The Labs are the cornerstone of CLEAR Village’s activities. They bring together CLEAR Village’s network of pioneers and innovators to engage in defining moments of collaborative work to develop a replicable planning strategy to construct a real-life CLEAR Village as well as support other communities in need of a reboot.
The Labs, which are supported by collaborative work through CLEAR Village’s online tools as well as by ongoing research by the CLEAR Village Observatory, aim to reform planning and architecture and move away from their often cosmetic nature. Instead, their goal is to maximize the power of participatory, holistic design in order to develop solutions that will allow communities to:
+ Transform themselves into smart communities and innovation micro-clusters
+ Implement successful and sustainable business models based on local parameters
+ Embrace and export, if only locally or regionally, a contagiously positive way of life in harmony with nature
“CLEAR Village comes across as a forward thinking, game changing, value based project. Driven by people with true intentions and great dreams. Different by need and nature. Focused on creating a better world for all of us. With the potential of becoming a great global model for sustainable living. Empowered by a participatory and inclusive network. Can it get better? Yes! We must support it.” – Arturo Pasquel, R&D Director, Vestas Technology
CLEAR Village Lab in Barcelona, 5-7 November 2009
Clear Village from Thomas Ermacora on Vimeo.
The first CLEAR Village Lab was the start of a journey to open up planning towards participation. The Lab was a tremendous success and brought together just under 100 experts from over 20 countries to work on three locations in southern Europe and refine the CLEAR Village process.
The Lab was held at the Institute of Advanced Architecture in Barcelona from 5-7 November 2009 and was initiated and designed by CLEAR Village and supported by an array of partners.
Embarking on the Lab process were representatives from Bioregional, Urban Re:Vision, Velux, Vestas, Terrapin Bright Green, Architecture for Humanity, Material Connexion, Interfaceflor, Designboost, Findhorn, Sustainable Cities, The Hub, The Eden Project, IaaC, World Economic Forum, Region of Catalunya, and many others.
Testimonials
Chris Mare -“I remember hearing about the first CLEAR Village Lab just a few days before it was going to happen. My friend Daniel sent me a notice apologising for the lateness yet saying that he thought it would be perfect for me. After reviewing the material, I had to agree with him…” Read More
Chris Garvin – “The crisp sunny fall morning was interrupted by a beautiful woman asking for if I’d seen any bike parking in the neighborhood. She was riding one of Barcelona’s share bikes and needed to return it to a stand, I pointed her…” Read More
Karina Vissanova – “The Lab gave me as a person and as a professional a greater view on the world of today. I was looking for the bigger picture, and I got at least a manageable portion of it. What I mean is the overview of scattered efforts to understand sustainability…” Read More
Carolyn Steel – “It has taken me rather longer to write about the CLEAR Village Lab than it should, partly because the event was so mentally, emotionally and physically knackering, that I spent the following week comatose…” Read More
Korinna Thielen - “… The lab was attended by an eclectic mix of architects, urban planners, agronomists, economists, founders and residents of eco-villages, all involved in planning and living sustainably. The event was supported by a fantastic and enthusiastic team of organisers, including visualisers…” Read More
Jakob Schoof – “To me, it was most astonishing to see how quickly the participants, coming from such a variety of professional and cultural backgrounds, were able to communicate using a common vocabulary, and to collaborate in a both deeply analytical and immensely creative process…” Read More
