PDC Handbook –Unit 2, Design Methods

Unit 2, Design Methods

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PDC Handbook – Design Methods

Maps The average of a slope can be gauged by the equation

“The map is not the territory”, though it is one of the H/D x 100. The height, which is the distance between
main tools of the designer. Do not to design just from contour lines (in this case they are at 20 meter intervals)
maps, no map tells the entire story that can be ob- and the horizontal distance which is measured according
served on the ground. A sequence of maps is to the scale on the map.
valuable to see clearly where to place elements: -
Water, Access, Structures, Topography etc. Google
Maps is a great tool to assist in this process.

Areal Image/ Satellite Image

Hill
Topographical maps allow you to see a 3 dimensional
Saddle
landscape, elevation, contours, valleys and bodies of
water.
Contour lines are drawn on a map connecting points
of equal elevation. If you follow a contour line it’s level. Keypoint

The lines are spaced at intervals representing meters/

Valley
feet in elevation, so contour lines close together
indicate a steep slope and vice versa. Concentric
closed contours increase in elevation represent hills.

Valleys are represented by the V shaped contour Hill

lines, pointing up stream. The point of the V Saddle
represents the land in the middle being of a lower

Topographical Map
elevation. If it has a narrow point it is a deep valley
and if the V is wide it indicates a wider valley.
Keypoint
A ridge is a series of hills and the land at the top of the
ridge is higher then the land on both sides. Water Valley
flows down either side of the ridgeline so water
catchment is defined by the ridgelines, they are rep-
resented by U shaped contour lines going downslope.
PDC Handbook – Design Methods

Site Analysis
A thorough listing of all relevant site
characteristics, amenities,
properties, advantages and
challenges gives us better
understanding of what are the main
design requirements, help us avoid
type A errors and create a dialogue
with the landscape and the users of
the land.
(See Mind Map on the right)
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PDC Handbook – Design Methods

Analysis of Elements from the kitchen. They can also be connected to a food
Before we select elements and place them in a design forest, where they scratch, eat weed seeds and insects
we have to analyze each potential element in the and also fertilize.
system. We are looking to design without waste and to A chicken’s scratching behavior uncontrolled is
delay entropy. We are part of the system and if we can’t destructive; however connected to the preparation of
use the outputs we have to find something that will. garden beds, it can save labor. Eggs, meat, feathers and
manure can all be harvested for use. The intrinsic
Elements - Plants, Animals, Structures. factors of a chicken can be matched to the climate or
Each element has needs which we theme to be provided whether eggs or meat are preferred. By assessing its
by the system we’re designing and each element has needs, products, behaviors and intrinsic factors we start
products which we design to be used in the system. This connecting the chicken to other elements in the system.
may be a yield but also may be a function. We also take
into account an element’s unique or intrinsic factors.
The intention of the design is for there to be a
continuous cycling and a conversion of products from
one element to become the need of another.
We ask “Where does this element go? How is it best
placed for maximum benefit in the system?
Below is an example of an analysis of a chicken
element. The location and structure of the chicken coop
will be governed by the chicken’s needs. Things like;
access to dust for dust baths which control dust mites,
air flow for temperature control and protection from
predators. Food can be provided from the garden or
from food scraps, a connection with a waste element
PDC Handbook – Design Methods

Zones
Zone analysis is the placement of elements to conserve energy. We place elements according to
how much energy is required to attend or utilize them.
Conceptually the Zones can be seen as concentric rings; a single pathway through the system,
starting with the home center and working out.
The home center is Zone 1 where elements that require a lot of attention are. The placement of
elements in each Zone depends on priorities, and the number of visits needed for each element; the
chicken house is visited every day, so it needs to be close (but not necessarily next to the house). A
herb spiral would be next to the kitchen so it can be accessed quickly when cooking. In reality
Zones are never concentric circles. They vary in shape and size according to slope, orientation and
wind.3

Zone 0-1
• Home, garden and kitchen
• Herbs, spices, annual
vegetable
• Roof catchment
• Very intensive
(Components that need
a lot of care, or that we
use a lot)
• Dwarf grafted and selected
fruit trees
• Greenhouse
• Multiple functions
• Clothes drying line
• Full nutrient cycle
• Sheet mulch
Zone 2
• Intensive cultivation of annual
cultivars (grains, staple foods)
• Heavily mulched orchard
• Well-maintained
• Grafted & selected fruit trees
• Dense planting
• Compost Shed
• Smaller Animals: chickens,
ducks, rabbits, pigeons, etc.
• Pollinator Species and Natives
• Biodigestor, Grey Water
System, Constructed
Wetlands
• Spot Mulching
• Water retention in Swales and
tanks from roof catchment
Zone 3
• Connects to Zone 1 & 2 for
easy access
• Larger & More Independent
Animals: goats, sheep, geese,
bees, dairy cows, horses, etc.
• Animal Forage
• Self-Forage systems: poultry
forest, grazing rotations, etc
• Windbreaks & Firebreaks
• Spot mulching, rough mulching
• Trees protected with cages,
strip-fencing
• Nut tree forests
• Larger Grain Fields
• Water Retention with Swales,
earth-dams and soil
Zone 4
• Long term development
• Timber for building and Zone 5
firewood • Uncultivated wilderness
• Analog forestry systems • Reforestation area
• Watering minimal • Fallen tree Timber
• Feeding minimal • Natives for wild crafting
• Rotating pasture for large • Hunting
animals.
• Hardy trees and larger
natives for wild crafting .
• Un-grafted Trees for later
selection
• Water retention in larger
ponds and dams, and soil
• Understory crops
 PDC Handbook – Design
Sectors
Sectors are the energies flowing on and through the
site, wind, water, fire, noise, smells, even views.
The aim of sector
planning is to channel external energies into or
away from the system. The Zone and Sector factors
together, regulate the placement of particular plant,
species and structures. After analysis of the Sectors
the choice is to allow for or to block energies on to
the site.3
Orientation
Orientation is the placement of an element so that it faces sun-
side or shade-side, depending on its function and needs.
Sun angle describes the arc of the sun during winter and
summer months and is considered in decisions of house
design; areas of shade and reflection or angles for heat
absorption on surfaces. It doesn’t matter which climate you are
in you need to know the extremities of your sun path.
The heat of the sun in the morning is much gentler after the
cool of the night, than it is in the afternoon, after a full day of
sun.
We look to orient toward the sun for heat and light but to do
this, we have to think which way the sun goes through the sky.
In the northern hemisphere the winter sun rises in the
southeast, peaks at a low angle above the southern horizon
and sets in the south west. In the northern hemisphere in
summer (June, July, August), the sun rises in the northeast,
peaks at nearly straight overhead (depending on latitude) and
then sets in the northwest.
In the colder climates you may want to orientate more toward
the west to get through the colder nights. In the dry and tropics
orientate to the
east for the
morning sun
and shade
areas from the
harsh western
sun of the
afternoon.3
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PDC Handbook – Design Methods

Can be free-conscious or thematically-conscious.

Slope
Zazen - walking without thinking, unreflective, non-
Slope is a consideration in the placement of elements.
judgmental, non-conclusive.
The effect of gravity can be used to maximum capacity;
Putting it together: Use all the methodologies of
water can be gravity fed to storage; mulch and other
design.
materials can be kicked down hill; cold air falls down a
Select Elements and Pattern assembly.3
slope and warm air rises; nutrients from animal housing
can trickle down; heavy objects can be rolled downhill.
Conversely slope requires extra work for activity to go
uphill. Positioning the house in the mid slopes gives the
benefit of using the higher slope for gravity fed water
and woodlands and the lower slopes for productive
growing.
Aspect is the orientation of the slope.
A slope facing the sun will receive considerably more
solar radiation than a slope facing the shade side. In the
mid slopes we look for a sunny aspect to receive
maximum sun absorption for houses and gardens
spaces.3
Use of slope. Duck manure in water from a pond
Observation is gravity fed to a tap, which is used to fertilize
the garden.
Freethinking or thematic thinking
Note phenomenon
Place each element plant, animal, or structure so
Infer (make guesses)
that it serves at least two or more functions. Every
Investigate (research)
important function (water collection, fire
Devise a strategy
protection) is served in two or more ways.
Experiential
Elements are placed according to intensity of use
Become conscious of yourself, feelings, environment. (zones), control of external energies (sectors) and
efficient energy flow (gravity, wind and heat).3