Since the late 1990s there has been a growing awareness of the ecological issues created by the growth of consumption of materials and the huge impact being made by the built environment on the natural world.

Ecotect-Architects was one of the first practices to be involved in the design of eco villages and creating communities that share resources, reduce energy and water dependence, and create socio economic options and life styles for the residents.

Garry Baverstock worked with now legendary experts such as Max Lindegger (developer of Crystal water eco village, Queensland and right hand man for Dr. Bill Mollison, founder of modern day 'permaculture', as a movement). Garry has worked extensively with Dr. Ross Mars, long term coordinator of the Permaculture Association in Western Australia, to introduce practical applications of 'permaculture' wherever it is possible and desired by the client. There are now a number of collaborators in the field that we often work with, such as Josh Byrne of ABC fame in Australia.

Group houses in close proximity to a community centre and garden is usually the structure of eco villages, but there has been more conventional applications to retirement villages master planned and designed by the firm where single houses are sited on individual small blocks and structured around a suburban road layout and combined with central public open space and communities amenities for collective use by the communities.

This type of development as applied to suburban subdivisions to starting to gain traction and appeal with the public. There are many niche markets from the small scale family compound to 'over 55' groups of homes for aged independent and dependent living, through to larger scaled eco villages in semi rural areas, and large retirement complexes and large subdivisions for the general populace.

Garry Baverstock has carried out a lot of analysis and written many papers about this subject as well as guiding the practice to design and develop functioning projects on the ground. It is the way of the future in developed countries in urban and regional settings, and highly relevant for developing countries that often can dramatically, and economically benefit from a 'permauculture' designed eco village.

This pattern of development is particularly successful and highly relevant for indigenous populations around the world as they evolve from the old cultural ways into a more modern but culturally empathic society that assimilates with the non-indigenous majority.

• 1990, Design of 'Candle Light Farm' for Ross Mars, Hovea
• 1989-2000, lake Josephine eco retreat for Robin and Jo Reid, including Sahaja Yoga Ashram/ Meditation Centre
• 1995, Analyis of Gin Gin, WA with Max Lindegger, Ross Mars and Geoff Todman
• 1994 - present day, Mandurah Retirement Village project
• 1999, Gidgegannup Eco village (Rural Strata subdivision), for Christian based community with Mike Hulme as consultant
• 1997- 2001, Consultant and Director to Fairbridge, non-profit 'heritage farm' for under privileged children and youths, as it was converted into an eco village
• 2000, Eco village/ Meditation Centre concept and advice for Raja Yoga in Armadale
• 1998, Advice on purchase of an eco village site and concepts for development at Flat Rocks near Dongara, Hayes Investments Pty Ltd
• 2001- 2004, Mt Helena Eco Village master planning, designs and feasibilities for Julia Hayes of Hayes Investment Pty Ltd
• 2003, South Beach subdivision, consultant and advisor to Mike Hulme and the Perron Group
• 2004- 2006, Settlers Villages in Mandurah in association with CCN
• 2004- 2006, Master planning and subdivision planning for an 800 solar home subdivision and eco village for Rudds Gulley, South Geraldton
• 2005, Eco Compound in Cottesloe
• 2007, Old Broome Estate, consultant and advisor to Mike Hulme and the Perron Group, winner of the UDIA Innovation Award of the year

There are a lot of considerations in preparing for a successful eco community. Apart from prudent economic feasibility based on strong concepts and master plans, there is a need for education, tranining and a special level of commitment by the developer and the group of people involved in the early stages of the project. It is an extra cost but it is an investment.

Ecologically sustainable design and development is not all about money, it is about quality of life and an assured future for our children and grand children. This fact seems to escape a vast majority of developers and therefore fad and fashion tends to dominate. This is short lived as history has continually shown.

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