A New Generation: Toward Sustainable Community in Pennsylvania's Rural Landscape

Abstract

With the increasing rate of land development, consumption of natural resources, and destruction of ecosystems in the United States today, it is crucial to investigate sustainable alternatives to current development practices and patterns of settlement. This thesis proposes strategies for environmentally responsible land use and partial development of 40 acres of overgrown, family-owned farmland in rural Pennsylvania. It investigates ways in which the creation of community can help to promote sustainable patterns of development for this rural landscape. The proposal aims to strengthen connections within the community as well as between the community and natural environment. By questioning current zoning codes and existing values surrounding land ownership and dwelling, we can design and develop in less invasive ways that help to preserve the beauty of the landscape and the places that we love.