Our Carbon Village Project

R3 is pioneering a sustainable and community-focused approach to development through innovative housing and village models. Our projects emphasize safety, sustainability, and social inclusion, utilizing biochar and carbon-smart building materials to create affordable, energy-efficient homes, and scalable village prototypes. These initiatives aim to foster local employment, entrepreneurship, food security, and environmental stewardship, ultimately building resilient, regenerative communities with a net-zero carbon footprint and open-source systems for replication worldwide.

  • Build it.

  • Grow it.

  • Dream it.

Innovative Sustainable Housing and Community Development at R3

At R3, the safety and well-being of our team members is a top priority. Our farm is located approximately 225 kilometers from Windhoek, and many of our staff commute from the nearby Osire Refugee Settlement, which is supported by existing infrastructure including a clinic and a police station. Namibian team members are currently housed in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-approved accommodations that are regularly inspected to ensure they meet high standards of safety and sustainability.

Biochar production offers an exciting opportunity to develop a demonstration housing project that integrates both sustainable agriculture and innovative, carbon-smart building materials. When incorporated into cement mixtures, biochar has been shown to enhance compressive strength and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of construction—particularly when produced from plant-based feedstocks at the high pyrolysis temperatures employed by R3.

We are developing purpose-built housing for our team that thoughtfully balances safety, privacy, individuality, and a sense of community. These homes will feature gardens, covered outdoor cooking areas, and generous communal spaces, including a football field, essential commercial facilities, and a multi-use community center that will also serve as a school and church. Hydraform block construction, using biochar produced on-site, will be central to the project—creating strong, affordable, and well-insulated homes that contribute to long-term carbon sequestration.

A Model for Regenerative, Scalable, and Community-Centered Sustainability

R3’s Carbon Circular Village prototype is envisioned to demonstrate a replicable, regenerative model focused on:

  1. Job creation

  2. Women-centered employment opportunities

  3. Improved food security

  4. Net-zero environmental impact

  5. Scalable development

  6. Carbon-embedded building materials

  7. A functional model of a carbon-based company town

  8. Open-source systems that encourage replication

The village will ultimately consist of three to four circular “clans,” each with 12 homes (housing 4–6 occupants) and eight dormitories, supporting a total of 400–450 residents. Each home will include space for small-scale entrepreneurship, helping foster local business and economic independence. Beyond housing, biochar will also be used as a cattle feed supplement, soil enhancement, groundwater retention for food crops, water filtration systems, and artisanal brickmaking—creating a truly circular and sustainable carbon economy.

Refugee Resilience

See how our sustainable village initiatives help refugees rebuild and thrive—learn more about Osire Refugee Settlement and our efforts to foster resilience and opportunity.