The Environment
Our Ecovillage Laboratory is nestled in an intimate valley, surrounded by lush nature and complete privacy. The spaces are small, cozy, and simple, designed to support communal living in close connection with nature and its elements, with DIY creativity rather than artificial comfort.
The largest building is the Octagon, a 30 m² artistic structure made entirely from clay. It serves as our community kitchen and central gathering place. Thanks to its efficient wood-burner heating system, with channels integrated into the walls, the Octagon is easily kept warm and welcoming throughout the day, however the weather might be.
Another central space is the Spa, a glass building of the same size. Although it has no heating system, the sun quickly warms it into a bright and inviting gathering spot, even in winter. The Spa can also transform into a communal hot tub: half of the floor opens into a basin that can be filled with water and heated by fire, creating space for up to 20 people to bathe together. Even if not done very often, this remains one of the most enchanting winter attractions in our valley.
A particularly unique place is the Moon Temple, a women-only sanctuary carved inside the mountain. It can be heated and provides a comfortable, sacred, and protected space for women to care for.
Individual Spaces
In total, the valley offers 5 camping-style caravans, 2 circus caravans, 2 treehouses, 1 clay hut, and a small cave space. While the camping caravans are primarily dedicated to individual use by long-term heart crew members, the other spaces are to be enjoyed by short-term participants and, depending on demand, may be shared. For example, two people may share a smaller space, while the largest circus caravan can host up to four.
Most living spaces have wood burners, but the infrastructure is intentionally simple and rustic, often just a small LED light, giving each place a cozy charm.
This arrangement gives the place a maximum winter capacity of around 20 people. In addition, participants are welcome to arrive with camper vans or tents, which can extend the available capacity.
Infrastructure
The Ecovillage Laboratory is powered by a solar system, and the entire electrical network is based on 12V in order to minimize electrosmog. For devices that require 220V, there is a central charging station with standard plugs.
The communal shower can be heated either by solar power or by gas, ensuring that warm water is always available.
Our toilets are based on a compost system, where human waste, together with kitchen scraps, is transformed into fertilizer. Urine, however, can be released directly into nature, which means there is no need to walk to the toilet at night.
There is no washing machine on site. Laundry is either done manually or taken to a laundry service in the nearby town.
Life in Winter
Much of our communal life takes place outdoors. In winter, there are many days when the sun shines strongly enough to be naked at midday. At the same time, there are colder days when temperatures barely rise above 10°C, and mornings and evenings in the valley can be quite chilly, especially since the sun reaches the valley late. With its natural stream and lush vegetation, there is always a certain humidity in the air.
That is why the bonfire becomes one of the most important gathering places. Most days, people naturally end the day together around the fire, right next to the Octagon, often bringing food and drinks outside. Life between the Octagon and the bonfire merges into one big shared living room under the open sky.
Yet one of the amazing aspects of our climate is that even during rare cloudy periods, the sun almost always breaks through at some point each day. This nourishes the soul with light and openness. The kind of weather found in northern Europe, where thick layers of clouds create a dark atmosphere without direct sunlight for weeks, simply does not exist here.
Living with nature is part of the journey. While summer here feels like effortless paradise, winter invites a more conscious relationship with the environment. Firewood needs to be managed, common spaces heated, and mud dealt with after rainy periods. Rain is generally rare, some winters pass without it completely, though one or two weeks of wetter weather can make the clay earth muddy. Learning as a group how to adapt, keep spaces clean, and collaborate with nature is part of the community process and can become a deeply transformative experience when embraced with openness and passion.
Coliving
In the nearby village we also have our Coliving House. Unlike the Ecovillage Laboratory, it offers large, centrally heated indoor spaces. Please note, however, that use of the Coliving House is not included in the Ecovillage Laboratory community environment.
Rooms or pods in the Resonance Hub can be rented separately, and these rentals include full access to the entire house. For the heart crew, and possibly other long-term community members, the basement area, with its communal kitchen and coworking space, is available. People who have a space in the Hub can freely move between this Coliving House and the natural environment of the Ecovillage Laboratory.
