Introduction:

In her book Positive Development, Janis Birkeland points out that one of the reasons eco-retrofitting hasn’t widely caught on is that there is a lack of ‘dark green’ demonstration projects that show people how sustainable design can provide more quality of life with less negative environmental and social impacts, at no extra inherent cost (284). NEWBURBIA-Orange County speaks to this very concern with a public suburban-transformation project bound to the restrictions of the Cradle to Cradle design paradigm.

NEWBURBIA-Orange County (NBOC) is a radical architectural and social experiment located in the Orange hills of the infamous “O.C.” The project will challenge traditional building practices, define sustainable solutions and explore the social, mental and physical impacts of living in and building a regenerative home. Throughout construction, NBOC will call on the advice and input of local professionals and neighbors and will incorporate community involvement. Once completed NBOC will open its doors 5 days a week as a showroom for participating (eco-product) sponsors and as an educational center for students of all ages.

The project in its entirety will be documented. A blog will give weekly updates and anecdotes from pre-construction to completion and beyond. Once NBOC breaks ground, the philanthropic production studio GoodMakers Films will shoot in edu-reality format. Media in its many forms will play a huge role in bringing this demonstration to the broadest possible audience with the intent to cause a trend. Licensing will be made available so that suburbs across the country can create their very own NEWBURBIA projects (examples: NBDC or NBNY).

Here is the land that NEWBURBIA will be built upon: