Case study for the gASTWERKe Community in Escherode (Germany)

PROJECT NAME: gASTWE:RKe e.V.
LOCATION: Escherode, Staufenberg; Germany
SIZE: 10 ha
DATE DESIGNED/PLANNED: Project Start 2008
DESIGNER: All community members
CLIENT/DEVELOPER: Intentional community gASTWERKe e.V.
MANAGED BY: All community members
CONTACT AND FURTHER INFORMATION: www.gastwerke.de info [at] gastwerke [dot] de (info[at]gastwerke[dot]de)

Context - Physical/social historical In an rural context, Ecofarm

Site Analysis/Description – Place/use Eco-farm, seminar house, intentional community

Project Background and History Intentional community, started in 2008 as a commune with 21 adults and 10 Children Design, Development and Decision-Making Process Consensus

Role of Designer(s) Different designers visited the project and were asked for advice

Future Issues/Plans: We want to grow to up to 40 people. Further renovating our premises.

Does your project offer opportunities for volunteering or internships? Yes

Does the project welcome visitors or study tours? Yes

Can you offer accommodation to visitors or study tours [at the project or locally]? Yes – we welcome study tours and we offer regular workshops

Web Sites/Links : www.gastwerke.de

EPT participants feedback on the venue

Learnt:

The design of facilities for 300 people for 1 week: compost toilet, pee-toilet, kitchen flame (hotpot) field kitchen, showers, sauna, beach-bar
The power of the people to feel this
Nice edge effect to the forest
Good community
CSA\food production
Productive project (food) interactive community
Huge runner bean plants in the big greenhouses
How to take down a big top tent
Nice campsite design
Transformation of forestry to permaculture
How an intentional community functions at a social level and how they use their resources
The arboretum is classic