Christie Walk

Christie Walk is a model ecological cohousing development in central Adelaide, Australia. It consists of 27 dwellings on a 2,000 square metres site.[1] It was designed by local architect Paul Downton and completed in 2006.[2] Its innovative aspects include energy- and water-saving measures, use of ethical finance and use of recycled non-toxic materials.[3]

Christie Walk, Sturt Street facade

Influences

Christie Walk was founded by Urban Ecology Australia Inc[4] as a living example of the 10 Ecopolis Development Principles,[5] which were established by Paul Downton, Cherie Hoyle and Emilis Prelgauskas.

The development has been included as a case study in the Australian Government's guide to environmentally sustainable homes[6] and inspired similar projects such as Aldinga EcoVillage and a cohousing development in Canberra.[3]

At the 2021 biennial Carbon Neutral Adelaide Awards event, Christie Walk was made a Carbon Neutral Adelaide Ambassador, an honour given so far to only 3 others of the 200 Carbon Neutral Adelaide Partners. Urban Ecology Australia also won the award for Community Leadership in recognition of three decades of campaigning, researching and educating on the transformation of conventional cities into Ecological Cities.[7]

Goals

"We wanted a green community, comfortable for the residents but kind to the environment; something that would significantly cut our environmental footprint.  We wanted a working alternative to urban sprawl.  We wanted to help heal the web of life by bringing biodiversity back into the city.  And we wanted it to be a community, not just a collection of disconnected dwellings." - Brian Loffler - Environmental Planner at Christie Walk.[8]

Ongoing upgrades

Construction of Christie Walk was completed in 2006, but efforts to reduce emissions are ongoing through a program of technology upgrades. The Christie Walk community ensures that lessons learned along the way are shared widely through on-site tours,[9] virtual tours[10] and documentation of the upgrades.[11] The documentation is especially relevant to strata groups where upgrades and emissions reduction projects are more complicated than for stand-alone home owners.

References
  1. WWF: "Walk through an eco-village", 1 March 2012
  2. Australian Institute of Landscape Architects: "case study #9 Eco-Village", retrieved 27 October 2013
  3. World Habitat Awards: "Christie Walk EcoCity Project", retrieved 27 October 2013
  4. Urban Ecology Australia Inc: Christie Walk history
  5. Urban Ecology Australia Inc: What is an ecocity?
  6. Australian Government: Guide to environmentally sustainable homes Archived 1 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 27 October 2013
  7. Urban Ecology Australia: 2021 Carbon Neutral Adelaide Awards
  8. Urban Ecology Australia: Eco-city dreaming comes true
  9. Urban Ecology Australia: Book a site tour of Christie Walk
  10. Urban Ecology Australia: Christie Walk Virtual Tour Options
  11. Urban Ecology Australia blog: Sustainability upgrades at Christie Walk

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