How to turn your Neighborhood into a Village

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to Portland, Oregon to talk with architect Mark Lakeman, founder of Communitecture Architecture and the City Repair Project. Mark initiated a movement in Portland to transform the homogenous neighborhoods of the city into places that have many of the qualities and characteristics that are found in some of the most treasured villages on Earth. Mark reveals the things you need to know to transform your own neighborhood into a village.

Mark Lakeman's architecture firm:

The City Repair Project:

Special thanks to Maitreya Ecovillage in Eugene, Oregon for letting us film their sweet spot:

Andrew Millison’s links:

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[toadscoper]

There’s one important factor I’d add: mixed-use zoning. Most American suburbs have antiquated Euclidean zoning laws that separates commercial zones from residential; this forces people to drive across town for simple amenities. In a village, people must be within a 5 to 10 minute walk from businesses such as pharmacies, grocers, cafes, general stores, pubs, clinics, etc. Not only is this model more economical, but it will further create strong communities

[trillium]

I grew up in a traditional small village. I have mixed feelings about Americans enthusing about things like this. In my experience, Americans are very individualistically oriented: they want what they want and they tend to be appalled at the idea of conformity and social control. And yet my experience in a small village was that there was enormous social control and enormous pressure to conform: everything from the color you painted your front door to what you planted in your garden to what time your children went to sleep was subject to collective judgment. "Surveillance" was everywhere and privacy levels were very low, because the properties were close together. I really wonder, when I see things like this, if the people who are so enthusiastic about it have really considered what actual village living means. There are elements of villages that are really wonderful, but I do understand why people often want their own space, too. It's like some Americans hear about villages and assume that the village will be run exactly the way they individually prefer? I don't know, but that has not been my experience, as a village dweller. It is also my experience that villages tend to be very socially conservative, which is also often left out of this sort of thing.

[smashley]

I’m an urban planning student and THIS is why I got into the major. I want to create landscapes that UNITE people and foster connection, accessibility, and help assure basic needs are met. Thank you for the video!

[scarofherobrine]

This man solved the mystery of "why do so many people want to leave where they are and begin a life in a fantasy world"

You explained this so beautifully, gosh I want this so much.

[WildWest]

Not only have bankers and builders set up the US housing landscape to let residents feel like they have no power, they've set up HOAs who tell you what you can and cannot do on your own property. Heinous. I made the mistake of buying a home in an HOA once but they wouldn't even let me park my own car in my own driveway, it had to be inside the garage when the car was not in use or they issued fines and I certainly could not have a food plot in my yard not even in the backyard. The power HOAs have is incredibly disturbing to me but hey homeowners agree to them so it's sort of a problem that we've created for ourselves. This is a fantastic video.

[rqn]

If you wish to make a village, start with a central square with a market, shops, restaurants and a place to stay. Leave people some privacy in their own home and garden. A village is not making all space accessible by everyone but rather a community with common and private parts.

[ZidaneSteiner]

My Landlord in Los Angeles built something like this. My neighbors became some of my best friends who I still keep in touch with to this day. We shared a garden, entertaining area, picnics, dog play dates, etc.

[anotherday-anotherslay]

never knew i ached for community-centered housing until i watched this and felt my heart sank when i realized what we're missing

[prolepsis-hxom]

You have no idea how much hope and excitement seeing this project brought me; this is the stuff I DREAMED of as a kid, always frustrated by why the adults weren't doing this kind of thing

[ravenstears]

I grew up as an Army brat. One thing I will say for military bases is they have these kinds of communal spaces. Every complex or street has at least park and open field that all the families have access to. A lot of them have some kind of pavilion or gazebo for events. It's something I miss as a design element of neighborhoods I have lived in since.

[angstyintellectual]

This needs to be a TED Talk because THIS is an idea worth sharing. The THOUGHT you put into this... my goodness. This is truly a dream.

[ilene_music]

I’m not an urban planner but I think about this stuff all the time because of how severely it is lacking from my life (and everyone else I know). Literally was talking with a friend a year ago about how the neighborhood I grew up in would be such an amazing communal space if we turned the backyards into shared space. Amazing ideas all around and they honestly seem very accessible!

[wesleychaffin]

I think that land use is important to also discuss. It is impossible to create such a village if to get your daily necessities you have to get into a car and drive to a big box store owned by a huge company. We need small corner stores integrated within walking distance of peoples homes to make the streets safe for children and to reduce pollution and co2 emissions from cars.

[pdan]

This guy is the Bob Ross of neighborhood planning. Thank you for this, God bless.

[anonview]

It looks great, but in my experience as someone who lives in a small village in the Philippines, most communal areas and sacred spaces are _never_ planned. They develop out of the personalities/interests of the people living there.

For example, one neighbor grows veggies, so they started a vegetable stand in front of their house. Another neighbor has kids who like basketball, so they set up a wall-mounted hoop at a corner of the block. Another neighbor is a whiz at growing flowers, so they built a flowering archway over their part of the street.

I think functional village layouts have to have a dynamic quality to them. The people themselves must have the rights and resources to develop a space that they can share with everyone else.

[Lunavii_Cellest]

As an urban planner I think everyone on earth has to see this video. Not only is it better for the environment. it is so much better for our mental and phisical health. I am so happy to see that at least in my country of the Netherlands there are multiple projects that achieve many of the things you have pointed out. In my city of Helmond they are currently building a new suburb (Brainport Smart District) with many of these principles.

[MYDREAMGREENVILLA]

What a timely video for me ! I grew up in Japan and I have been searching a way to create a urban community. I went into depression while living in America past 23 years, longing to join a community. In US I moved over 10 times to finally find neighbors you describe here. We exchange produce and fruit tree, but I want our community to be better. I have a strong desire to build one. I SO needed to find this video!! Thank you for making this and shearing. I won’t give up my dream !!

[dataexpunged]

in my village in germany there are benches everywhere, we even got a small castle and forest, we have multiple playgrounds for kids, the streets are quiet and people often walk around instead of drive everywhere.

[xrayblock]

As someone who grew up in an overdeveloped suburb in the middle of a highly populated urban city, this is incredibly refreshing. I hope more people connect with those directly around them, and I hope we find even more simple solutions to today’s issues through true community. Try and ask a neighbor how they’re doing, and see where that kindness leads.

[cileft]

the reason i love the way apartment blocks are set up in china is bc they're laid out like this. sure they are huge tall buildings, but they often all face the same open courtyard with gardens and walking paths, seating areas, a playground for little kids and light exercise equipment for elderly folks. my cousin's apartment block even had a community pool! i really got the sense that ppl there knew each other and it was a real micro neighborhood.