The use of prefabricated and modular building strategies has been an area of much discussion in the realm of architecture, construction, and design in recent years, and sustainability advocates often discuss its relevance in terms of social and economic issues, such as affordable housing, urban development, and environmental responsibility.

Important as this dialogue may be, it’s also crucial to note how flexible, accessible and adaptable design thinking is being used to address similar issues in varying and innovative ways. Open source information sharing is one means of applying this concept, and the growth of free and accessible knowledge-based networks represents new options as to how we can effectively achieve shared goals through education and communication.

Marcin Jakubowski, Director of Open Source Ecology, recently gave a TED talk about a project that has generated increased awareness of the value and potential of an open source model to advance social equity, enable economic opportunity, and empower communities and individuals, and it's definitely worth watching... at least once or twice.

The Global Village Construction Set is an innovative tool that seeks to provide a ‘community-based solution for bringing wealth back to local communities’ with the underlying philosophy that ‘using wisdom and modern technology…can unleash massive amounts of human potential and can address many pressing world issues.’

Here at MYD, we recently wrote a tongue-in-cheek post about the latest in LEGO architecture, and it's ironic and quite remarkable to see how the basic LEGO block, modular by nature, has actually been a source of inspiration for truly innovative and powerful ideas seeking to enable, empower, and connect people and communities, as seen in the short video below.

The collaborative and accessible open format is a critical element in the realization of Open Source Ecology goals, exemplifying a new approach in how we think about economy, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration. It’s inspiring to see this concept in practice, serving the collective needs of humans in a pragmatic and innovative way, and it will be fascinating to see how the expansion of an open source approach to other arenas will affect how we work, live, and interact. The potential for creative exploration, innovative problem-solving, and collective change is truly vast in this context.

For more information, check out the website, or get involved at the Open Source Ecology wiki page. Or visit TED to join the conversation and read the comments, thoughts, and ideas that are being shared on the topic of open source economics.

Ecology, DIY + Open Source Technology