Earth, wind, fire and water are evident, primal, heavily influential forces Moonshadow Ventures deals with, of course.

Ancient cultures used Geomancic Systems (earth divination). The Chinese had Feng Shui, the flow of energy. Vastu Shastra was used in India and considered the science of architecture and integrating it with nature. As directors of the vital forces, we seek the most favorable conditions for success.

Mission of Endurance Dwellings

Moonshadow Venture’s core ideals and values are based on stewardship of the land by acknowledging that every site is unique.

We begin by analyzing how earth, wind, fire and water will affect each site. Then we think of critical forces you would never expect but are very important for your basic comfort and organization. Maybe even use a little geomancy if needed but mostly common sense.

There are other forces, that sometimes may be labeled as non-essential forces. In present day reality (with building codes and all), ignoring the non-essential forces, may actually cause high discomfort in routine existence.

The Other Forces

One of the great ideas in the Living Building Challenge is that value and profit are critical to the best use of the natural and built environments. We value analyze critical forces that are very important for your basic comfort and organization to produce elegant systems dealing with force and celebrating life. What are these other forces?

When people think of living off the grid, it conjures up pictures of crude communes many miles and hours from towns and cities, full of dirt and deprivation.

With us, nothing could be further from the truth. We have a dedicated utopic vision. Clients have control of their lives through the site choice, design and lifestyle. How to be self-sufficient and part of a larger community relies on more forces than the initial elements. We like to think ahead.

• Parking If you decide to have a big party, where will people park? Plan it in advance.
• Compost, garbage, and recycle How many times a day is it necessary to take out? Make these processes easy to access.
• Water Water How many thousands of gallons slip through every year uncaught? Plan for SWRPYs, ponds and waterfalls.
• Moonlight How many incredible dancing opportunities are missed on the full harvest moon because you are inside and can’t even see the moon? Have a flat roof surrounded by a dark night (no light pollution) and gaze up; then dance to the light of the moon.
• Trails Want to walk at midnight in bare feet? Or have exercise pits every 100 feet that challenge the soul and body? It’s a force we can plan in advance to fit desired forces.

Ergonomics: Prime Directive

People should be safe in the kitchen, in the bathrooms and especially the stairs. Safety is a paramount consideration we use, and forces are value analyzed, interpreted and used in context with synergetic elements.

ADA compliance in design assures safety as an inherent factor within all our structures.

We also take a look at interior design.

• What will the countertops and work surfaces be made of?
• What are the floor coverings and wall exposition potentials?
• Can we use local crafts people and suppliers of wood specialties?

Fitting into an agroforest environment by using the natural forces and thinking ahead, make for an ergonomic and safe living space. And a place to park and celebrate life.