Re-Imaginaing my Sustainable Nosara

In October 2019, NOCA held its first community project, in collaboration with No.9 of Toronto. The program brought together 30 students from the local high school, Colegio Bocas de Nosara, and Del Mar Academy, an institution that caters to the rapidly growing international “resident” community. 

The five-day, hands-on integrated program was designed to break down barriers and bring together students and teachers from the two schools to collaborate and co-create their vision for a sustainable Nosara. The program brought ecological awareness through an introduction to sustainable social, urban planning and architecture. 

Since the inception of the IMSC (Imagine My Sustainable Community) program, No.9 has educated over 3,000 students, collaborated with 100 teachers and engaged over 50 architect volunteers in six North American cities to provide education on how to build sustainable communities, one neighborhood at a time. The NOCA pilot (in Nosara) represented the first time the IMSC program was being delivered outside of North America.

An interdisciplinary approach to ecological literacy, IMSC teaches students about sustainable community building, civic leadership and governance, and provides them with the tools to initiate positive change in their communities. 

Nine Pillars of Sustainability

A series of guest speakers delivered a high-level introduction on the nine pillars that contribute to sustainable city building: community engagement and leadership, waste management, water management, public transportation, alternative energy, green building design, green open space, public art and design, local agriculture and food security.  

A Vision Made Manifest

Students were challenged to build a 3D scaled-model while working collaboratively to ensure that their ideas created a cohesive vision for the Nosaracommunity. 

On the final day of the program, students presented their vision and work to community leaders, residents and families.