wishing everyone a very happy new year, as well as much fun, messing, creativity, love and laughter in the EASA spirit.

2006 : the year the world embraces eco cities. there has been much architectural work done here in dublin in 2005 to green the city, to attempt to make it an eco city- this is still a major area for architects to think about and work toward, we hope to hear reports from the rest of the planet about whats going on. it looks like china is now creating a string of eco cities. heres a little piece carrying on the conversation that was started on EASA back in November 2002, it includes ideas dreamt and ideas realised, and a few inbetween. your responses are most welcome.

British to help China build eco-cities Sunday November 6, 2005

"British engineers will this week sign a multi-billion contract with the Chinese authorities to design and build a string of 'eco-cities' - self-sustaining urban centres the size of a large western capital - in the booming country. Arup, the London-based consulting firm that has already signed up for one such project near Shanghai, will announce it has clinched a deal to extend the concept into a string of cities around China." from architecture-radio chinese eco city site

further experiments with living.... Biosphere 2, a failure? + in another city in brasil; Curitiba , which due to smart thinking by architect mayor it has turned into probably best example of an eco city

buildings as trees. cities as forests

bucky stuff: bucky dome over manhatton

the Buckminster Fuller Institute’s on-line resource for the leading edge of the Design Science Revolution !

eden project is 'To promote the understanding and responsible management of the vital relationship between plants, people and resources leading to a sustainable future for all'.

classic definition of sustainability: “A sustainable society is one that satisfies its needs without diminishing the prospects of future generations. Today, human society is not only diminishing the future prospects of planet earth - it is doing so at an alarming rate. The earth's life-support systems are deteriorating; we are on an unsustainable course.” Lester R. Brown

Center for Ecoliteracy: The Center for Ecoliteracy is dedicated to education for sustainable living.

quantum physicist, systems theorist, deep ecologist fritjof capra: a paradigm shift is emerging, its essence is spiritual

CONNECTING WITH FRITJOF CAPRA

Michael Sorkin Studio section: Design Revolution Today

Environment is king at UL's new architecture school + New School Of Architecture In Limerick, Ireland

Dublin eco city group was created 1st of june 2005

greening city, connecting communities update: architecural thesis "catalyst @ botanic spine" successfully completed in june. view botanic spine outline on the new eco city website

vision : creating the botanic spine (site still under construcion), an 18km orbital eco corridor/ greenway for dublin city. a green thread that connects up a series of pocket parks, organic food gardens, local amenities, cities waterways and a new city metro underground.

locally produced fruit and veg is a huge part of this project, we started dolphins barn community garden in april which has been a wonderful project to be part of.

belfast greenway

The State We Are In: Planning Our Cities Planning Our Cities is a six-part radio series in which people with an interest in and experience of urban planning talk about the Irish experience of cities at the beginning of the 21st century - how we plan them, build them and live in them. Architects, planners, artists and activists are among those whose views will feature as we explore themes like the creative city, land and its use, Ireland's changing urban demographics, building and design and cities of the future.

The Reflecting City: The Reconstruction of Dublin is a mixed media exhibition, CD-ROM & website focusing on urban transformation in Dublin over the past decade. (lots of videos on the site)

The Loving Architecture Festival was on for the month of October in Ireland, it was a celebration of all aspects of the built environment and the people who shape it. Over sixty events took place nationwide during the event.

• these included walking tours, building visits, exhibitions, conferences, talks, book launches and performances. There was something for everyone who loves architecture, design and the world built around them.

Architecture News for dublin city and ireland

new plans for poolbeg city in dublin - will it be eco? dublin poolbeg pier 2005 / January 9 Dublin Bay new town sparks row €300m to build but will be worth €1.5 billion when complete, is likely to be controversial. Dublin Bay new town sparks row January 09, 2005 link

see nicely presented planning scheme from landscape architects on dublin city council website

first 17 pages : pdf

eco city banjaluka bosnia

past eco city comments: "eco city project – banja luka" could and indeed should become the most exciting global architectural project, an example of a new direction in a new age. if it gathers sufficient momentum, it will happen. its up to us to make that momentum
11. April 2003

is a possible route ECO CITY GROUP exhibition could go, wander around the planet setting up communication systems, art events, educational systems. bringing together people and developing and setting up NETWORKS, and making a bigger ECO CITY GROUP.

could be a whole lot of FUN
6. May 2003

yoke : floating city (image missing due to site down ) YOKE = floating city this is a model of "YOKE" an egg shaped structure, 500 metres long. it is a floating city. ... @ DEC 2000

communication is the key:

1. May 2003

we have started to ask the right questions.

is an further attempt to try to get EASA more invovled with our project.

this years main EASA theme is SUSTAINABILITY.

i believe trying to create networks that lead cities toward the ideal of ECO CITY, is the main process architecture and sustainability, green, ecological groups have to focus on,

i believe ECOTOPIA is probably the most progressive vehicle we can use to achieve this state.

we do not have the answers. but we have started to ask the right questions.

a few more related articles:

Situationist International Mailing List Archives Re: Dull, boring theory- the land of sex and sinners- not too boring, theory and life combined? for me anyway

INDYMEDIA stuff exhibited in Bosnia state art gallery INDYMEDIA stuff was exhibited in the state art gallery of Banja Luka, Srpski Republic (serb half of Bosnia) as part of ECO CITY GROUP`s 2 week exhibition there in april 2003. after the initial, 2 week long, stage of project: ECO CITY BANJA LUKA.

Dehors

banned from ireland to europe? archeire

from duncan in ecotopia, co clare, here and now

Eco Movement Needs To Communicate Better

weekend wander

EASA censored at irish website

THE BEST SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE WORLD

above is a loose collection of stuff, links, stories, projects (some realised, some growing every day ) hope it inspires, more importantly that it helps make the idea of living eco a stronger reality. Next chapter of begins today, finally, Strange days, that’s life though. Maybe youd like to watch 2 films now:

FUSPEY film 1 also here

Streaming From The Gaff also here

Or play with google earth to see where you live

02:04 monday 2nd January 2006