Week 4 - Shelter

Buildings and structures are an important part of the human element in a Permaculture system. Ecological design and green architecture are vast fields that we are just scratching the surface of on this page, but the video provides a simple overview of building design for the major climate zones, and the links below provide a direction for further study.

Shelter

Ecological building design is a vast subject, with many great architects and builders with a long history of innovation and demonstration. Ecological architecture is it's own field that overlaps with permaculture in many places. Natural and environmentally sound building practices are a hallmark of many Permaculture sites. The video below is a very basic introduction, with the links below filling in some more detail about specific building materials and systems for the major climate zones.

Download Intro to Permaculture: Permaculture Shelter Design Video Transcript

 

Featured Links:

Rocket Stove Mass Heater Links to an external site.

Masonry Heater Links to an external site.

Taos Pueblo Links to an external site.

Earth Sheltered Homes Links to an external site.

Additional Resources:

The field of ecological housing design and building is vast, and this is not a complete list of resources or information. This is a collection of a bit of information for each major climate zone, and then more information that applies to multiple climate zones. Browse these links, and if you're interested, keep searching on your own. There's a lifetime's worth of amazing information out there!


Tropics

Shaping Buildings for the Humid Tropics Links to an external site.

Earth Building in Thailand Links to an external site.

Hurricane Proof Building Links to an external site.


Temperate

An Overview of Indigenous Building Materials Links to an external site.

Rocket Mass Heaters Links to an external site.

Making an Earth Oven Links to an external site.

 

Drylands

What is Super Adobe? Links to an external site.

The Berber Cave Homes of Tunisia Links to an external site.

Patterns of Sustainability in Desert Architecture Links to an external site.

 

Multi-Climate

Tiny House Movement Links to an external site.

50 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style Links to an external site.

Natural Homes from Around the World Links to an external site.

Overview of Natural Building Materials Links to an external site.

Auroville Earth Institute Links to an external site.

Building Bale Walls by Tim Farrant Links to an external site.

Building with Salvaged Materials by Brandy Winters Links to an external site.

Cob

The Cob Builders Handbook by Becky Bee Links to an external site.

Cob and Earthen Plaster Example Links to an external site.

How to Build a Cob House with Cob Construction Links to an external site.

Mud and Wood: What is Cob? Links to an external site.

Making a DIY Earthen Floor Links to an external site.

Build Naturally with Cob Links to an external site.

Adobe

Adobe Floor Basics and How To Links to an external site.

Earthen Floor Recipe from Sustainable Nations Links to an external site.

Building an Adobe House Links to an external site.

Making Adobe Bricks Links to an external site.