There are three things that undoubtedly attract young Atlanta residents (and young people everywhere, really): quirky, affordable housing, significant walkability scores and a serving of food culture that would satisfy any hungry hipster.
So why is it that when the city’s average citizen hears the term Serenbe, they seem completely lost? Serenbe, an idyllic urban utopia, offers all of the above and more. Located a short 30 miles from the epicenter of the state capitol, Serenbe boasts a neighborhood full of fresh food, fresh air and a focus on wellbeing.
Surprisingly, this utopia did not simply spring up from the Georgia red clay sustaining it. Serenbe’s development is a story of a family looking to embrace Georgia’s natural beauty and rural roots. Steve Nyrgren initially purchased the land in 1991, and with the help of key Georgia influencers like the University of Georgia, the Urban Land Institute and the Georgia Conservancy, the project has continued to grow.
Yup, there’s a farm.
Serenbe’s in-community certified organic farm lures in many local eco-enthusiasts. After first obtaining organic status by Quality Certification Services in 2004, the 25-acre working farm is now in its 11th season of sprouting. The neighborhood’s full-time farmers and apprentices produce more than 300 varieties of heirloom and hybrid veggies, flowers and herbs. Annually, Serenbe harvests over 60,000 lbs. of produce, which is then distributed through its community-supported agriculture program and local farmers markets.
One such market is the Serenbe Farmers and Artists Market, which offers residents and visitors alike an eclectic variety of all the usual gifts of a local outdoor shopping square. The market rivals Atlanta’s signature folksy festivals, all while spotlighting sustainable food and art. Every Saturday, in a green space surrounded by a unique college of retail shops, restaurants and galleries, Serenbe neighbors peruse the stalls and experience some of Serenbe’s regularly scheduled programming like canning and preserving demos from chefs.
Oh, and about the homes.
Lodging is a uniting factor for Atlanta – where to find it, how to afford it, how to get to it. But this basic necessity is hardly basic at Serenbe. One example of Serenbe’s attitude toward inclusive, people-focused communities is their longstanding partnership with Rural Studio.
Rural Studio, Auburn University’s architecture program, was searching for more ways to practically test out their most unique designs, and as a result, created two quaint, one-bedroom, one-bath, 500-sq.-foot homes connected by a shared outdoor deck space. These structures represent two of the studio’s 17 prototypes, all of which are priced at or under $20,000.
At that price point, many Atlantans wouldn’t expect much more than a covered hut close to the perimeter. These homes offer much more comfort, though, and they also promote sustainable living practices. From their energy cost-saving pier foundation to airflow-friendly transom interior ceilings, these abodes aren’t tiny houses — they’re small homes.
The land matters, too.
Serenbe’s layout is nothing but intentional. The website explains:
The master plan for Serenbe calls for multiple hamlets based on English villages, all designed on sacred geometry principles with buildings clustered along serpentine-like omega forms fitted to the undulations of the land. This method of arranging the community requires minimal land disturbances and allows the community to reserve large areas of undeveloped green space.
It also explains why one of Serenbe’s guiding principles is the concept of biophilia: “the theory that there is an instinctive bond between humans and other living systems.” Many homes are powered by geothermal and solar power. Residents have access to a nonprofit horse and equestrian center, three renowned farm-to-table restaurants, a fishing dock, dog park, play spaces, 15 miles of trails littered with waterfalls and ruins, and that big ol’ farm.
By gracefully applying the concepts of new urbanism and sustainability as solutions to Atlanta’s city landscape, Serenbe is a solid example of what happens when thoughtful planning and passion is put into the much-debated concept of a mixed-use development.
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