Eco friendly housing encompasses Environmental issues, Water and Wastewater, Transport, Materials, Health and Well-being, Affordability and Adaptability. All ingredients that will be applied when constructing the first Eco Neighborhood where structures will be built that are  “hurricane-, earthquake challenged and fire-resistant. The first Eco Neighborhood to be developed on St. Maarten DWI.

Project Overview

This Eco Neighborhood will consist of:

•  An outdoor Bazar known as The Keys Market – a local market built out of recycled materials that offers workshop activities, jobs and business opportunities in reducing and upcycling waste. A plus is that it will provide its own electricity, biogas and have its own waste-(water)-management system. There is room to accommodate 40+ flexible stalls.
• A food court section built out of 14 modified shipping containers. Where each food stall must follow the sustainable dogmas “Reduce and Reuse” by implementing the use of compostable food service, reduce food waste, use organic, free-range and local ingredients wherever possible. Food vendors also must sort their waste so it can be reused as far as possible.
• Self-sufficient Eco Homes built out of modified shipping containers that will provide own renewable energy sources and be part o f the waste-management and waste-water management system. The plan is to construct Eco Homes of the types Studio, One bedroom, Two bedroom and Three bedroom. To view the housing options go to www.caribhousing.com.
• Geodesic dome constructions that has a social function, for they will be a Holistic Health & Wellness and Refuge Shelter.

Construction & Services

Our philosophy and motto is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Re-purpose – 4 x R which is applied while constructing this Eco Neighborhood. The becoming of a self-sufficient Eco Neighborhood with Biogas system, Waste management system, Waste-Water management system, Renewable energy sources, a Park landscaped with Perma-culture gardens and Aquaponics system providing food and fish in abundance offers future residents the chance to a self-reliance and sustainable life in a piece of paradise on earth called St. Maarten.

To construct hurricane and earthquake proof housing “Eco Housing” modified shipping containers and geodesic dome structures will be applied.

Shipping containers are made out of corrugated CorTen Steel so they are exceptionally durable and hardy. They are built to withstand heavy winds and high seas on cargo ships. That makes shipping container homes earthquake, hurricane and tornado safe and fire resistant. Their durability also makes them hard to break into. Used shipping containers are easy to come by and can also be used as extension making these Eco Homes modular built. Constructing a shipping container home is 40% faster compared to conventional construction and 30% cheaper compared to purchasing building materials.

Domes are usually arrays of triangles that form three- or five-eighths of a geodesic sphere. Geodesic domes are efficient structures in several ways. Geodesic shelters have been built all around the world in different climates and temperatures and still they have proven to be the most efficient human shelter one can find. This makes geodesic dome buildings highly resistant to such forces as heavy rain falls, hurricanes, withstands 225mph winds, earthquakes and tornadoes. More specifically the dome is energy efficient for many reasons. It’s decreased surface area requires less building materials!

Construction is managed by and executed by HoomStreet and Carib Housing  – experts in alternative construction and renewable energy sources – together with volunteers and 3^rd party local suppliers.

Currently we are looking for donations and or supporters for small investment amounts that will help us:

• Provide all building materials and needed labour equipment.
• Select and/or purchase used shipping containers for modification.
• Create a local workforce who will be taught to carry out the shipping container modification.

Reliable & Experienced

Designs are made by HoomStreet (www.hoomstreet.com) which has expertise in alternative construction and knowledge of renewable energy sources systems. Marlin Yard is fully responsible for the overall management and marketing activities of this project.

Eco Shares Program, Support & Incentives 

When supporting this development plan you will be eligible to participate our Eco Shares Program. Eco Shares is something like the original concept of investing but has integrated “saving scheme” elements. You place forward some funds to help start a project. These funds are converted into Eco Shares. Then as a reward you get a return from future sales meaning you receive a small portion of the company’s revenue for a period, this is called profit sharing.  Eco Shares not only compensates each participant for their efforts it also offers you the opportunity to benefit from the occurring development of choice.  If the will is there to socially invest in development of a location, village facilities, a county’s economy, then help develop a community by participating the Eco Shares Program. Click here for more information how to sign up with the Eco Shares Program. 

Want to donate? Click here

By implementing our 4xR motto = Reduce- Reuse- Recycle and Repurpose, we minimize investment risks. The challenges and risks to complete this project are mostly climate and area related. St. Maarten lies in a hurricane zone. Hurricane periods are from 1 June throughout 30 November peaking in August, September, and October with higher temperatures, drought and occurring tropical storms which are common making it a gamble if a hurricane would hit St. Maarten.

It is crucial to start construction activities in December until May. Although hurricane and earthquake challenged construction is carried out we cannot forecast the destructiveness of a hurricane or nature related phenomenon. It’s possible building materials could get damaged or lost in such cases. But nevertheless we put damaged building materials back to good use!