To a important degree the inspiration for this project is all community groups and individuals as activists, as creatives, as leaders, as mentors, as educators, as healers and carers …seeking new ways- and the practical tools and skills required- to help rebalance ‘humankind’ with nature, with mother earth - with Gaia.

In greek mythology Gaia is the primal Mother Goddess who gave birth to Earth and the universe. Recently she has come to symbolise what, we as humans, are at risk of losing in our day to day lives - that connection with nature. She serves to remind us that we are nature - interlinked with it and entirely dependant upon it.

The idea for Gaia-Haus-Hub was, therefore, the second source of inspiration for this project.

It’s origin is one such group: I-Can: Ivers Community Action Network Ltd . It was an idea conceived by individuals to form a mutual benefits society as a transformative response to both local and global challenges. Co-created in the community, by the community for the community.

A new prototype community building is the subject of our story. It seeks to be the vehicle for the experimentation, innovation and hands-on learning for others of like-mind. It offers the starting point for further iterations of a poly-use low impact net-zero carbon community buildings adpated to local climate, geography, landscape and available resources.

As a Creative Commons based projects all iterations, in our chain, by agreement of all users become part of the resource. It has no defined destination - its value is in a shared family journey, as it were.

All as brothers, sisters and proginey.

Our values are rooted in secular mutual aid and not-for-profit. As organisation these are rooted in local communities but with a global prespective - the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and a shift toward us too.

This project - our model of working- anticpates the adoption of Wellbeing Economics in forward thinking post-carbon, post -consumerist, post-media, post-celebrity, post-competititve and more collaborative societies.

This project exemplifies several of the the core aims of I-Can. These include:

Fostering and supporting new Bridging Networks across demographic and social boundaries

Inspiring, encouraging, empowering and enabling new community focused social enterprise

In this project our goal is more specifically the advancement of new education and skills training resources with a focus upon mental health, wellbeing, the relief of financial inequality and the regeneration and protection of the natural environment.

I-Can and A+Studio have teamed up with other key contributors to support, co-manage and mentor this project with the groups and individuals involved.

I-Can: Ivers Community Action Network Ltd (Reg.No 8458) is registered, in the UK, by the FCA under the Co-operative and Community Benefits Society Act 2014. As such It is a social enterprise network run for the community, by the community meeting needs identified by the community.

A+Studio is the UK based Low Impact Design & Development Consultancy that has provided and manages the architectural and design resource embedded in the project.