This month we are taking a break and featuring some local news on one of the architects here at the office of Fred J. Becker, Architect. Lawrence Schechter and his wife, Sylvia, were featured in an article written in "the Source" this last June.
The Drive To Thrive
Lawrence and Sylvia Schec[h]ter hope to build a Sustainable Living Center
Elizabeth Quinn
Our humanity is not abstract; it is made concrete by the emotional tone of our homes and the human scale of our living. -Thomas Moore
Lawrence and Sylvia Schecter moved to Central Oregon to demonstrate, teach and share a scale of living grace on our earth. The Schecter's are in the process of developing a holistically ecological picture of humanity through their dedication to The Sustainable Living Center.
The Center will be a resource to local area individuals, businesses, organizations and communities fostering a transition to sustainable living that protects and enhances the ecological health and viability of the environment, now and into the future. The picture coming into focus through the Schecters' efforts is one of educational facilities within the urban growth boundary of Bend that provides a demonstration of a Living Environment, sustainable building and living retreats and workshops, a showroom or environmentally sound materials, a design studio, organic gardens and a library with varied resources focused on sustainable living. The Schecter's visualize the Center empowering and inspiring citizens and local governments to employ progressive, affordable and ecological alternatives to conventional and destructive development of homes and communities.
"We are here to thrive, not just survive," states Lawrence Schecter as he describes Living Environments. "Living Environments are human constructed environments such as homes and businesses built in harmony with, and based upon natural ecosystems rather than at odds with them. Like healthy ecosystems, Living Environments are interconnected whole living systems that thrive on mutually beneficial sustainable relationships." Homes and businesses are designed with organic materials, forms and details that reflect a natural elegance that is simple and soulful.
Central Oregon's phenomenal growth attracted the Schecter's to Bend as a site for The Sustainable Living Center. Due to such growth, the local area communities are primed for ecologically sound building alternatives that are affordable and complimentary to the integrity of the landscape in which we live.
The Schecter's moved to Bend nine months ago from the Ashland area where they founded and operated for fourteen years the Alcyone Light Centre. Alcyone's main residential facility was designed as a Bioshelter, a totally self-contained building with its own off-grid power supply and water source from a gravity fed well. Organic gardens and greenhouses provided the small residential community and visiting students with food year round. Land use was based on strict permaculture principles. Each stage of building and maintaining the facility was conducted as a hands-on workshop. Much of the same characteristics will exist at the Sustainable Living Center in Bend. Along with their determination and motivation, Lawrence brings his architectural and sustainable building, planning and designing expertise and Sylvia contributes her extensive knowledge of organic gardening, holistic nutrition and living lightly principles to the development and operation of The Center.
The Sustainable Living Center is presently in the first phase of growth. The concentration in the first phase is on public education and outreach. The public education arm will offer lectures and workshops on such subjects as community growth patterns and their impacts on the environment, regeneration of local ecology, environmentally sound construction methods and moving into wholeness through total personal health and well being through regeneration. Presently, through Earth Year 2000, presentations are planned for June 24th and 25th. Viviane Simon-Brown will help individuals begin to define what sustainable living means to them. Lawrence Schecter will present thought provoking principles and visually rich examples in architecture and land planning. Throughout the next nine months more workshops and presentations will take place. Outreach is occurring by fostering community relationships, such as with Habitat for Humanity, The Central Oregon Environmental Center and OSU Extension Services.
In mid 2001, phase two is planned to begin with the construction of The Center. A donation of five to ten acres is being sought within the urban growth boundary of Bend on which to build The Center. Phase three will consist of developing the facilities resource offerings, workshops and retreats.
For more information, contact The Sustainable Living Center at P.O. Box 7877, Bend, Oregon 97708, 389-6434 or ssusarch@aol.com. For more information about the upcoming presentations, call the Environmental Center at 385-6908.
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Quinn, Elizabeth. "The Drive To Thrive." the Source. Vol. 4, Iss. 23; June 7-14, 2000; pg. 6.
Fred J. Becker, Architect
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