Natural Principals in Urban Planning

RECODE DNA FOR 21ST CENTURY DWELLING

NATURAL PRINCIPLES IN

URBAN PLANNING

CLEAR VILLAGE MICRO-LAB @ BIONEERS FINDHORN FINDHORN SCOTLAND, 31 OCTOBER 2010 SHOULDN’T PLANNING BECOME MORE NATURAL AGAIN?

URBAN PLANNING INSPIRED BY NATURE -a clear village micro-lab Which principles from nature can we adapt to shape our place’s future? Aiming at a broad view on social, ecological and biomimic innovators at the Bioneers gathering and first European conference in Findhorn, the organisers invited CLEAR Village to their conference “Revolution from the Heart of Nature” in order to present and discuss our scope on the future of urban planning.

©CLEAR VILLAGE 2010

THE CONTEXT Bioneers - is a Northern American annual conference, a gathering of scientific and social innovators who have demonstrated visionary and practical models for restoring the Earth and communities. The Bioneers movement unites all those committed to finding practical solutions that can be employed now, empowering us to live on the Earth in ways that honour the web of life.

Findhorn - is a spiritual community, eco village and international centre for holistic education in Scotland UK, helping to unfold a new human consciousness and create a positive and sustainable future. The Findhorn Foundation and Findhorn College hosted the Bioneers movement from North America in their first major European conference.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Karsten Stampa, head of research and organisational development of CLEAR Village presented again amongst outstanding speakers, bioneers and social innovators: + Peter Harper - Centre for Alternative Technology CAT: Zero Carbon Britain 2030 + Galen Fulford - Biomatrix Water Technology: Ecosystem Infrastructure + Nina Simons & Kenny Ausubel - Bioneers Founder: 21 years of Bioneers + Ann Pettifor - Advocacy International: The New Green Deal + Rob Hopkins - Transition Network: The Transition Movement + May East - GAIA education: Cultural Change activism and working with the UN + Kosha Joubert - Global Ecovillages Network: Transition to Resilience There were two emphases in our microlab. A discussion of Clear Village’s research approach on well-being of communities and people was followed by a group work and lively debate about adapting principles that can be found in nature and intentional communities in urban planning processes creating a more participatory way in planning.

To name three out of many examples, the audience came up with following suggestions: • strengthen the role and revitalise intergenerational learning • implementation of ‘no-waste but all is recycable’ systems • public space as multi-functional & green place for e.g. growing food and gathering.

MORE INFORMATION

+ see Findhorn Foundation website: www.findhorn.org + see Bioneers website: www.bioneers.org + see images of the event at www.findhorn.org/2010/11/bioneers- gathering-at-findhorn-images/