Could YOU live off-grid? Quirky forest eco-village created by couple who were tired of modern life now houses 600 people in four communities - and some of the homes were built for just $20,000

  • Steve and Marie Nygren bought land south of Atlanta with the aim of creating an 'off-grid' experimental community that was largely self-sufficient 
  • Architect Dr. Phill Tabb helped design the eco-community nearly 15 years ago
  • Now Serenbe has grown to house 600 people across four connected hamlets
  • Villagers live off a 25-acre organic farm, waste water is recycled and the focus is on 'a well-lived life' with 'arts for inspiration' and 'agriculture for nourishment'

A back-to-nature rural community created 15 years ago by a couple who dreamed of living off-grid is thriving. 

Serenbe, in the idyllic pastoral setting of Chattahoochee Hill country, south of Atlanta, is the brainchild of Steve and Marie Nygren, who decided that escaping the rat-race for a simpler life needn't be the stuff of fancy.

Residents living in the revolutionary green utopia, which was designed by architect Dr Phil Tabb, now recycle their water, live off fruit and vegetables grown on a 25-acre organic farm and walk as much as possible via a network of inter-connecting trails. 

Some 600 people are currently living happily in the experimental community, with the four hamlets boasting a school, shops and cafes - all with well-being and green living at their core.  

The good life! The Serenbe community, just south of Atlanta, was designed by architect Dr Phill Tabb and is the brainchild of couple Steve and Marie Nygren; the quirky community has proved a huge success with 600 people now living there

The good life! The Serenbe community, just south of Atlanta, was designed by architect Dr Phill Tabb and is the brainchild of couple Steve and Marie Nygren; the quirky community has proved a huge success with 600 people now living there

Steve Nygren, left, decided if he wanted to build a unique rural community, then he had to start in his 'own backyard
The villagers now hold a farmers' market with the produce they grow

Steve Nygren, left, decided if he wanted to build a unique rural community, then he had to start in his 'own backyard'; the villagers now hold a farmers' market with the produce they grow

Some of the houses across the four hamlets were designed by university students and cost just $20,000 to create

Some of the houses across the four hamlets were designed by university students and cost just $20,000 to create

The idea of simple living sees villagers growing their own fruit and vegetables and waste water is recycled

The idea of simple living sees villagers growing their own fruit and vegetables and waste water is recycled

Farm life: Those who subscribe to life away from the freeways and metropoli say they're happier living off the fat of the land
One of the animals living in the pastoral idyll that is Chattahoochee Hill country

Farm life: Those who subscribe to life away from the freeways and metropoli say they're happier living off the fat of the land. Right: One of the animals living in the pastoral idyll that is Chattahoochee Hill country

The green pastures provide the community with the food they need - and buckets of clean, fresh air

The green pastures provide the community with the food they need - and buckets of clean, fresh air

Not a city in sight! An aerial shot of Serenbe, which has steadily grown over 15 years

Not a city in sight! An aerial shot of Serenbe, which has steadily grown over 15 years

The community was designed by Steve and Marie Nygren and is hidden amid 1,000 acres of natural forest landscape just south of Atlanta in the United States.

Homes - which are heated and cooled with ground-sourced heat pumps - were built into the landscape to minimize the impact on the land.

Manicured lawns are not allowed and fresh food is a natural asset with a 25-acre organic farm. 

There is also a seasonal Saturday farmers market and edible landscaping along paths and sidewalk.

The water system is eco friendly and vegetated wetland treats all the wastewater.

There are currently three restaurants, eight retailers, a gym, a day spa and a school on site. They are all connected by walking trails.

Living the dream: Steve and Marie Nygren conjured up the idea of living in a carefully-created community more than 15 years ago

Living the dream: Steve and Marie Nygren conjured up the idea of living in a carefully-created community more than 15 years ago

Green and pleasant land: the community looks to America of old
Those who live in the four-hamlet community shun many aspects of modern life in favour of organic living

Green and pleasant land: the hamlets look to America of old, shunning many aspects of modern life in favour of organic living and a focus on community

The community has grown so much, it now boasts cafes, an Inn and even a school to educate the children who live at Serenbe

The community has grown so much, it now boasts cafes, an Inn and even a school to educate the children who live at Serenbe

The villages' circular emblem is seen at various points across the rural community

The villages' circular emblem is seen at various points across the rural community

Serenbe has garnered a series of awards including EarthCraft's 'Development of the Year'

Serenbe has garnered a series of awards including EarthCraft's 'Development of the Year'

Coffee culture: Those who live in the unusual purpose-built village have access to facilities including cafes, markets and a theatre

Coffee culture: Those who live in the unusual purpose-built village have access to facilities including cafes, markets and a theatre

A spokesman for the village said: 'Each of Serenbe's four hamlets have complementary commercial centers focused on the elements of a well-lived life - arts for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health for wellbeing and education for awareness.

Serenbe's four hamlets focus on the elements of a well-lived life - arts for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health for wellbeing and education for awareness...
 

'The vision for the community of Serenbe was born in an effort to protect the beautiful rural land just outside of Atlanta known as Chattahoochee Hill Country.

'They say that if you want to change the world, you should start in your own backyard. If that's so, then Serenbe is quite a beginning.' 

A group of architecture students were involved in helping Serenbe offer low-cost housing. 

Serenbe features some homes that were borne out of the 20k Home Project, a venture by students at Auburn University's Rural Studio in Alabama, to create well-designed homes at affordable prices.

The initial aim for the project was to make a market-rate model home that could be built by contract for $20,000.

A network of inter-connecting trails enable residents to get between the four hamlets on foot

A network of inter-connecting trails enable residents to get between the four hamlets on foot

Housed on acres of forested land south of Atlanta, the option to live in green utopia Serenbe has become increasingly attractive

Housed on acres of forested land south of Atlanta, the option to live in green utopia Serenbe has become increasingly attractive

This would include $12,000 for materials and $8,000 for labor - making it less than the average price of a new car but does not include the price of the land.

Andrew Freear, director of Rural Studio, said: 'We have discovered that while we can easily predict the cost of materials, the cost of labor, utility installation and application for building permission by region, local municipality, community and even neighborhood can change drastically.

'The goal for the product line is to give the public access to the 20K product line homes.

'The goal for the studio is to continue to design beautiful, affordable and efficient homes for our community.'

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