Vedapark update, approaching take off

Now, we have had 3 meetings with the many people interested. At the meeting 30. October we were 17 participants. We had a dialogue on the background of the project and also reached important clarifications.

It was the wish to proceed constructing 7+ cottages on the 4 'cost-free' lots. We plan a common house (30 sqm) with kitchen, toilet and bath for these cottages. They should be finished at August 2012. - Also among the 17 participants there are about six who seriously consider to build a larger house on a purchased lot.

There is a consensus to donate 15% of the sales price to the Vedapark Association, when lots or houses are sold. This is to prevent speculation in real estate in our project. Furthermore the 15% is buyers entrance ticket to the common facilities, such as the meditation hall. There is the possibility to obtain further co-financing from the EU-Leader program etc., and from sponsors.

There is a special task for the women who have a particular talent, to communicate our plans and visions to our neighbors in the existing, separate section of the village. It is important that they understand what we want to do, so that we can cooperate on recreating the beautiful nature eg. around the creek where there was a wetland many years ago.

Gardening can be started next spring, on 100-200+ sqm of land. Before the winter we have to cover the grass - then the field will be ready for Vedic gardening next year. Four participants are interested in this, and we have found a competent advisor.

We are pleased with the development of the project, where we proceed step by step, because there are so many different factors to consider. The project seems to move forward by is own force. We think it is because of the need for what we are doing, and the concept is in balance with the growing, holistic consciousness of our time.

Build on a cost-free lot

With the progress of our EU-Leader project, we have the planning in place, and we can begin building.

Build on a cost-free lot
In order to get started as soon as possible, we now offer you the possibility to build on 4 lots at 'Ormvråksvägen' - and have your house there as long as you live, without paying any rent for the lot. Later it is possible for your heirs to take over the rent on a long-term basis.

The cafe, the meditation hall and the small 'back to Nature' retreat houses

The houses are designed in the same basic style as the private homes.

Cafe
The North elevation has big windows in order to provide a panorama view over the wetland below. From the cafe you can enter the glasshouse and also the veranda outside. All according to your preference and the weather.

North elevation

Meditation hall
The entrance is from the East and here you have two toilets and a locker room. To the north you may exit to the terrace outside where one can sit and meditate on warm days. Also with big windows facing the wetland to the North. Like that... you will have a nice impression in the mind before and after your research in consciousness.

North elevation

The Vedapark Masterplan

The architects 'Fortune Creating Homes Ltd.' in Holland have designed this Masterplan for us:

Please note the following points:

1. The small green square in the center is called the Brahmastan, it can become a playing ground for children and a meeting place for adults, at the moment there is a small pond there as well
2. Here we have also placed a small school or kindergarten
3. The lake/wetland to the North is only a principled sketch; the final shape may differ. We also have another  design where the lake is divided in two, with the small brook flowing between. A third alternative is to have a considerable bigger wetland, which will also cover an area to the East outside of Vedapark. The size of the wetland will then vary with the water flow according to the season. The establishment of the lake/wetland as soon as possible, has very high priority
4. The cafe will have a beautiful view over the lake. Here it will be possible to join common meals every day
5. Therefore the individual homes should only need a small kitchenette, where you can prepare tea and a meal occasionally. It is good to Be together and eat together
6. The meditation halls are in the North East, which is the corner of the whole area that has the most powerful spiritual influence. - There will be big windows to the north, so when you open your eyes, you will glance an attractive lake and nature.

Impressions from five famous eco-spiritual communities

Our visits to several eco communities have proved to be much more important to us than expected. It is really valuable to come and see by yourself how the surroundings look and experience what is taking place. We have made more visits than planned (according to our EU Leader application), as we have travelled to several places in India, too:

Conclusions

From our experiences and observations we can learn following important guidelines to be used in Vedapark. It is important that:

1. There is a fundamental world view which the inhabitants can endorse, and that these values are stable and timeless. Vedapark’s world view is based on the humanistic science of the Veda which is considered to be most ancient, complete and comprehensive knowledge of life that exists
2. There are arrangements and ceremonies to enrich life
3. There is innovation concerning the interaction between nature and human technology
4. There is a distinctive feature which we are known for and which attracts people and attention: our characteristic feature is the Vastu architecture
5. There is a big and beautiful garden based on permaculture and Vedic Organic Agriculture
6. There is a very silent and comfortable atmosphere
7. There is absence of electronic smog from mobile phones and electrical appliances 
8. There is a minimum need for internal transportation by car
9. There are as few rules as possible
10. There is a relatively fast construction of the whole village with a high quality standard, to avoid the impression of a building site for years 
11. There is full understanding of financial conditions when leaving the village, considering the interest of the individual as well as the continuation and growth of the village. This point has proved to be a common issue of conflict
12. There is a limited increase in the price of houses to avoid debt for newcomers. A home is considered a human right and not an object of speculation:
13. Vedapark has come to the conclusion that it is best that the inhabitants build on a plot which is rented on a long term basis (say 100 years) or just rent the home. Long term rent of the plot has the advantage that it place a self regulating ceiling over price increases of the house
14. In some cases one can buy the building site when Vastu is followed when constructing the house
15. By sale of the house Vedapark should have an option on the house
16. There is a close cooperation with the nearby communities and international contacts as well
17. There are facilities in two other places on the planet in a warmer climate
18. There is a simple way of doing things, e.g. in connection with the routines around the meals that is: the preparation, serving and dishwashing
19. There is a possibility and habit of eating together every day

We have visited following holistic communities: Damanhur, Sieben Linden, Friland, Auroville and Sri Vast Foundation. For each of them we have noted strengths and weaknesses. This is presented in Danish only, a Swedish translation is coming soon, and an English version is pending until a translator steps forward to help with this. Read more

Only the fantasy is the limit, Damanhur

Damanhur is a good example of how interesting life can be when we think and work together. In this eco-spiritual community north of Turin they realize 'impossible dreams'. Among other things they have a group of houses in the tree tops, built on long poles. Up there you have walkways between the about 10 houses. One of the children is born here. If someone likes the idea to live among the top of the trees, just get started, plot number 94 is good for the purpose.

Also in Damanhur they demonstrate the 'singing of the plants', they are famous for that.

Architect explains, why Vedapark is a really fine place according to Vastu

22.11.10

We have received this article from Architect Peter Gamborg who has visited Vedapark. He is educated at the University of Architecture in Copenhagen.

The Vedapark area is highly interesting, because it is a piece of unspoiled nature, and because it is in accordance with two of the fundamental principles of Vastu shastra.

A holistic village for self-sustainable cosmopolites

It is a deep wish of many people:

• To be able to travel and live in a warmer climate part of the year during Scandinavia’s cold season. 
• To move to the countryside while maintaining a base in the city such as a shared apartment
• To have a high degree of self-sufficiency with food for the body and soul etc. in the present risky times 

Quotes from the Upanishads on Vaastu

These Veda scriptures of old clearly point out the importance of living in Vaastu structures. They basically state that we can only realise our highest wishes in life if we live in a house built according to natural law. It means that the energy field of the house must connect us to nature and cosmos - and not cut of that link:

Shilpa Vidya Rahasyopanishad states:

Principles for social harmony and Vaastu buildings

Conflict prevention
One person told us he had visited all eco villages in Sweden. They had one point in common: they all had social conflicts! You see the same historical pattern if you look at websites for other countries. So may be the level of wisdom in the group was too low, or the energies of the houses were distorted because they were not built according to vaastu principles.

Other things can be done to prevent and solve conflicts:

The two conditions for living life fully

After all the progress we have made in social science, economy and technology, it is strange that in our time, we have even more problems than before.

However, if we examine the wisdom in the old scriptures, they mention two things most important to become a fully developed human being, without a grain of misery:

Living in a Vaastu home will increase your health and wealth

I am just back from incredible India from a 3 month study and journey with so many beautiful experiences - and I have some pictures of beautifully decorated temples and buildings for our inspiration.

The status and progress of The Holistic Village in the heart of Skåne (Scania) since our last info is like this. I met Steen Möller at the alternative Climate Conference in Copenhagen and he is interested in assisting us with his expertise in eco-building and many other natural solutions. He is well known in Denmark for his initiative in creating the EcoVillage Friland at the 'nose' of Jutland, which has been transmitted in several TV programs. At the conference there were participants from eco villages and local communities from all over the world. A lot of things are going on in this field.

Price for a turnkey house

We have received a very favourable offer of a turn-key Veda wooden house of 100 sqm from a local company near Vedapark. Please contact us for further info if you have plans on building at Vedapark.

The following is included in the offer:

Facace design på 40 kvm sommerhus

Flere af landsbyens venner har udtrykt et ønske om at kunne bygge et mindre sommerhus i Gammalstorp og senere eventuelt følge op med et større hus.

På hver grund (tomt) kan der bygges 3 huse på henholdsvis 100, 40 og 15 kvm. Dertil kommer ca. 60 kvm på loftsetagen (vinden) i 100kvm huset. Altså ialt 215 kvm.

Vi har nu fået facade-designs på et 40 kvm hus. Forslag til rum-placeringen er på vej, og vi forventer at kunne have en prisoverslag fra et lokalt byggefirma inden så længe.

Dette hus er lavet af en Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (MSV) arkiktekt, som efter min opfattelse har en ganske omfattende sevice omkring byggeriet med følgende punkter:

• Personlig vejledning fra en Vastu arkitekt
• Rådgivning om valg af grund
• Skriftlige retningslinjer omfattende anbefalinger om sunde materialer og installationer
• Instruktioner i vediske ceremonier
• Beregning af vediske mål/dimensioner
• Skematiske arkitekttegninger af en standard model. Denne kan tilpasses den enkeltes behov og lokale forhold - tilpasningen er en separat service.

Et MSV hus synes på mærkelig vis at danne et beskyttende energifelt omkring beboerne, se artikel fra december 2007.

Pristilbud på et Vedisk hus

Vi har nu fået en pris på et 100 kvm helårsisolerede bjælkehus (timmerhus) som er vist på Vedaparks hjemmeside.

Det er lavet med norsk teknologi (leveret fra Lithaun af en dansk bygmester) med en vægtykkelse på 24 cm. Yderst er der 7 cm bjælker, så 15 cm isolering og inderst 2 cm bjælker. Man kan også have 7 cm bjælker indvendig mod en merpris. Skillevæggene er 7 cm tykke.

Prisen gælder for et nøglefærdigt hus, hvor alt arbejde udføres af håndværkere. Kontakt os for flere oplysninger.

Prisen kan bringes betydeligt ned ved eget arbejde og samarbejde omkring f.eks. fundament og installation af el og vand. Hvis flere er interesserede i at købe som en gruppe, kan også prisen på levering og opstilling af huset sikkert forhandles en hel del lavere.

På grund at den lave rente nu og afmatningen i byggeriet er det et godt tidspunkt at bygge -
send en email hvis du er interesseret.

Som næste trin i processen vil jeg foreslå

1. en tur lidt op i Skåne for at se på et par af de ca. 30 huse som bygmesteren har opført.
2. et møde med bygmesteren for at drøfte kvalitet, pris og levering mm.
   
3. evt. et studiebesøg til fabrikken i Lithaun

Bedste hilsener