Eco-Lieu: A Community-Driven Housing Project

 Taking on an environmental challenge through a participatory housing project open to the world: that is Casalez

Casalez is first and foremost a group of people who have formed an association to bring their ecological transition project to life.

Its primary goal: to build a shared living space in a cooperative and participatory manner.

The idea took shape in Prades-le-Lez, on the site of one of the founders’ former home. After many years of work, the families settled in, delighted to enjoy their first season at Casalez.

The Casalez project is thus the story of the transformation of a single-family home into a collective living space.
It is also the project of a group committed to an ecological and social approach to transforming its environment…

The building will consist of 11 apartments ranging from studios to five-bedroom units, all constructed with a focus on high energy efficiency, minimal environmental impact, and innovation. Nine of the eleven units will be public housing.  Access to quality housing, inclusion, and the fight against isolation and precariousness are also at the heart of the project (continued within this section).

  Shared spaces

In addition to the individual apartments, a shared lifestyle will take shape around common spaces:  garden, small permaculture vegetable garden, green walls, natural swimming pond, guest room, common room, laundry room, workshop space, and likely car-sharing vehicles as well…  We will share everything that can be shared, thereby offering as many opportunities as possible to invigorate the life of the group.

Far from being a bubble, and thanks to its common spaces, the project will be a true hub for encounters and exchanges.

In a second phase, Casalez will have full control of its resources to bring to life an urban oasis, based on principles of commitment, openness, social connection, energy efficiency, and solidarity… all values that characterize its approach.

Cycloasis is the name given to the experiment with green walls that will take place in Casalez.  These walls are designed both to bring coolness to urban areas (suburban areas in our case) and will be irrigated by graywater from homes (showers, laundry).  This experiment is supported by the Occitanie region as part of its Nowatt program. It brings together three companies—Ecosec, Ecofilae, and Surya—and Lez’Coop as the project manager.