Lily Valley: The New American Village

Back in September we posted news about a highly innovative Gulf-coast community that was being planned and built, called Lily Valley. Some additional info has surfaced and this must read story was pulled from a few different sources: a couple of press releases and an article in the Hattiesburg American.

We have budding Generation Y architects, Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy, the application of timeless principles, green architecture, thoughtful urban planning strategies, residents who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina, design innovation...the list could go on! If you get excited about relevant design and architecture that strives to address the urban design problems of the 21st century, then you must continue reading on...

The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture is tapping into the legacy of its namesake as it plays a central role in the design of a "sustainable, natural, holistic community" near Hattiesburg, MS, where many Gulf-coast residents relocated following Hurricane Katrina. Victor Sidy, AIA, Dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, and architect and adjunct faculty member James Ray Polk, presented plans for Lily Valley or the "New American Village", as it is being called, on August 29th, 2006 at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.

Polk, Sidy and six Apprentices in the school at Taliesin, Ebbie Azimi, Niloofar Karimi, Christian Butler, Michael DesBarres, Ryan Hewson, Pei Liu, and Derek Pasieka, developed a set of ten guiding principles to inform the design of the community. These principles include: nature, balance, social and geographic connectivity, environmental compatibility, sustainable building and energy systems, architecture that belongs where it is, innovative concepts for elevating quality of life and the human spirit.

Victor Sidy commented, "This project represents the passion of a younger generation, which is contributing fresh new designs to the architectural culture of the Hattiesburg area." President and CEO Phil Allsopp of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation said, “This project exemplifies the foundation’s mission to bring the essence of design innovation to bear on the major urban design and planning problems facing the nation during this century.”

Lily Valley, which will occupy some 67 acres north of Hattiesburg, MS, will combine a mix of residential, commercial, and cultural elements and amenities to achieve "harmony" among the residents, culture, the climate and other natural elements. This development incorporates a concept to create a sustainable and walkable community that allows residents to walk to necessities such as grocery stores, medical care and recreational facilities. Eventually it will be home to 1,500 people. Homes will range from 600 to 2,200 square feet, with energy-saving features, such as solar panels and passive environmental controls standard in each home, and will be elevated to encourage air circulation for natural cooling and natural storm water management. Prices are expected to range from $60,000 for a one-bedroom "starter" to $220,000 for a larger three-bedroom model.

All the buildings are designed with nature and the environment in mind with "green" roofs on large buildings - roofs covered with natural plants to control runoff during rains and insulate the buildings. Houses are designed with solar panels as an alternate source of power and to ventilate themselves, allowing residents to stay comfortable without using air conditioning or fans. They will be built using plastic foam forms filled with concrete, called Isolated Concrete Forms. The exteriors will be covered with stucco and the interiors with plaster. The tower dominating the development's model will serve as a cellular repeater tower and house generators to light the community's common grounds. The Lily Valley community is scheduled to break ground in November 2006.

"Frank Lloyd Wright said that every design component must accomplish at least three things," explained developer James Ray Polk. "In this case the ICF (insulated concrete form) system we've developed has an excellent insulation rating, is easier to build, and is less expensive overall than conventional concrete systems." Polk described other design features that contribute to the community's sustainability and minimize its impact on the natural environment, such as using green roofs on some of the buildings and taking advantage of the area's natural ability to manage water runoff. "Rather than duplicate, our plan is to leverage what nature has already provided for us at Lily Valley. We want to complement rather than take away from what has been there for thousands of years," said Polk. He further explained that houses and buildings within this community are designed to consume less energy, are closely knit into the surrounding forest ecosystem, encourage interaction across generations, and are within walking distance from most daily services.

“Have you ever stopped to think what it would be like to live in the ‘perfect’ neighborhood?” Polk asked. “I mean, have you ever actually had the time between trips to the store, driving your kids from here to there, or commuting in traffic to work and back to stop and think about what’s in a neighborhood?” The “New American Village,” through its design, has thought about these “what if’s” in great detail.

"Whatever a person's income level, there is a house that they will be able to afford," Polk said. "Most developments usually target a certain income group. We didn't do that. Our plan is to have people from different economic groups living next to each other. It makes a community more diverse and helps bring the community more together." “In America, we live in a market-based development environment. If enough of us call for positive, healthy change and put our money where our mouth is, it will happen,” concluded Polk.

The homes and buildings at Lily Valley are designed on the philosophy of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, incorporating nature and the environment in their construction. "Frank Lloyd Wright was influential in terms of starting the whole green movement long before it became popular," Polk stated. "He said, 'Go to nature in your search for a design; don't copy any other building. Creativity emulates, it never imitates.'"

Images courtesy of The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation & EcoDesign/James Ray Polk

Comments

[Joan Bechtel]

Has this project been started (or completed) yet?

[John Brady]

What a great idea! I have been writing about communities on my Topretirements.com site for a while (mostly from the point of view of the best places for baby boomers to retire), and Lily Valley is the most exciting green, sustainable, and livable community I have come across yet. Good report and nice job Lily Valley!

[Diane Ivers]

I want to retire to a "healthy"and "green" community environment. Lily Valley sounds like what I'm looking for.

When will it be completed? Are there plans I can look at - both community and floor plans of homes?

[Crane Trucks]

The construction field always has it ups and downs and is always changing but progress will never stop.Even in a questionable economy there is always room for growth and expansion. The will and strength of the people is what makes us all able to move forward and accomplish great feats together. and construction has always been the backbone of this country no matter the economic status.