PERMACULTURE HOUSE
INTEGRATION OF NATURE IN PRACTICE
“Permaculture principles focus on thoughtful designs for small-scale intensive systems which are labor efficient and which use biological resources instead of fossil fuels. Designs stress ecological connections and closed energy and material loops. The core of permaculture is design and the working relationships and connections between all things.” - Bill Mollison
Permaculture design ethics and principles are typically applied to outside food production spaces and backyard gardens as a way to encourage the integration of nature and natural patterns into the design of the new systems. In Permaculture House we aspired to apply them to the architecture as well.
In designing Permaculture House, we focused on integrating a new house into an existing garden landscape with an existing house, outbuildings and a small greenhouse. The existing house structure is meant to be deconstructed and the framing materials reused in the new house with the greenhouse and outbuildings to remain. This reduces the need for new materials by repurposing both the house and the site. The plan is small, compact and efficient with movable partitions and movable wood storage elements that provide shiftable space definition and limits the amount of standard, waste-producing drywall construction. The spatial edges are blurred physically and visually. The space is utilitarian and gracious at the same time.
The large south western facing windows are large to let sun into the space providing natural light and natural warmth, and allowing the client to propagate seeds in their living space in they choose. The concrete slab on grade is meant to act as a heat sink in the cold winter months, and the heavy, sliding woven metal drapes act as a way to mitigate light and heat in the humid summers. The wire mesh drapes also providing privacy while still allowing dappled light to enter, mimicking leaves on a shade tree. Operable openings were placed strategically to encourage natural ventilation and humidity control year round.
All of the design details were carefully considered to maximize flexible space and connect the inside to outside and harness the energy of the site. The platform decks extend directly out from the space at floor level into the gardens, and geothermal wells provide the minimal heating and cooling needed. The site is partially powered by a small solar array. Two large cisterns were incorporated on the north side of the site to hold the roof run-off. This water will be used in the gardens and the outdoor shower.
Total Area / 903 SF
