Principles of permaculture in construction

Permaculture has taken on great importance since the concept was coined in the late 1980s. In principle, this concept is usually related only to organic farming, but the truth is that permaculture goes further and seeks not only to change the way that we sow and grow our fruits, vegetables and vegetables, also seeks to shape the way we live and work together with nature and not against it. In this post you will find enough information to understand the application of permaculture principles in construction. We hope you enjoy it!!

Do they have something to do with permaculture and architecture?

It might seem that the concepts of permaculture and architecture have nothing to do with each other, but the truth is that if we dedicate ourselves to reading the concept and the 12 principles of permaculture well, we will be able to see how it can be applied in construction and the advantages that this can offer. to have.

First of all, it is important to know that the 12 principles of permaculture simply seek for people to be able to create a sustainable system, in any area of our lives, in this case, applied to the construction of our homes, planting spaces, places of entertainment and in short everything that your imagination comes up with!

Next we will explain a little, through the study of the application of the principles of permaculture in architecture and construction.

Application of permaculture principles in construction

Observe and interact

Observing and interacting is important for any activity that you are developing, in the case of construction this means observing and understanding the environment and the space where we will build to adjust to it and not the other way around, look at the possibilities and interact with the final client looking for the best results according to the possibilities that can be had in the given space and moment.

Capture and store energy

Taking the available resources and using them to get the best results is one of the most important things that must be taken into account when applying the principles of permaculture in architecture. In a few words, the aim is for a construction to be truly sustainable and to avoid the unnecessary.

Get good performance

It is important that the construction projects based on permaculture that we are carrying out are not only beneficial from a monetary point of view, that is, that your architectural projects leave something to you, your environment, society or the country in which you live, benefits for the community and to guarantee the future of the next generations.

Auto-Regulation and Feedback

It is important to regulate yourself when you have a construction project and try to ensure that there are no notable repercussions of what you are doing against nature or even against your professionalism or work performance. In short, do not go beyond what is necessary with things that you know may be harmful to you or the community and always seek to stay away from what may be inappropriate.

Use and value renewable services and resources

Renewable resources and services can be of great use in construction. It is not the most common to see bamboo, straw or cork houses, but it is a real possibility that, in addition to helping the environment, gives you options to do something totally different and visualize yourself as someone creative.

Bioconstruction and permaculture are two things that go hand in hand and can bring you many advantages if you know how to apply them.

It is also possible to use different types of renewable energies (solar panels, wind energy, among other options) for the proper functioning of the projects.

Stop producing waste

This principle is quite clear and easy to explain in the context of architecture and construction, and it simply consists of trying to get the most out of the materials that nature itself offers us without harming it. Producing waste is not only bad for nature, it also generates unnecessary expenses that can be avoided with a good study and planning of what you do. Don’t waste today even if you have abundance!!!

Design from patterns to details

Look at nature and what is already done and works well and use it to create your own idea of ​​what you may need and want to do. Take advantage of the time, understand that in architecture there are already many things that have been invented and that you can take advantage of it by giving your personal touch to what you can find.

Integrate rather than segregate

It is key to ensure that all the elements of a design are integrated and work together perfectly. It doesn’t make sense for you to have elements that don’t work together or that you may have missing or extra details in what you’re looking to build.

Use small and slow solutions

Using small and slow solutions in architecture and construction means trying to find a way to make our design as efficient as possible and ultimately require as little maintenance as possible. It also means that you seek to talk with the client and make them understand that the larger their designs are, the more maintenance costs they will have, this can help you think of more compact designs with fewer requirements.

Use and value diversity

The design must adapt to the needs of the clients and the specific conditions of the environment to get the best results from what we are building. This means that you must take advantage of diversity and that it does not matter if your construction is a little out of the ordinary, perhaps the ordinary is not the best for you and your client.

Use the edges and value the marginal

Everything can be important and everything must be valued. No matter how small an opportunity, a space or a project may seem, you should always assess what options this can bring to your life, design and even your work. All options should always be on the table and you should not leave anything out.

Creatively uses and responds to change

Adapt to what is coming, study what may come, stay abreast of new things and do not let changes overwhelm you and complicate your work. Adapting to new trends and modifying our way of thinking with them is important to keep our work up to date.