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| A Postmodern village, AM Village |
Earlier notes by this author have described how with proper
layout it is possible to bring modern facilities to rural areas. Traditional
villages consist of scattered farms and easy access to things like electricity,
water, communication, markets etc. becomes difficult. In Asia,
villagers have got around this by setting their homes in a village cluster
removed from their farms. However this makes management of farming activities
difficult or impossible especially if they involve things like diary, poultry
or small scale blue water fish farming and the rural economy suffers.
The new configuration, named AM village for ease of identification
overcomes this by laying farms in narrow strips along roads where construction
is permitted in a small portion in front. Thus a farmer ends up with an urban
like road in front and a farm in his backyard. Such villages may be regarded as
postmodern villages.
The configuration described in earlier notes was based on
ten acres farm lots. A new one is now suggested for smaller farms of about 2.5 acres
each (150’ x 750’) as shown in the schematic. Such farms are not economical for
industrial crops such as food grain or oil seeds/pulses but is excellent for
family level agricultural activities that include vegetable farming, diary,
poultry, small scale fish farming, honey production and small orchards. It goes
without saying that they must be in well irrigated area or areas with a high
water table near rivers so that water can be easily pumped out. There must also
be lakes in surrounding areas to store rain water and keep ground water table
high.
Wide roads of between 100 and 200 feet are suggested in the
layout for laying the most modern of facilities into the future. Water channels
can be laid out on their sides if bringing water from canals for irrigation.
The drinking water however should be pumped out from ground for better quality.
The entire configuration of 100 farms here occupies 360 acres and different
parts are within walking distances. A central belt is located for common
facilities such as markets, schools etc.
The building regulation for such farm lots should be a
permission to construct within 100 feet of the front road with a front set back
of at least 20 feet. No side set backs are necessary except an access for vehicles such as tractors to the farming area at rear. Some plots have side
roads too (16 of them) but construction of up to 100 feet from their front only
may be allowed. Complex and differing regulations are easily violated and soon
a well planned village can become a mess if not controlled. Similarly sale of land in parts may not be permitted in order not to disrupt the planned layout but portions may be rented out instead. Any type of
construction, commercial, residential, low rise may be permitted in this 80’ by
150 area without any permissions to eliminate bureaucracy. The idea is that
then a villager may set shops, sheds, accommodation on rent or whatever the
farmer pleases in order to earn an income. The area is also sufficient for
small scale food processing and rural industries since a construction area per
floor of 150’ x 80’ that is 12 thousand square feet is possible on each plot.
On two floors this is 24000 square feet.
Although farms are shown touching back to back in the schematic, an unpaved dirt track of between 25 to 50 feet may be left between farms on the back side for ease of communications and/or possible water channels to a canal. it shall also reduce disputes that are common in rural areas between farm boundaries.It must be mentioned that while paved roads are good, unpaved ones are needed to to complete the true picture of a rural landscape.
Breaking the Monotony
While systematic geometric design are efficient, they are not charming and natural. The monotony can be broken by curving some of the roads, which indeed may be necessary since it is best to layout the central road along the lowest points that are natural water paths in rainy seasons. With a curved road, farm lot sizes would vary somewhat, some bigger than others. A planner can easily make the required modification without disrupting the concept. Additional variety can be provided by permitting a few non-agricultural scattered buildings in the surroundings, that could be a motel, retreat, guest house, ashram etc.
When lakes are created with gradually sloping sides, but deep centers, the soil dug out may be used to creates hillocks near them. Just care should be taken to scrape off top soil and then spread it on top of the new hillocks or they will remain barren.
Further Compaction
More compact designs that contain farms of an acre each are also possible. The design here can be used with farm lots of size 120' x 360' to yield that . Anything smaller than that would make it difficult if not impossible for a rural family to make a living from the farm
Although farms are shown touching back to back in the schematic, an unpaved dirt track of between 25 to 50 feet may be left between farms on the back side for ease of communications and/or possible water channels to a canal. it shall also reduce disputes that are common in rural areas between farm boundaries.It must be mentioned that while paved roads are good, unpaved ones are needed to to complete the true picture of a rural landscape.
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| https://twitter.com/captsingh/status/721161847018119168 |
Breaking the Monotony
While systematic geometric design are efficient, they are not charming and natural. The monotony can be broken by curving some of the roads, which indeed may be necessary since it is best to layout the central road along the lowest points that are natural water paths in rainy seasons. With a curved road, farm lot sizes would vary somewhat, some bigger than others. A planner can easily make the required modification without disrupting the concept. Additional variety can be provided by permitting a few non-agricultural scattered buildings in the surroundings, that could be a motel, retreat, guest house, ashram etc.
When lakes are created with gradually sloping sides, but deep centers, the soil dug out may be used to creates hillocks near them. Just care should be taken to scrape off top soil and then spread it on top of the new hillocks or they will remain barren.
Further Compaction
More compact designs that contain farms of an acre each are also possible. The design here can be used with farm lots of size 120' x 360' to yield that . Anything smaller than that would make it difficult if not impossible for a rural family to make a living from the farm
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| https://twitter.com/kawalpeet/status/720435570430750721 |
Launching the village
While new villages cannot be disrupted such postmodern
designs must be considered whenever new ones are considered or in forest
resettlement plans etc. The way to launch them is to construct the roads with
at least the central main road paved, demarcating plots by corner pillars,
giving one simple semi- finished but brick and RCC room of size 11’ x 15’ to
each allotted, an outdoor bathroom of size 6’ x 3.5’ and a drinking water
connection to begin with, as the village develops into the future partly with
labor from the village itself.
Job Creation Measure in Developed Countries - Millions of Jobs
Due to their higher wages many different types of jobs are disappearing from the developed world and many schemes are being proposed to enhance employment. One of them is retraining but that is just appeasement from politicians because it makes a little more difference than buying a little time. The other is infrastructure creation but this again is a temporary measure and one that leads to debt. However large countries that have land and irrigation available must reconsider a partial move back to the land as a quick and effective way for job creation for young persons between the ages of 25 and 30. The postmodern village as proposed here is an excellent way to do it and young persons would like it. In case the other design with ten acre farms are chosen then a requirement to plant half the area as orchard may be prescribed. Additional trees on land will improve climate even reverse climate extremes. With a rising population on the planet, farmers need not worry about a market for their produce provided proper handling, processing and marketing facilities are made available. They would have to be given some initial training in agricultural activities to begin with. Acquisition of land is possible by raising a mortgage on the land from a government fund at low interest rates with payments to begin after five years of allotment to permit settling in time. Those who use the land successfully shall be able to pay it back. Those not successful in farming would lose the land to othersmore suited to it.
Design of Central Common Belt:
While at first the central common belt may be left as open ground, it needs a careful plan to house a paved village square, fountain, office, bank, Post office, schools etc. It is also large enough to contain a residential area for retirees who prefer the fresh air and food of a village in the evening of their life. Sale of such lots would also help to fund development in village. How it is designed will define the character of the village. For some ideas on it see the older link given below.
NOTE: See older article on Postmodern villages for more details of the concept here:
http://steamcenter.blogspot.in/2014/05/postmodern-designer-villages.html
Job Creation Measure in Developed Countries - Millions of Jobs
Due to their higher wages many different types of jobs are disappearing from the developed world and many schemes are being proposed to enhance employment. One of them is retraining but that is just appeasement from politicians because it makes a little more difference than buying a little time. The other is infrastructure creation but this again is a temporary measure and one that leads to debt. However large countries that have land and irrigation available must reconsider a partial move back to the land as a quick and effective way for job creation for young persons between the ages of 25 and 30. The postmodern village as proposed here is an excellent way to do it and young persons would like it. In case the other design with ten acre farms are chosen then a requirement to plant half the area as orchard may be prescribed. Additional trees on land will improve climate even reverse climate extremes. With a rising population on the planet, farmers need not worry about a market for their produce provided proper handling, processing and marketing facilities are made available. They would have to be given some initial training in agricultural activities to begin with. Acquisition of land is possible by raising a mortgage on the land from a government fund at low interest rates with payments to begin after five years of allotment to permit settling in time. Those who use the land successfully shall be able to pay it back. Those not successful in farming would lose the land to othersmore suited to it.
Design of Central Common Belt:
While at first the central common belt may be left as open ground, it needs a careful plan to house a paved village square, fountain, office, bank, Post office, schools etc. It is also large enough to contain a residential area for retirees who prefer the fresh air and food of a village in the evening of their life. Sale of such lots would also help to fund development in village. How it is designed will define the character of the village. For some ideas on it see the older link given below.
NOTE: See older article on Postmodern villages for more details of the concept here:
http://steamcenter.blogspot.in/2014/05/postmodern-designer-villages.html
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