THE BEAUTY.
We seek balance between the material and spiritual, finding symmetry between tradition & conscious innovation.
Community design.
HAVEN consists of 36 homesteads along with an array of lifestyle enhancing amenities, sitting inside a 138 hectare community of conservationists known as NICHTE HA II. Together, we steward this Maya forest garden & receive the benefits of living in peaceful harmony with nature. This map shows a general idea of placement, however, each structure and amenity will be designed and planned through intimate interaction of the people & place and unfold organically over time, prioritizing the most beneficial elements as decided by the community.
The Heart of HAVEN is our central gathering space that includes co-working, classrooms, a market & edible gardens. For wellness activities, residents will have access to a yoga shala, meditation labyrinth, temazcal and sports park. To fulfill community needs we will develop a Waldorf style school, an amphitheatre & recycling center. Residents will also enjoy natural wonders including cenotes and a cave.
Nearby, the AMARA Residence is a platform for creative collaboration and will include a boutique, wellness spa, signature garden to table restaurant, teaching kitchen, clay, glass & metal handcraft workshops, a recording studio and guesthouse for our artist residency program. A place to slow down, immerse in natural rhythms and connect with your inner world to access states of creative flow. Following seasonal alignments, special events will be hosted including seminars, showcases and meditation retreats. HAVEN residents will receive lifetime access to membership facilities and events.
Each family stewards one hectare of forest with a living fence planted around the perimeter creating a container of energy. Untamed jungle circles the developed areas while we weave fruit trees, shrubs, vines & tubers into the existing landscape to create an abundant perennial food forest. A forest garden, inspired by the traditional Maya land management systems, we leave a minimum of 75% of each hectare under tree cover. The interior circle is designed according to your personal preference, while the most self sufficient home includes a vegetable garden close to the kitchen, rainwater collection, a pond, beehives and a place to grow some grain.
The first residential phase of the community is made up of 9 homesteads branching off of a quiet private access road. Choice of plot is claimed on a first come, first served basis. Book a visit to make your selection.
materials.
Limestone
Used as the building blocks of the great Maya temples, the entire Yucatan Peninsula sits on a shelf of limestone that emerged from the ocean as water levels began to recede around 33 million years ago. Following the footsteps of this ancient culture, we use limestone as the foundation of all our structures & as a decorative element throughout, drawing on the talents of artisans from the region.
Sascab
A decomposed limestone gravel, sascab is abundant & has been used for ages by the Maya people as a paving & building material. We are experimenting with sascab in earthen floors and superadobe structures.
Lime plaster
A miracle material used for thousands of years, lime plaster is extremely durable, becoming stronger over time as it hardens into it’s original stone form. Lime absorbs carbon & improves air quality, while also water repellant yet breathable, preventing mold. A perfect wall render for the tropics.
Earth & clay
Earth has been used since the beginning of time to create shelter, for obvious reason. Inherently beautiful and abundantly available, building with earth carries many benefits aside from the aesthetic warmth and strong character. It is fireproof, protects from electromagnetic frequencies, absorbs sound and is recyclable & repairable. In addition to structural elements, we will use earth and clay in wall renders, floors, tiles, tableware & decor.
An unsuspected teacher
Bamboo carries with it much wisdom. Firstly, a lesson in patience. When the bamboo seed is planted, it must be diligently cared for, receiving plentiful water and nutrients. On the surface it appears as if nothing has happened for a long while. Not even after one whole year do we see any results from the effort. During this time, the bamboo is generating a perfect root system that will allow it to grow up to 1 meter per day when it finally breaks the surface. Once established, this grass grows easily and can be harvested up to 3 times per year. Plant bamboo once and it will bear fruits for a lifetime, or two. The creation of this community is much like the farmer who waits patiently without weakening his effort. Because we are aware that the seeds that have been planted with love, cultivated with hard work & perseverance, will bear fruit at first very slowly. But with a strong foundation laid, will provide a lifestyle of abundance, resilience and ease. In maturity, bamboo teaches reciprocity. Absorbing a huge amount of carbon dioxide & toxins and releasing plentiful oxygen, it will also hold up to 5000L of water per plant, which acts as fire protection and a watering system for surrounding plants during dry season. Bamboo loves to show us how the use of minimal resources can achieve maximum results.
BAMBOO
Strong, flexible, lightweight and versatile, bamboo has a tensile strength greater than steel. Following a few guidelines, a home built with properly treated poles and protection will last generations. In fact, many bamboo homes can be found in South America & Asia that have been standing for over 200 years. Here we will cultivate 27 species of bamboo to sustainably harvest for construction, create fire barriers and produce mulch & biochar. Growing bamboo is our solution to witnessing clear cutting of forest for agriculture & hardwood. With our aim to protect the trees living here, we’re grateful to welcome bamboo as a wise and generous member of our community and we are committed to sharing her wisdom and abundance.
Bejuco
A vine that traverses the Maya jungle, bejuco is used much like rattan, intertwined to take shape as furniture, decor and fine finishes. We are weaving bejuco through ceilings, floors and railings to draw the eye through organic line and form.
Cement
While cement is energy & carbon intensive, it is also extremely durable and long lasting. Used intentionally, these costs can be offset through the lifespan of the building. Initially forming our structures with cement block allows us to build upwards, which minimizes our physical footprint. We have a block manufacturer located just 11 KM from the land, allowing us to utilize local skills and invest directly into our community. As our bamboo grows and we develop new skills, we will phase out the use of this material.
Hardwood
Where we selectively remove trees to introduce living space and sunlight, we will utilize the wood to create functional art, preserving and prominently displaying the natural beauty of the material.
