Episode 58: Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood

Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood is a co-housing community near the centre of Auckland in New Zealand. 32 households share a large communal building and gardens, whilst having their own private home. Is this be a step towards a sustainable life in the suburbs? Architect Robin Allison responds.

 Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood is a co-housing community near the centre of Auckland in New Zealand. There are 32 homes who share a large communal building, where the community hold meetings and events. The settlement was the brain child of architect Robin Allison, who helped negotiate the process through development and building. She references permaculture in her assessment of how the place functions, there being a "Zone One", which is the private space of each householder; a "Zone Two" which is the space shared by all the residents, including communal gardens and laundry; and a "Zone Three", which is the public area outside the community boundaries, an area in which they increasingly mingle with their wider community.