Three Cases, Three Permaculture-Based Solutions

This week, three cases, three elements, three contexts that are completely different from one another—and we’re responding to them all. From Terramans and La Casa Integral , we apply the principles of permaculture to every new project that comes our way. Some are large and complex; others are modest and simple. But in all of them, we strive to design a service that respects people, their needs, the visible and invisible resources involved, and the constraints that determine the strategies and techniques we choose to carry out a project.

First Case

So, on Monday we began construction of the naturalized pool for Gerard and Gemma by hiring a company from the same municipality, while also using more “complex” techniques to increase the durability of the entire structure, which will also provide higher-quality water for irrigating the crops on the property.

Second case

On Tuesday, we turned our attention to WOOD (always capitalized) to begin implementing a strategy combining mechanical shading—a pergola—and biological shading—using climbing plants—to improve comfort for two families whose homes face west toward the Mediterranean. In this case, we worked “side by side” with the owners, sharing the process, information, and our passion for the work, thereby reducing costs and strengthening the users’ connection to the space, creating a symbiotic relationship and an ecosystem. }

Third Case

The third project was a two-family housing cooperative—a self-built renovation of a traditional farmhouse into two family units. Now it’s time for the “wet” phase of applying kaolin and air lime + NHL 3.5 plasters over formwork made of clay, aggregate, and oat hulls.

We’ve hired two more self-builders here who know the trade and understand the context, to really get the whole project moving, since we’re expecting a baby.

Deciding how to proceed, who to assign to the project, whether you’ll handle it yourself, assessing whether the property can accommodate the work, and determining which techniques and materials to use are all part of our work as a design studio. At La Casa Integral , we love and are passionate about our work and the purpose we bring to it.