light and normal ventilation along the day. The houses are built on the same strategy as Helsinge Garden city. The identity of the new neighbourhood is crucial to attract new types of residents and together with the transformation of the landscape, the food hub will provide social and food related activities such as markets and gathering days, which will be the key to create a strong identity and an awareness of the new area.

Renewable Energy

Having solar panel coupled with a good heat pump, they allow heating and cooling the house for free. Depending on the Energy Network Operator, the Energy produced during the day can be exchanged with the network during the day (if they are not use it) and could be get it back during the night when they do not produce it. The amount of energy is generated in one year can even be bigger than the household needs, allowing for profitable trading. (Oleenik, 2020)

Community gardens

Figure 33: Low density houses Another eco-friendly housing design component, community garden help reduce the influx of heat, are a great way to add oxygen producing plants and the perfect way to battle the adverse effects of urban sprawl in residential communities. They also help with storm water management, and are the perfect way to insulate the homes against the hard-beating of the sun.

The aesthetics benefits of community gardens are also quite appealing. Not only do they help mitigate the plantation of much-needed flora, but they also add to the overall beauty of the home. They can also become the perfect personal retreats when you want to hold a summer barbecue or a private party

Harvest and recycle rainwater

Water shortage is a crisis that often gets overlooked especially when the population in Okotoks will increase ,it’s always a looming threat. Droughts and water shortage can stagger the population, so the water conservation systems are added the home by having the toilet bowl to reuse the grey water and rain harvesting systems as this system collects the storm water that would have otherwise run off and it provides a distributed irrigation system to use it. It can be used for flushing toilets, washing cars, or can even be purified for drinking purposes (Oleenik, 2020).

Live with Nature

The neighbourhood promotes social and environmental justice to grow healthy food to fuel healthy communities and engages the community through horticultural training programs while supporting school and neighbourhood gardens. (figure 28)

Promote urban farming

Urban Farm is a community-based urban agriculture project that grows nutritious, culturally appropriate food for residents of its family home and the Okotoks community. Volunteers grow and distribute organic produce to the surrounding community and distribute vegan meals through a food bank. (UA Projects, 2015)

Teaching

The project also teaches locals about healthy eating and offers job training for youth and the homeless in the area. An after-school and summer program provides children from low-income neighbourhoods with a safe place for learning. Kids can garden, visit local farms, and try new foods. It maintains an educational program in the form of monthly workshops and an affordable Good Food Box program. (Meeting of the Minds, February 2020 )

Waste

The program helps complete the “circle of life” in food production by regenerating waste into resources. Through partnerships with community coffee houses and local businesses, the organization is hoping to in still a self-sustaining culture of recycling organic waste and provide a valuable resource to urban farms and gardens. A 100 percent bike-powered compost recycling project. Compost Pedallers strives to reduce waste, strengthen the local food system, and connect the community with farms. Residents can sign up to redirect organic waste to local farms and gardens through the bicycle-powered network