Designing a holistic sustainable project by integrating

permaculture

By
Saniya Malhotra
2016BARC065

A Report Submitted For

SEMINAR LEADING TO THESIS
BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

9 TH SEMESTER
YEAR: 2020

Seminar Coordinator/Mentor
________________________

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE,
BHOPAL.
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DECLARATION

I ​Saniya Malhotra​ hereby declares that the seminar work entitled ​“​Designing a holistic
sustainable project by integrating permaculture​” ​submitted to the Department of
Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, is a record of an original work done by
me. The results presented in this report have not been submitted to any other University or Institute
for the award of any degree or diploma.

Signature Date - ​30.12.20

( ​Saniya Malhotra​ )
( ​2016barc065​ )
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ABSTRACT

As of 2020, the world is witnessing an abnormal rate of mental health issues, hunger, deaths
due to pollution, natural disasters, lowering water tables and increasing sea levels.We clearly
need a change that has the power to cater to all these problems. Architecture is a prominent
part of our lives, of what we see since the day we are born, what we use and live in, our entire
lives. It is important that such a significant aspect, takes into consideration these huge
problems and does something to eradicate them. Adopting permaculture - establishing a self
sustainable “​perma​nent cul​ture​”gives you the freedom to integrate designed systems that
reduce human effort, through coordination and cooperation of nature.. This paper tends to
explore how permaculture can be used to design a project that is holistic in its very essence,
every part of it is well thought of and eventually helps mankind solve the numerous problems
that lie in front of us at the moment. Permaculture helps you design solutions that eventually
give back to the earth, much more than the system takes from it. This paper aims to discuss
how permaculture can add to sustainable architecture projects, through literature studies and
3 case studies of various scales. Consequently, an analysis will be done of how the said
principles can be implemented in architecture. In the end certain guidelines or consideration
will be formulated which can help a designer integrate permaculture into his project.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher (Mr. Uzma Khan) as well
as (Mrs. Shweta Saxena) who gave me constant assistance to complete this wonderful project
on the topic (Designing a holistic sustainable project by integrating permaculture), which also
helped me in doing a lot of Research and I came to know about so many new things. I am
really thankful to them.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Ananas permaculture, for guiding me through
out and sending me study material whenever required.

Secondly I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot in finalizing
this project within the limited time frame.
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CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION i
ABSTRACT ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii
CONTENTS iv
LIST OF FIGURES v

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background 1
1.2. Introduction 1
1.3. Aim, 2
1.4. Objectives 2
1.5.Research Questions 2
1.6.Scope and Limitations 3

2 METHODOLOGY
2.1 Flowchart 4

3 LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 Permaculture 5
3.2 Principles of permaculture 5

4 CASE STUDY
4.1 . Sarayu Farm 8
4.2 . Findhorn ecovillage 10
4.3 . Hananoie Permaculture resort 15

5 INFERENCES
5.1 Understanding architectural interpretation 18
of permaculture
5.2 Considerations for designing with permaculture 21
5.3 Conclusions 23

6 REFERENCES 24

7 SIMILARITY INDEX 25
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LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

1.1 Methodology Flowchart
1.2 Plan of Sarayu Farm 8
1.3 Plan of Findhorn Ecovillage 11
1.4 Barrel house 14
1.5 Field of dreams 14
1.6 Eastwhines 14
1.7 View of Hananoie permaculture resort 15
1.8 Interior of Lounge 15
1.9 Interior of room 17
1.10 Integrating permaculture into architecture 20
1.11 Sector analysis 22
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1. INTRODUCTION

Keywords
Site planning, Sustainable, Resource management, Self-sustenance, Permaculture, system
design

1.1 Background

As of 2020, we have the most advanced technologies, so many things - money, facilities,
food and activities to keep us busy. Yet the happiness index of the world is at an all time low.
People keep earning and putting in all their energy into a job, in order to live a good life in a
beautiful house. But they forget to actually live it. Our industrial society has manifested itself
through suburbs, factories, parking lots, high rises, office blocks. Slowly the world is coming
to realise the damaging impact of this phenomenon on us and the earth. ​2.5 million people in
India die due to hunger every year. Architecture has a responsibility towards the entire site it
uses- the built and unbuilt. It is a social art form that has the power to change lives.
Integrating permaculture, and establishing a permanent system that sustains itself and its
users for decades to come, will not only change but also save lives. Earth care, people care
and fair share- when implemented to all facets of design will cater to various issues. 20% of
diseases in india are due to polluted water. Air pollution causes 1.6 million deaths each year.
(David Neumann, 2020) Every human activity, especially those that involve modifying a
piece of the earth to our needs or erecting a huge mass on it, has the above mentioned
negative consequences. ​There is a need to redesign in a way that makes everybody win.
Incorporation of permaculture helps us do these modifications in a way that the positive
effects surpass the negative ones. ​Permaculture gives you the freedom to integrate designed
systems that reduce human effort, through coordination and cooperation of nature and other
humans. It gives you the ability to actually experience and live the life you have worked so
hard for. It's not just the human race that is unhappy, the state of mother earth is deteriorating
with each passing second. Permaculture helps you design holistic experiences that eventually
give back to the earth, much more than the system takes from it. This paper aims to discuss
permaculture and how it can improve all aspects of a new sustainable project.

1.2 Introduction

With “clever” sustainable agriculture, we can feed all of Earth’s people in less space
than is currently used. 6% of the Earth’s surface could feed 6 Billion people. ​Smaller
farms managed by individual or small groups are much more productive per unit
acre—200-1,000% more productive than are large Industrial farms. This clearly
indicates a need to go back to the basics, live traditionally, using the comfort of
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modern technology. ​Permaculture is a vision that helps achieve exactly that.

Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in
nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fiber, and energy for provision of local
needs. That is permaculture. People, their buildings and the ways they organize
themselves, everything starts responding to this permanent culture, which can sustain
itself for generations to come. Communities, food systems, and living systems are
integrated, multifunctional and mutually supporting as opposed to separated,
exploitative, and self centered.Through permaculture, this paper aims to understand a
way in which designers can give equal attention to the earth(site) and the user.
Applying the Permaculture principles to various aspects of the built and unbuilt, will
not only help enable self-sustenance, but also create an ecosystem which gives
something back to the earth. Reduced inputs of energy, material and human effort, are
some of the aims of system thinking and permaculture.The main ethics are people
care, earth care and fair share. The 12 principles of permaculture, give meaning to the
term, on the basis of these 3 primary ethics.

1.3 Aim
The aim of this paper is to learn how using principles of permaculture can enhance the
sustainability of a project.

1.4 Research questions

1. How can the principles of permaculture be implemented while designing?
2. How can integrating permaculture improve a sustainable building project?
3. What permaculture systems or examples can be introduced into a project in order to
make it more sustainable?

1.5 Objectives

1. Exploring the meaning of permaculture.

2. Understanding how permaculture is practiced in the real world through case studies.
3. A comprehensive study of what all steps have been taken to achieve the said goals on a
particular site.
4. Create a list of design interventions/ideas that can make a project more sustainable.
5. Prepare a basic framework that needs to be followed to design with permaculture
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1.6 Scope and Limitation

Since this study is limited to secondary sources, the research paper will focus on primary
aspects like

● building details,
● water harvesting,
● waste management,
● energy consumption,
● resource management,
● Landscaping(softscapes),
● site zoning
● economic sustenance
● Daily activities

The paper does not detail out each and every individual technique related to permaculture,
but introduces lots of them. There is a lack of sufficient documentation of permaculture and
related projects since they are very detailed and all techniques are site specific. Hence there is
a lot of future scope for further development and detailed research.

2. METHODOLOGY

In order to understand what permaculture is and how it is implemented, data collection is

done from popular books, blogs of famous permaculture designers, research papers and a few
student thesis. In order to understand how it has been coupled with architecture projects,
certain case studies have been taken up. In every case study, different aspects have been
studied to comprehend as many spheres of sustainability as possible through secondary
sources. An online course curated by the permaculture education organisation in Australia
was also a source of information for understanding implementation of permaculture
principles in system design. The analysis of these case studies helped understand in great
detail how principles had been implemented in small places that had significant impacts. This
analysis could be further reflected in architecture, which eventually helped formulate a set of
considerations in the forms of maps, site studies, interventions etc that any designer could
follow.
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2.1 Flowchart ​(​FIG​ ​1.1​-​Source:Author​) ​[B

​ lue: Data collection. Red:source, Purple:Analysis, Orange​: o​utcome]
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LITERATURE REVIEW

3.1 What is permaculture?

“​Permaculture means conserving, supporting and working together with the local culture,
while at the same time moving forward. Working with nature and people, as well as learning
from them, and not working against or in competition with them. Permaculture helps us to
understand and to create harmonic integrations between nature and people in the most
sustainable way. Permaculture is appropriate for use in urban or rural locations, as well as for
all scales of projects. Permaculture introduces traditional practices of nature management,
integrated with appropriate modern technology. “This is a holistic, kind, and
environment-friendly way for designing and building our natural living environment, as well
as improving living standards, including housing, water supply, health, waste management,
farming, energy, aquaculture, rivers, forests, livestock and much more.” (Alan Enzo, 2012)

3.2 Principles of permaculture -

1. Obtain a yield​ : The system that you develop, by putting in so much time, energy and
effort, should give you a yield. It should be made in such a way that you get food or
some significant benefit out of it.
2. Observe and interact​: Observe how nature responds to change, to waste, to anything at
all. Use that observation strategically to enhance your own design. All cycles in
nature are regenerative, holistic, interconnected, the waste of one is the fuel for
another and every system helps another system in one way or the other. Learn to
interact harmoniously with these systems of nature. Designing swales along contours
is a great example of learning from nature and then interacting with it, for everyone's
benefit.
3. Catch and store energy​: We just know how to use energy. The new system should
enable a user to not only effectively use it but also catch and store it. Sun is the
ultimate source of power. Harness whatever is available to that site- wind, sun,
geothermal, biomass and figure out how to store it for times when it is not readily
available.
Examples
● Growing your own food​, using ​p​assive solar ​building techniques are great
ways to make optimum use of this abundant energy source.
● Rocks have the capacity to catch sunlight , store it as heat and hence create
microclimates, allowing plants from hotter climates to grow around them.
● Ponds also create relatively warmer microclimates by catching the energy heat
from the sun and potential kinetic energy from moving water.

4. Apply self regulation and accept feedback ​: If you start at a small scale, learn from
what the design eventually tells you and then go big, your overall larger design will be
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much better. Accept feedback from other people, from sources of nature ( if cattle
keep eating your garden, change the proximity of the two elements. Instead of fencing
or solving the problem, try to eradicate the problem) Keep self regulating the input vs
output of your design system, whether it's a house, resort or a community centre.
5. Produce no waste -​ If you use renewable sources of energy you produce no pollution.
Learn to reduce,reuse, recycle, repair whenever possible. Even while constructing, try
to design in a way that you dont waste. (Design rooms according to tile size, so no
piece is wasted) Use local, natural or recycled/upcycled materials. Design a system
that uses all that is generated. (Install grey water systems, biomass plants and so on. )
6. Multiple function​ : Every element in your project should have more than one function
- optimally 3 functions per element.(​Elizabeth Waddington​, 2013​) For example your
boundary is a separator, but you can plant a vine near it, so that it also functions as a
support for the creeper. You can obtain more effective yield if you consciously design
with less elements that are multi functional. Example - chickens provide eggs, manure
and bug, insect, weed elimination in orchards.
7. Design from pattern to details​ - Its important to get the overall picture clear before
you START dwelling on the details. Understand the patterns that will dominate your
design and its functioning, before you design any details for it. Plan not just for today,
but for the coming generations - a timeless design. Assessing available materials and
energies before planning a project, will help you assess the restrictions and
limitations. Examine the complete picture – particularly the parts you want to ignore.
8. Integrate don't segregate​ - Another thing nature teaches us is that coordination with
other beings can help you reach your goal more effectively. Don't be competitive,
rather try to integrate, not only people but different living organisms into your system
. For example Guild planting or polycropping instead of mono cropping will give you
a great variety of edibles and also maintain the quality of the soil.
9. Use small, slow solutions​: Contrary to the current trend of using the biggest, fastest
solutions, design in a way that problems can be solved with practical and energy
efficient techniques. This is contradictory to the current practice of using the fastest
technology to get work done. “Permaculture Design uses time as an element:
allowing cultivated plants and animals to slowly integrate with each other and mature
into their own place in natural cycles.”​(Alan Enzo, 2012)
10. Use edges and value the marginal ​: The edge between different systems has more
species, and consequently more productivity, than in either of the systems
alone.Examples include - strongest trees at the edge of a forest,because of strong
winds and nutrient accumulation. Marshes & estuaries are among the most
biologically diverse areas of Earth. Sustainability means using everything, even the
tiniest scrap of things. This can imply using every piece of available land and put it to
use for the benefit of people and the earth. Value everything, and make it useful.
11. .​Use and value diversity - ​The​h​more diverse​h​the​i​elements in​i​a system, the
more​h​diverse the yields​i​and the​h​more diverse​i​the niches that​i​are​i​available to be
filled,​i​which creates​i​even​i​more diverse​i​yields.(​Elizabeth Waddington​, 2013​) A huge
diversity of elements will not improve the health of the system, unless the varied
elements can make connections with each other. The diversity of elements is not our
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aim, it's the diverse range of connections This means that the interconnectivity and
interdependency of systems should increase which will in turn, reduce waste,
encourage effective regenerative processes.
12. Creatively use and respond to change: ​Use time as an element of design. Just like
nature changes with time, every inhabited space will change, and needs will evolve.
Durability and stability can come from flexibility & dynamic possibilities. Design to
make use of expected change. Prepare to accommodate changes that cannot be
planned for. Respect the changing times and dont design just for today. For example,
easy building plans can be used for various typologies.

The concept of permaculture can be applied to a place as small as an apartment

balcony or to an entire ecovillage. Its best to understand through existing examples,
the actual essence and functioning of this culture. For this purpose 3 case studies
have been selected. The basis for selection was the combination of sustainable
architecture techniques and permaculture. Not all aspects mentioned in the scope were
available in all the studies and hence a combination of at least 4 aspects was sought
after in each study. In terms of functionality too, 3 totally different types- a privately
owned and managed farmhouse and stay, a successful ecovillage managed by 400
residents, and a permaculture resort managed by the locals and the staff. This gave an
insight into everyday activities and impacts of integrating the concept of permaculture
into different kinds of projects, and the level of positive effect it can possibly have.
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4. Case studies

4.1 Sarayu Farm

● Type​- Biodiverse organic farm

● Area-​ 34 acres
● Location-​ Telangana, India

The brief was to design a biodiverse organic farm supplemented with perennial trees
and Miyawaki forests. The farm will sell its organic produce as well as milk, ghee and
cheese from its cows. In addition to this, it will be designed to be retreat space for the
people of Hyderabad to rejuvenate, meditate and learn about farming. There will be 8
natural cottages, A meditation centre and a rice museum for the guests. There will be
vermicomposting units and Gobar gas plants to set up a closed loop system. The aim
is to grow a bio-diverse organic farm supplemented with perennial trees and
miyawaki forests. There will also be a home to retire to on the farm itself, for the
owners. ​(J​ ananee Mohan, Kiri Meili and Himanshu Arteev, 2019)

Plan of Sarayu farm, Source- Ananas permaculture

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Process-

● The design process, as explained by the firm dealing with the project, wass an
intensive and long process. They studied all the existing features on site, the
contours, the existing elements, the plantations before deciding on anything
about the design.
● After that was done, they listed down all elements and made connections
between all elements, in order to place them in a mutually benefitting location.
They were placed in 5 zones according to the outcome of the bubble diagram
and the maintenance.
1. Cottages
2. Vineyard
3. Home
4. Vegetable production area
5. Miyawaki forest
6. Pools
7. Ponds
8. Rice area
9. Biogas plant
10. Cheese and Ghee making unit
11. Workers quarter
12. Rice bowl
13. Perennials
14. AV room
15. Nursery
16. Greywater system
17. Vermicompost area
18. Meditation centre
. ​Intensive Bubble diagram, Source: Ananas
19. Cowshed ​permaculture

● After this an intensive research was done on the climate of the place. This helped in
understanding various needs of the site, various potentials, which were the problem
areas that need to be catered to and so on.
● A study was done of the vegetation of the site, nearby forests and farms. The fauna
and birds of the site were documented to understand the vegetation type they could
benefit from and help pollinate quickly. This was followed by a study of the soil
quality, what grows best in it and how could it be improved eventually.
● Sector planning - this has played a very important role in deciding what comes where
and the overall decisions during site planning. This basically means identifying all
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incoming flows on site- humans, animals, traffic, noise, wind, water , sun etc and then
marking sectors of each of these flows to comprehend the site at a deeper level.
● A study of the contours and natural water flows helped in identifying location of
seasonal ponds and pools, swales, tanks and so on.
● In order to reduce the effects of winds, improve soil organic matter, reduce the threat
of browsing livestock, improve soil moisture and the local microclimate, a
multilayered living fence has been planted around the periphery. The vegetation along
the edges will be the first sources of mulch, shade, poles, cuttings, seeds and even
food.
● A slightly sloped(for drainage), cool area(under a tree) has been selected for the
nursery. T was made sure that it received abundant morning sunlight and was close to
a water source. This reduced human effort and increased overall benefit from different
resources.
● For growing food the following considerations were kept in mind.
1. Have growing beds defined separately from walking path
2. Value soil moisture over surface water - use windbreaks, mulch,have plenty
of biomass plants at hand
3. Make the most of passive irrigation e.g. with the use of water harvesting
trenches on contour
4. Be integrated with trees (on the periphery and within and amongst the beds)
5. Prioritise perennial vegetables over annuals
6. Grow food in polycultures and practice intercropping/crop rotation to manage
soil nutrients.
● In order to grow water intensive crops, alternative farming solutions have been used.
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a system that helps in increasing the rice
yield(by 30%). It involves changing the current conventional techniques of managing
plants, wate, soil, and nutrients. Instead of flooded nurseries, RSI works with
nutrient-rich and un-flooded ones, with wide spaces between rice seedlings; and
careful water management(40% less) to avoid saturation.

4.2 ​Findhorn Ecovillage

● Type​- Ecovillage with 400 residents

● Area-​ 35 acre
● Location-​ Scotland
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Since 1962 the Findhorn Foundation has been internationally known for its experiment with
new models for holistic and sustainable living. They have achieved a global footprint that is
half of the national average. The ecovillage sources, and even exports its energy from the
675kW capacity wind park. It houses 125 ecological buildings, an innovative onsite
biological sewage treatment plant, numerous solar heating systems; sustainably harvested
woodland; a centralised wood chip boiler that heats more than a dozen community buildings.
With 14000 enthusiastic visitors and the eco guide book- Simply build green, Findhorn
ecovillage has grown to become a major source of education internationally.

Plan of Findhorn Village, Source:Ecovillage Findhorn.com

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People from over 40 countries have become members of this community who live and work
in this rural area of Scotland.The community aims to experiment and discover what is
necessary for blissful, sustainable living. The primary principle here is of not taking more
away from the Earth than one gives back. Gradually the shared ecological, social and spiritual
values are being reflected in the built environment. ​(​Findhorn Hinterland Group, 2015)

The Eco-village is moving toward sustainability by continuously evolving in the following

departments-

1. Renewable energy systems-​ Except for the incorporation of passive solar

design in all new buildings, there are several systems that make use of solar
energy to heat the water. A wind farm with ​four ​Vestas​ wind turbines which
can generate up to 750 kW, serves the energy demands and is also exported.
The project's reliance on fossil fuels was further reduced by using sustainably
sourced wood for space and water heating.

The hinterland between the residential areas on the peninsula and the
wilderness reserve has developed into a biodiverse pine woodland.
Educational programmes take place here. The land is used for income
generation and the woodland produces firewood and timber for local
buildings. There is a Green Burial site that serves the local community . There
is also a​i​pony field on​i​site which produces​i​manure for the​i​local organic
gardens​i​and helps with​i​land management. (​Findhorn Hinterland Group,
2015)

2. Biological Sewage Treatment​: ​To improve the efficiency of water the ‘Living
Machine’ has been designed. In order to treat sewage from around 100
households, an ​ecologically engineered waste water treatment system has been
designed​. They use​d​tanks containing diverse​d​communities of bacteria,​d​algae,
micro-organisms,​d​numerous species of​d​plants and trees,​d​snails, fish​d​and
other living​d​creatures to treat the water. After the water comes out of this
series​d​of tanks, it is pure​d​enough to​d​be returned​d​to the local​d​water table. This
system replicates nature’s own ​water cleaning system by creating a mini
ecosystem within a greenhouse environment. (​Metcalf W, 2004)
3. Recycling:​ The Findhorn has successfully managed an intensive recycling
programme for all - metal,​d​glass,​d​paper, batteries, and clothes.
4. Local Organic Food Production​: ​This is one of the greatest contributors to
the low carbon footprint. In order to increase the cultivation of local produce,
a Community Supported Agriculture Scheme was established. It is called
Earthshare, and is based on permaculture farming methods.(​Metcalf W, 2004)
The process provides about 70% of the community’s fresh food requirements.
Organic milk, cheeses,​t​eggs and​t​meat are​t​produced sustainably​t​by a
nearby​t​farm.
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5. Sustainable economics- ​More than 40 different local businesses and

initiatives have developed over the last 55 years at the Findhorn Foundation
Community. This diversification has provided a valuable insight into
sustainable living. There are also a lot of schemes which help investors that
wish to support such community projects.
6. Ecological building-​ The village started on a caravan park, but has come a
long way since. The first house ever built here was made of a recycled
whiskey barrel. The village also explored straw bale and earthship buildings.
An earthship is a passive solar building made of natural and upcycled material
- earth rammed in a tire, stacked up to make a wall. The building aims to cater
to 6 human needs- energy, garbage disposal, sewage treatment, shelter, clean
water and food, through sustainable techniques.
Other than exploring materials, a building code needs to be followed for all
new constructions, which helps in reducing the energy demands dramatically.
They have very efficient insulation (typically​i​using products​i​made
from​i​recycled paper), toxic-free organic paints, wood preservatives and
boarding manufactured without the use​i​of chemical free glues or​i​resins,
roofing with natural​i​clay tiles. They have also developed a 'breathing wall'
construction allowing a controlled exchange of air & water vapour,
conservation features,and shared facilities such as laundry, kitchens, lounges -
avoiding unnecessary duplication. (​Talbott, J , 1995)

The rigorous building codes contrast with an apparent absence of visual

guidelines and the result is a diversity of design rather than a consistent
approach to aesthetics.

After exploring a lot, in the last few years Findhorn decided that the best
houses for the climate and affordability are timber frames with high insulation.
Details of such a sustainable house in the ecovillage-

A. The house has 8 sides, with a conical roof, low embodied energy, part recycled​i​steel
frame and locally sourced timber frame, timber clad, super insulated, vapour
permeable structure with a prominent south facing, passive solar conservatory buffer
space.(​Talbott, J , 1995)
B. The compact 8 sided octagon plan has minimum exposed surface area. It has 3
bedrooms, an art room / study, open plan kitchen dining​i​living room, a utility room
and an entrance​i​lobby.
C. Appropriate Energy Systems AES solar hot panels mounted on the standing seam zinc
roof provide most of the domestic hot water heated by the sun.
D. All household black and grey sewage is treated in the eco village solar aquatic
biological sewage treatment plant. The Eco Village community wind farm turbine
supplies the house’s renewable electricity. (​Talbott, J , 1995)

Overall the houses are divided in clusters.

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There are the ​barrel houses​, the ​bag end​- conventional timber frame, passive solar designs,
(which were built when trees were being planted and hence now the passive solar techniques
don't work effectively anymore), ​Soillse is a unique bomb-proof set of 6 carbon neutral
buildings with special features because of their proximity to the air force base , the field of
dreams ​which are individually designed houses. The east whins - built​i​on a former
brownfield​i​site at the edge of Findhorn, makes passive solar design the priority at every​i​turn.
Each home has sunspaces, and roofs built with a​i​south-facing pitch to​i​maximize the solar
absorption during the time of equinoxes. Heavy​i​insulation, ​i​a heat-recovery system, and
underfloor​i​heating fed by an air​i​source heat pump, the​i​community puts​i​pedestrians and
bicycles​i​before cars, and makes plenty​i​of communal space​i​available – including a
commercial grade​i​kitchen where​i​residents can sell what they make. Also included in​i​the
community are “flexi units” for either workshops, studios,​i​or home offices.

1. Barrel house, 2. Field of dreams, 3. Eastwhines, Source:Inhabitat

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4.3 Hananoie resort

● Type​- Eco Resort and farm

● Area-​ 15 acre
● Location-​ Nepal

The permaculture resort “Hananoie” is located in a small, 80 housed mountain​i​village called

Astam, 17 km from the city of Pokhra. Located on a hillside facing to the Himalaya,
“Hananoie” provides 180°panoramic views of Annapurna range, downhill rivers, seasonal
flowers and villages. Its farm lies on the slope of the hill from south to north, providing
seasonal and organic vegetables for the tourists. The basis of the resort design and
functioning is Permaculture, since they believe that it has proposed a​i​new life-style and
economically​i​independent​i​society. By combining the wisdoms of traditional agriculture with
scientific technology the resort has been able to develop a rich ecosystem with high
productivity and.

1.7 View of the resort, 1.8 Interior of the lounge, Source: Hananoie permaculture resort

Some features of this ecoresort are-

1. Wooden stoves ​- Dining areas, lobbies

and the spa all have wooden stoves.
wood burning stoves are very energy
efficient. While an open fireplace is
around 20-25% efficient, a wood
burner can be almost 80% efficient.
Cost wise too, wood used as fuel in the
stove is much cheaper as compared to
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electricity, gas​i​or oil. Since this wood is sourced sustainably from nearby regions the
carbon footprint is also low.
2. Food and beverages ​- All edibles including the teas and wines are locally sourced.
The food is made from organic vegetables and spices grown on the farms of the resort
itself. Since they are ardent practitioners of permaculture they prefer mixed cropping
and hence they dont have a fixed menu. They also use their local produce to teach the
guests some traditional neopali cooking techniques. They plant herbs, onion and
garlic in between to prevent insects, and clovers to cultivate the soil. This helps the
economy of the place, promotes the local culture, spreads awareness and is great in
terms of environmental sustainability too.
3. Goemonburo ​- This is a Japanese style public bath, which opens every evening. The
2-man sized big bath is made from copper plates(effective is storing heat) designed by
Nepalese craftsmen. The water is warmed by a solar boiler and firewood. The guests
can enjoy a herbal hot water bath while staring at the twilight Himalaya through the
window of the bath.
4. Waste management ​- Solid waste from the toilets directly flows into the
underground fermentation tanks. This system produces liquid fertilizer and cooking
gas. This also contributes greatly to the sanitation of the resort since the waste is
completely fermented and hence not volatile. The drain​i​water is purified by​i​natural
methods and recycled. Since they use only organic soaps and shampoos, the
chemicals in the drain water are insignificant. (Hananoie, 2012)
5. Buffalo Domestication ​- Buffaloes give the​i​resort milk and​i​dairy products​i​such as
butter and​i​yogurt. Guests are encouraged to see the milking, churning , yogurt making
process to connect back with their roots. Moreover, the dung is also the prominent
material used for biogas. Every year a few baby buffaloes are born which is their
alternative source of income.
6. Bee keeping​- The resort keeps honeybees to produce their own honey and for
pollination. This keeps a healthy variety of flowers alive. Bee keeping is an​i​image of
honey hunting​i​which has long history​i​before agriculture, and hence keeps the spirit of
the ancestors, in the essence of the place. They also have workshops to teach the
guests about beekeeping, honey extraction and subsequent candle making. (Hananoie,
2012)
7. Resource management​- Being on the southern slope, harvesting the energy of the
sun seems to be an efficient system. The solar system is responsible for warm water
and parts of electricity. Although Astam does not have a river, it has strong winds
that are sufficient for electricity generation. Astam always suffers from water shortage
but by storing water on the property it was possible to grow more crops than​i​ever.
Water is brought through pipes from a stream 15 km away, stored in underground
storage tanks. They also store harvested rain water in these storage tanks. This water
is​i​used for farming​i​and daily​i​life.
8. Construction​- Hananoie provides 5 cottage-type guestrooms, carefully made using
natural materials combined with traditional knowledge. External stone walls are made
in a vernacular way. Coconut​i​fiber is installed under the slate roof which acts as
a​i​heat insulator. The heat and humidity inside the room is moderated by the internal
 17

clay wall. This also acts as a

soundproof and air filter.
Visitors have appreciated the
deep sleep they get here. The
room is furnished with
hand-made furniture. The​i
curtains​i​are dyed with natural
dyes. Wooden​i​parts such​i​as
floor, windowed​i​frames are
thickly​i​painted by​i​beeswax. .
. . .
…………………………………...​1.9 Interior of a room, Source: Hananoie permaculture resort
 18

5. INFERENCES

5.1 Understanding architectural implementations of permaculture principles through

these case studies

When we start applying these principles and ethics to building design, there are a few
significant aims, towards which all design interventions or ideas are focused. These include-

1. Reducing consumption, of energy for heat, lighting, preserving and cooking food
2. Using materials with Low embodied energy, that have an environmentally safe
end-life and by products.
3. Enabling reuse through design (greywater recycling, solar heat).
4. Using resources without harming the source of energy (e.g. Solar or wind Eliminate
waste and reduce human and other 'house' work.
5. Safety from fire, flood, rising damp, allergenic fauna and flora, and chemicals. All
designs should be done for optimum human health.
6. Be modifiable, long lasting and involve minimal maintenance. (Alan Enzo, 2012)

Working towards these goals, leads to a certain framework that designers tend to follow
irrespective of their geographical location.

● Certain principles of permaculture are more applicable to architecture than others. The
ones that can be easily used include-
1. Observe and Interact- Taking inspiration from nature, observing the user in the
sense that it's modifiable to their needs.
2. Catch and store energy- Using high thermal mass/insulation in walls, roofs and
floors, using solar passive techniques to design. Use local, recycled materials
from close areas.
3. Obtain yield- of satisfaction, happiness, health, a place to call “home”
4. Use and value renewables
5. Design from patterns to details- This is very important to develop a functional
plan.
6. Integrate, don't segregate- Open plans, multi functional rooms, common
facilities. Integrating climate into the design.
7. Respond to change - Changing users, seasons, calamities, attitudes by
designing varied, usefuls spaces or modularity.
8. Multiple functions- giving each element more than one function - roof as
covering+solar energy generator/food supplier, Stove for cooking/heating the
home, warming water, and so on can easily be adapted to built spaces and
related paraphernalia.
 19

● More than 20% of total solid waste in Developed Countries is builders rubble- house
design and buildings should be designed for flexibility of use and contain as much
recycled materials as possible. We should aim to work with existing houses rather
than demolish them: renovating and demolishing as little as possible.
● In either case before you work on the plan, it's important to talk to the users first hand,
understand their daily life schedule and requirements, in detail. That is the key to
creating an efficient plant.
● Studying the traditional housing system of that area. These houses reflect the climate
and available materials, and also the choices and aura of the people who live there.
The shape and size will have impacts on its thermal comfort,​i​strength,​i​durability and
its​i​resistance to​i​disasters.
● For construction, it's important to select appropriate natural materials and treat them
well. This will ensure a long life. Adding insulation in the form of stone or clay/lime
plaster or even cow dung is a common Indian practise. (Alan Enzo, 2012)
● Everything is connected to everything else. This principle is very evident in all the
mentioned case studies. It has been applied in​i​the home and​i​living area, including​i​the
kitchen,​i​washing area​i​and toilet.
 20

1.10 ​Integrating permaculture into architecture, source:Author

 21

5.2 Considerations for integrating permaculture

1. List down all the functional elements of your design- house, vegetable garden, well
etc. Make an extensive bubble diagram to know which function can benefit from
which element. Use the diagram to place the design elements in the most physically
efficient way possible.
2. Make another list of these elements- with inputs and outputs and stack them with
other elements for maximum benefit.
3. There is great benefit in studying the contours before developing site maps. You can
use gravity to reduce human effort and catch energy.
● Design swales to harvest storm runoff, raise ground water levels, filter water
by growing greens.
● USe gravity to get mulch directly onto the required areas.
● Design all paths and road along contours. They need minimum maintenance.
They can be made above swales. If made properly they act as firebreaks,
heatsinks and water harvesters.
4. Make sure that none of these elements mentioned have just one function. If that is the
case, eliminate it and club its function with some other element. Design with only
super efficient elements. For example while placing the masonry stove, place it in a
location that it not only helps in cooking, but heats up the house and residual heat can
be used to warm up the water.
5. Place elements within your design in such a way that maximum energy is conserved.
(energy in terms of fertilizers, water, and human labor)
6. Make a zone map for the site and its consequent activities. Zones are divided on the
bases or frequency of use, need for maintenance, and often the area requirement. ​This
helps in understanding which activities should be placed together, in order to reduce
human effort.
● Zone 0: The home (occupied almost constantly)
● Zone 1: The immediate outdoors- vegetable garden, verandah, driveway
(visited daily)
● Zone 2: The yard, garden that doesn't need daily tending (visited several days
a week)
● Zone 3: The fruit orchards, pastures, cash crops, greenhouse (visited weekly)
● Zone 4: Minimal care- The woods, meadow, timber trees (visited monthly)
● Zone 5: Self managed-The wilderness, for inspiration, meditation (visited
yearly or never)
7. Study the climate very well. The temperatures will indicate the building techniques to
be used. The rainfall pattern will show what kind of water storage systems that need
to be designed and the wind directions will help in identifying location for wind
breaks. This helps prevent erosion, unnecessary evaporation, filters dust, and locate
windows.
8. Identify nearby forests, farms and gardens to know exactly which plants will grow
well in your site and plan accordingly. (for personal and monterey gain)
 22

9. Check the infiltration rate of the soil/capacity to hold water. Use appropriate
techniques like making chinampas (a system of alternating canals and raised beda
system of alternating canals and raised bed) for areas with water logging or using
plant species that improve the soil quality and so on.
10. First use all the resources on site, like gravity, water , sun, wind and then go outside
the site for more, if still required.
11. Use the access paths (Driveway) for surveillance of the property, harvesting Heat,
water, wind, and light, as well as a firebreak and grass barrier. Vehicles add to
compaction of the soil, use this to fortify earthworks. (Kelly, 2009)
12. There is no waste in nature. Implement this in all cycles to make output of one
system, the input for another one. Reuse as many times as possible.
13. Sector mapping will help you understand the site. You can map weather patterns,
time of fruiting, best time for planting, and the sector factors (watch the sun (where is
it on the property, where is it not), wind (where does it come into the property, where
does it leave, do you need to block it for energy savings, is it damaging to plants),
cold and warm (microclimates on your property at different times of year and
different times of day), precipitation (most and least), frost, snow, storm weather, fire
hazard, flow patterns.

1.11 Sector analysis, Source : Author

 23

14. Design systems with a relatable human scale. Choose simple and relevant
technologies for everyday functions. All systems created should be manageable.
Starting with tiny steps is and taking feedback is important.
15. Build with materials found close to the site. Innovate and build with waste- bales
made of straw, bales made of plastic, tires, glass bottles, barrels, etc.
16. If you use wood/bamboo make sure it is sustainably sourced. Grow woodlands or
bamboo plantations on site, to source the material directly on site for future additions
and maintenance. The quantity should be such that only 10-20% of it is harvested for
construction at a time.
17. Keep the internal plans as fluid as possible, in order to allow varied future
possibilities. What you design to be a study today could be a storage room tomorrow.
Nothing should have to be broken down completely to accommodate newness. Plan
spaces with the dynamics of changing times in mind.
18. The building should work with nature rather than against it. If you design a glass
window against the force of wind it is bound to crack. Study the climate and place
opening accordingly. Make maximum use of sun and wind, for thermal comfort.
19. Study the movement and angles of the sun to decide the location of windows.
20. Understand the problems and use them as solutions. Generally we think of termites as
destroyers of buildings. But the eastgate building, Zimbabwe has modelled an air
conditioning system on the self cooling mounds of termites. Termites keep the
temperature inside their nest within the rage of 1 degree, 24x7.

5.3 Conclusion

Implementation of permaculture to architecture, is not something that needs to be

separately learnt or studied. It is just consciously rethinking your decision for
maximum benefit to the earth and the user. On a planet that is as interconnected as
ours, we need a balance between the yang of globalization and control and the yin of
locality and personality. We need global interdependence and that is something that
can be achieved via permaculture.(​Jan Martin Bang, 2015)​ It's the one solution to our
myriad of problems- unhappiness, loneliness, poverty, unemployment, hunger,
helplessness, climate change and ofcourse slow death of planet earth. Architecture,
being a dominant force in how humans live can make use of this concept to actually
save the world.

Further, there is a lot of scope for future studies in this arena. Since its very site
specific, not set rules apply, the techniques used change with the locations. Site
specific work can help enrich the secondary data available online for students and
researchers. Studies that explore differences and similarities in zero energy design and
permaculture will also be insightful. The earth has millions of problems right now, so
every bit of research will eventually be put to good use.
 24

6. References

1. Talbott, J (1995) The Findhorn Community, in ​Eco-villages and Sustainable

Communities: Models for 21st Century Living.​ Findhorn Press, Findhorn, Scotland.
2. Alan Enzo, 2012, Permaculture design course by permaculture education.org
3. Metcalf, W (2004) ​Community Living.​ Findhorn Press, Findhorn, Scotland
4. Jananee Mohan, Kiri Meili and Himanshu Arteev, (2019) Sarayu farm, Ananas
permaculture
5. Elizabeth Waddington​, 2013, Permaculture: A way forward,
ethical.net/ethical/permaculture-principles
6. Kevin Morel, RS Fergugsen (2018) Permaculture for agroecology: design,
movement, practice and worldview
7. Jan Martin Bang, 2015, Permaculture: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Practice
of Ecovillage Design,
8. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Findhorn_Foundation
9. Findhorn Hinterland Group, 2015, ​https://www.duneland.co.uk/
10. Hananoie Permaculture resort, 2012, h​ ttp://hananoie-nepal.com/en/about/
11. David Neumann, 2020, Permaculture and socio-ecological transformation in Indian
metropolises.
 25

7. SIMILARITY REPORT