Human Settlements Review - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

Human Settlements Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2010
According to Mollison (1991), Permaculture
design has a set of universal laws and
principles that suit all climates and cultures as
well as a component of practical techniques
to suit specific climates and cultures. The
universal principles are as follows:
• Locate each element, in relation to the
other elements, for assistance;
• Single elements perform many
functions;
• Each element has the support of many
elements;
• Effective zonal planning for housing
and other elements with an emphasis
on energy efficiency;
• The use of biological resources
instead of fossil fuel resources;
• On-site recycling of energy;
• Use of natural plant successions for
establishment of favourable sites;
• Use of polycultures and diversity for
productive and interactive systems;
and
• The use of edges and natural patterns
to their best effect.
Holmgren (2006) has since advanced the
Permaculture principles that were originally
developed. Some of Holmgren’s principles
are new, while the rest are a refinement of the
original principles:
• Observe nature and interact with
recognised patterns. This is the
foundation of all learning and
understanding;
• The capture and storage of energy.
The energy that is referred to is
inclusive of water, nutrients, seeds,
carbon and energy used for power
supply;
• The application of self regulation
and the acceptance of feedback so
that excessive and inappropriate
growth is discouraged. In this way
technologies do not exploit resources
with subsequent damage in the future;
• The use and value of renewable
resources. These resources should
be used to generate income while
non-renewable resources should be
thought of and used as capital assets;
• No waste production. The system
should be designed so that something
that would be considered as waste
is used productively by another
component in the system;
• Designing patterns and then details.
There are patterns in nature that work.
These patterns have different details
under different circumstances. First
the patterns need to be recognised
and designed, and then the details
can be added;
• Integration of elements rather than
segregation. Relationships between
the different components in the
system should be optimised – so
that every component serves the
other components’ needs as well
as accepting the other components’
products;
• The use of small and slow solutions.
Small and slow technologies are more
practical and energy efficient;
• The use and value of diversity.
Diversity is insurance for the variances
in nature and everyday life;
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