Design and Build a Green Home and Garden in the Tropics
February 17-29, 2008
Paraiso, Costa Rica

Course Schedule : (subject to change)

Our days will be divided between actual work on some aspect of building, lectures, field trips, and studio design work as class participants work to create plans and a model of their "Green-Dream" Home and Garden at Pueblo Verde. Evenings may be spent further understanding and illuminating ecological design, conservation development and the application of these disciplines guided by the Pueblo Verde Design Principles, including brainstorming design problems, informal Q and A concerning site work and building techniques, design work and other recreational activities.

The first few days will be spent reviewing the regional climatic conditions, seasonal variability, local building materials and building approaches and particular quirks of the region (water needs, insects, etc) and how we site, design and build to suit these conditions. We will be taking field trips to illustrate both good and bad examples of building and garden design in this region of Costa Rica.

Each student will then choose a future home site from the hillside at Pueblo Verde where they will be focusing their studio time designing their Green Home and Garden. The remaining time will be divided between lectures and class time to help students understand the fundamentals of green design and doing actual construction work on the first "Jungle Bungalow" or the dairy goat barn at Pueblo Verde to help students understand the hands-on elements of green building in the tropics.

Pueblo Verde Conservation Development

Top 10 Design Principles

•  Ecosystem Restoration, including Forest and Hydrological Cycle*

•  Sustainable Economic Return *

•  Environmental, Food, Energy & Community Security

•  Onsite and Local Food, Fiber & Energy Production

•  Life in Harmony with the Natural Landscape

•  Identify, Protect and Enhance Natural Resources

•  Simple, Affordable and Beautiful Green Design and Construction

•  Advancing Personal and Shared Learning and Discovery

•  Respect Individual Space and the Commons

•  Catalyst for Positive Change and Development in the Area

*= necessary for project feasibility