Sólheimar Ecovillage
Encyclopedia
Sólheimar Ecovillage
in Iceland
is a small, intentional community
of about 100 people, who live and work together. It is in the municipality of Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur
. Sólheimar is associated with the Global Ecovillage network and was the first community of its kind in the country, bringing with it the ideas of Rudolf Steiner
.
(1902-1974). Today all activities in this small eco-village are based on her lifework and visions: what started out as an isolated and primitive settlement in 1930 with around ten small children has now become a modern, self-supporting eco-village with organic farming, thermal and solar energy and with a thriving cultural life . Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner
, Sesselja’s focus was the interaction between the individual and the environment. Sesselja was a passionate advocate for integrating children with and without disabilities, and it was here in Sólheimar where this vision was brought to life. She made a home for children in Sólheimar and focused her work on organic horticulture (the first in Scandinavia ), healthy food and artistic expression. Many of these ideas sparked controversy with the authorities because at the time, it was perceived that “healthy” children should not play with those with special needs. It was also viewed that the high-vegetable diet promoted by Sesselja was, in fact, not healthy for the children. Such disagreements have since faded into history and the Sólheimar community continues to support a healthy lifestyle for those with and without special needs.
and Christian values. The heart of the Sólheimar ideology is the same as it was back in 1930: to give all individuals a fair chance and to maximise their potential. Sólheimar aims to create the space for each resident to take every opportunity that arises for each person to grow and develop so they are able to become an active part of community life. Versatility is the strength of Sólheimar so people with special needs that reside here will always be the centre of the community. This works through the idea of reverse integration: those without special needs adapt to the abilities of those who do thus they can work together to make their community one of an equal and sustainable one.
The activity in Sólheimar is versatile. In the village, there are a wide range of workshops and businesses that help to keep Sólheimar a sustainable village. This includes:
The whole community takes part each day to work in these businesses and workshops in order to keep them sufficient, sustainable and continuous. It not only provides revenue to the village but also gives each resident the chance to take part in a regular working day. They are all able to work together to help improve each business/workshop and this way, they learn how to be part of a sustainable community.
You will also find a church, sculpture garden, arboretum, sports hall, gym and a swimming pool, music garden and an art gallery. During the summer and winter, cultural festivals are held which involve music, fine art and theatre which bring the Sólheimar community together. In April 1997, "The Global Ecovillage Network" proclaimed Sólheimar the first sustainable village of the country. One of the goals the Sólheimar community strives to achieve is to create a self-sustained society, relying on organic production and harmony between humans and nature. In 2002 a completely self sustained house was built at Sólheimar, Sesseljuhús, which houses an educational environmental centre, with the house itself being the most important example of sustainability - a blueprint of the sorts of buildings that should be built in order to prevent there being a negative impact on the environment.
and to this day, Sólheimar is built to work on these ideals. Emphasis is placed on organic farming and the use of natural and recycled materials in the work place. Sesseljuhús has good facilities for meetings, seminars, and conference space for a hundred
people. It holds educational meetings, conferences and seminars on environmental issues for the public, schools, businesses, institutions, and unions. Sesseljuhús may also be rented out for public meetings and workshops (see back page). This booklet seeks to describe the innovations that are implemented at Sesseljuhús, and describe the building's unique environmental purposes. It also discusses many factors integral to environmentally friendly design, using this space as an example.
Ecovillage
Ecovillages are intentional communities with the goal of becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. Some aim for a population of 50–150 individuals. Larger ecovillages of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller subcommunities to create an ecovillage model that...
in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
is a small, intentional community
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
of about 100 people, who live and work together. It is in the municipality of Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur
Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur
Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur is a municipality in the south-western part of Iceland, in the region of Suðurland.It has a population of 400 inhabitants in an area of 900 km².-Overview:...
. Sólheimar is associated with the Global Ecovillage network and was the first community of its kind in the country, bringing with it the ideas of Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
.
History
Sólheimar (the “home of the sun”) was founded on July 5th 1930 by a pioneering woman: Sesselja SigmundsdóttirSesselja Sigmundsdottir
Sesselja Sigmundsdóttir was a noted Icelandic pioneer in the fields of pedagogy and the care for the mentally disabled and founder of the Sólheimar community....
(1902-1974). Today all activities in this small eco-village are based on her lifework and visions: what started out as an isolated and primitive settlement in 1930 with around ten small children has now become a modern, self-supporting eco-village with organic farming, thermal and solar energy and with a thriving cultural life . Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
, Sesselja’s focus was the interaction between the individual and the environment. Sesselja was a passionate advocate for integrating children with and without disabilities, and it was here in Sólheimar where this vision was brought to life. She made a home for children in Sólheimar and focused her work on organic horticulture (the first in Scandinavia ), healthy food and artistic expression. Many of these ideas sparked controversy with the authorities because at the time, it was perceived that “healthy” children should not play with those with special needs. It was also viewed that the high-vegetable diet promoted by Sesselja was, in fact, not healthy for the children. Such disagreements have since faded into history and the Sólheimar community continues to support a healthy lifestyle for those with and without special needs.
The Ideology of Sólheimar
The foundation of the ideology of Sólheimar derives from the visions and lifework of Sesselja herself. Her life was strongly influenced by Icelandic reality in the beginning of the 20th Century, the anthroposophical theories of Rudolf SteinerRudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
and Christian values. The heart of the Sólheimar ideology is the same as it was back in 1930: to give all individuals a fair chance and to maximise their potential. Sólheimar aims to create the space for each resident to take every opportunity that arises for each person to grow and develop so they are able to become an active part of community life. Versatility is the strength of Sólheimar so people with special needs that reside here will always be the centre of the community. This works through the idea of reverse integration: those without special needs adapt to the abilities of those who do thus they can work together to make their community one of an equal and sustainable one.
Community
Today, Sólheimar is not a children’s home but a community where the goal is to give every individual an opportunity to live in a sustainable society. Sólheimar provides home and work to 43 individuals with special needs and in total, more than 100 people reside in Sólheimar. Short and long-term volunteers have also worked in Sólheimar for much of its history and their input into the community continues to promote sustainability. Study-abroad programs and internship vacancies also draw people to Sólheimar and with 30,000-35,000 guests visiting Sólheimar every year, it has become a popular tourist destination year-round. The aim of Sólheimar is to maximize the potential of each individual. This community is internationally renowned for its artistic and ecological atmosphere and prides itself on its varied cultural, social, and sporting activities.The activity in Sólheimar is versatile. In the village, there are a wide range of workshops and businesses that help to keep Sólheimar a sustainable village. This includes:
- Sunna - one of the largest producers of organic vegetables in Iceland
- Ölur - the only organic forest nursery in Iceland, established in 1991.
- Sólheimar Guesthouse - There are two guesthouses in Sólheimar: Brekkukot and Veghús. With approximately 30,000 visitors each year, Sólheimar is able to welcome visitors to explore and appreciate the village.
- Nærandi - food production in Sólheimar. Though it is relatively new, it provides a wide range of baked goods to not only the village but to businesses in Reykjavik also
- Vala and Græna Kannan - the local shop and cafe in Solheimar
- 6 main workshops - candle-making, weaving, organic soap-making, art, ceramics and woodwork
The whole community takes part each day to work in these businesses and workshops in order to keep them sufficient, sustainable and continuous. It not only provides revenue to the village but also gives each resident the chance to take part in a regular working day. They are all able to work together to help improve each business/workshop and this way, they learn how to be part of a sustainable community.
You will also find a church, sculpture garden, arboretum, sports hall, gym and a swimming pool, music garden and an art gallery. During the summer and winter, cultural festivals are held which involve music, fine art and theatre which bring the Sólheimar community together. In April 1997, "The Global Ecovillage Network" proclaimed Sólheimar the first sustainable village of the country. One of the goals the Sólheimar community strives to achieve is to create a self-sustained society, relying on organic production and harmony between humans and nature. In 2002 a completely self sustained house was built at Sólheimar, Sesseljuhús, which houses an educational environmental centre, with the house itself being the most important example of sustainability - a blueprint of the sorts of buildings that should be built in order to prevent there being a negative impact on the environment.
Sesseljuhús
On the 70 year anniversary of Sólheimar, 5 July 2000, Siv Friðleifsdóttir broke ground for the construction of Sesseljuhús, and announced the government's decision to provide 75 million ISK for the construction of the building. The project was completed on 5 July 2002, 100 years after the birth of Sesselja Sigmundsdóttur. The Sesseljuhús Environmental Centre acts as an example for sustainable buildings. It is wooden with a turf roof, and was designed and constructed with the goal of environmental sustainability. This took into account the origin, production, and recovery of any materials, specifically to Icelandic conditions. Sesseljuhús is working in collaboration with national and international groups for environmental education and employment, while interweaving it with other activities of Sólheimar. In addition, the house is used as a community space for the residents of Sólheimar. The founder of Sólheimar, Sesselja H. Sigmundsdóttir, was far ahead of her times in sustainability,and to this day, Sólheimar is built to work on these ideals. Emphasis is placed on organic farming and the use of natural and recycled materials in the work place. Sesseljuhús has good facilities for meetings, seminars, and conference space for a hundred
people. It holds educational meetings, conferences and seminars on environmental issues for the public, schools, businesses, institutions, and unions. Sesseljuhús may also be rented out for public meetings and workshops (see back page). This booklet seeks to describe the innovations that are implemented at Sesseljuhús, and describe the building's unique environmental purposes. It also discusses many factors integral to environmentally friendly design, using this space as an example.