Professional Documents
Culture Documents
California Greening
California Greening
M
ost definitions of borhood – a 240 home, 60 acre Above: village amphitheatre, and relax
Utopia don’t include (24ha) development in an agri- The unofficial in the community-run pool.
submitting to grass cultural town 16 miles (26km) mascot of a Yet this environmentally-
police. Yet in one Northern outside the State Capital of life science/ conscious sanctuary need not
California hamlet, residents are Sacramento – has been the subject agriculture- build high walls to shut out a
lining up for the privilege of of national and international based school cruel world, since the surround-
having their lawns monitored television documentaries on and of Davis, ing town of Davis is similarly
for eco-incorrect sproutings. environmentally sustainable its town. dedicated to an excellent quality
“They send people round to living. Conceived at the height of life, clean living and
check for Bermuda grass and of the unsettling Ford-era sustainability – and in fact was
they fine you if they see it gasoline crisis and economic named one of the healthiest
growing,” admits Paul Teller, recession and built in 1975, U.S. communities in which to
a University of California pro- Village Homes attempted to live and retire. With an approach
fessor and long-time resident at recreate a traditional sense of combining innovation, educa-
the exclusive, communal Village community while conserving tion, recreation and social
Homes housing scheme in energy and water in the most Below: awareness, Davis is brimming
Davis. When questioned if this efficient way possible. Solar Anastasia with unique community aspects.
kind of scrub-scrutiny is a small water heating and passive space Ashman. In addition to its community-
price to pay for being part of heating designs are incorporated built Art Center, more than
a forward-looking community, into each home’s design. $200,000-worth of publicly-
the philosophy teacher is Neighbors share not only the owned objets d’art are exhib-
passionate in the affirmative. unfenced yards around each ited throughout the charming
“I paid extra to secure a spot here home, they also meet on the pedestrian-friendly town for
and now I’m never leaving!” large village green, entrust their the residents’ strolling pleasure.
Due to its unique concept, children to a community day care The numerous cafes are
the professor’s vaunted neigh- center, hold performances at the equipped with modems for easy
California-native Anastasia
Ashman writes about arts,
society, culture and technology
for The Village Voice, The Asian
Wall Street Journal, Far Eastern
Economic Review and others.
She lives in New York City.