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Sustainable housing delivery: Lessons from a permaculture project webinar, 19 May 2026

Sustainable housing delivery: Lessons from a permaculture project webinar Tuesday 19 May 2026 APM Sustainability Interest Network and APM London Network Presenter Manisha Lath Gupta, Founder, Aanandaa Permaculture Project News story writeup URL: https://www.apm.org.uk/news/sustainable-housing-delivery-lessons-from-a-permaculture-project-webinar/ Content description: This webinar presented on Tuesday 19 May explored the delivery of a sustainability-led housing project through a project management lens, using the Aanandaa Permaculture Project as a real-world case study. Rather than focusing on the completed building, the session examined the project lifecycle, highlighting how sustainability ambitions were translated into practical delivery decisions. The talk focused on project challenges, trade-offs and decision-making under constraint, including balancing sustainability goals with budget, programme, skills availability, and coordination across multiple teams. It examined how design choices, material selection, and construction sequencing evolved during delivery and how changes were managed as the project progressed. A key focus of the session was transferability. The project is used to demonstrate how a permaculture mindset can be applied incrementally and pragmatically across projects of different scales and contexts, without the need to replicate the original project in full. Learning is framed in alignment with recognised project frameworks, including the Triple Bottom Line and P5 (People, Planet, Profit, Process, Product), ensuring relevance to a broad range of project environments. The session concluded with a facilitated discussion and Q&A, enabling attendees to reflect on how these lessons can be applied within their own organisations and projects. Benefits of engaging with the resources • Gain insight into delivering sustainability-led projects under real-world constraints • Understand how project decisions and trade-offs influence sustainability outcomes • Learn how sustainability principles align with established project frameworks • Acquire practical, transferable lessons applicable across the built environment.

Education◦
Related topics:
Project Manager•Portfolio Management•
M A N I S H A L A T H G U P T A , M A Y 2 0 1 9 A A N A N D A A P E R M A C U L T U R E P R O J E C T Sustainable housing delivery Lessons from a permaculture project
Background & Context Aanandaa Permaculture Project initiated in 2010 Ecological security and future proofing our children Regenerate the landscape, restore bio diversity, grow food, harvest water In 2021, build a dwelling unit on the land 2010 2021
Permaculture Principles
Sustainability & Resilience Natural buildings an extension of permaculture Eager to try new things, take risks to showcase technology & materials Focus on long terms expenses and energy efficiency. No AC a priority Set a higher standard for self compared to regulations Design for disaster - No energy, no water, no fuel, no communication, floods, extreme weather What could go wrong? How to manage that? Safety, aesthetics and comfort of family Enhance credibility of Aanandaa Permaculture Project Down to Earth, MLIME, Auroville Earth Institute
Universal Concepts of Sustainable Living Profit People Planet V ia b le Bearable Equitable Fair Share People Care Earth Care Triple Bottom Line Permaculture Ethics
04 What is a Sustainable House Minimal Resources | Low Energy | Non-Toxic | Self-Sufficient
Sustainability Design Materials Technology Functional yet beautiful Climate appropriate Right sized Local Low embodied energy Biodegradable Timeless Low Tech Low energy Locally available
Sustainable Design Appropriate size for heating, cooling and maintenance Each space to have multiple functions Orientation for maximum solar gain in winter and minimal in summer Blend of functionality and aesthetics Design for physical & emotional comfort rather than ‘shock & awe’
Sustainable Materials Natural materials found locally Low embodied energy Non toxic Assimilate into the environment at end of life Bio degradable
Sustainable Technology Low level technology Ancient wisdom over modern science Minimal repair or maintenance Managed by low skilled workers/ self
Rammed Earth Thermal mass Local free material Non toxic No plaster, no paint Long lasting Re-cyclable Temperature regulation Acquired skill Manpower intensive Pre planning essential Requires formwork
Rammed earth requires no paint or plaster. Solid, load bearing walls.
Stone Masonry Thermal mass Locally available material Local craftsmanship Re-usable Long life Time taking Manpower intensive
Three natural materials & traditional techniques come together to create a contemporary look
Lime Mortar & Plasters Natural material The Lime Cycle Non-toxic Re-cyclable Long lasting Long setting time Dying art
Poorly finished rammed earth walls being plastered & finished in lime
Low Energy Roofing Systems Shallow Domes Filler Slab Wooden
A shallow dome under construction. No steel, no shuttering. Pure magic
Non toxic and low maintenance finishes Paint Textured Finish Mirror Finish
Bathroom finished in polished lime. Open to sky shower for warm summers
Use Small & Slow Solutions Rainwater Harvesting Grey Water Management Black Water Management
Solar Power Passive Cooling Firestove Heating Energy Systems
Fresh air, ample light. No airconditioning even in 42 C.
Local labour Good working conditions Fair wages P5 Standard by Green Project Management Planet People Prosperity Products Process Low embodied energy Local materials Non polluting Long lifecycle Economic prosperity for local community Brand enhancement for Aanandaa Project management Efficient resource use Fair gains & burdens Brand enhancing project to showcase Long lifespan Low maintenance On site Waste Management
...fills your home with stories! Salvaged & Second-hand Furniture 100+ year old doors A friend’s old furniture Carpenters work bench made into the study table
...safeguard against obsolescence! Low tech fixtures & lights Replaceable Bulbs Firestoves for heating Gravel Water Filter
Stone & lime masonry for the cellar. Cantilevered mahogany steps
Produce no Waste Plan/ visualise/ execute First time Right No make & break No dumping of waste elsewhere
Lime slaking tank designed as a potential garden feature & executed after completion of project
Project Delivery Drawings Materials Artisans
Project Lifecycle Thinking Best Practices Frameworks Opportunities Detailed Brief to Architect Goals for Self Partnerships with experts Identify suppliers Dialogue Changing our lifestyle & habits Recognizing the space as a living entity Measurement of temperature, energy consumption, water utlization Continuous Improvement Documentation Tours
Architectural Drawings Timeliness is key On site changes & modifications ‘You don’t know what you don’t know’ Materials & manpower precede drawings in a remote location project
Materials Reliable sources Standardised materials & specifications Technologies are material sensitive Availability & supply chain Test & learn on site
Technology & Artisans Wisdom and skills are hard to find Re train ourselves & others Technology transfer Teaching and training semi literate adults Put money into needy individual pockets instead of corporations
Energy & Motivation Sustainable structures have a soul The energy of the craftsmen gets embedded into the walls Keep the team motivated, happy and positive Pay them well and treat them with respect
Project Delivery Drawings Materials Artisans Regular cadence of ‘All Hands’ with the crew Anticipate bottlenecks and dependencies Put rigours in BOQ estimations Book time of craftsmen in advance Schedule work which requires ‘curing’ early in lifecycle
Catalan dome, lime plastered rammed earth walls, polished lime floor, old furniture
Costing of a Sustainability Project Carbon footprint credit Repairs and maintenance Energy utilization and utility bill savings Cost of rebuilding or renovating for next generation No fashion trends to follow every few years! A sustainable house makes good financial sense
Sustainability is a Journey Its difficult to be absolutely Sustainable Its not ‘all or nothing’ Don’t let ‘Great be the enemy of Good’
Reflective tiles have high embodied energy Solar panels are not bio-degradable An energy battery bank is highly polluting A water tank is made with concrete and steel Sustainability has Trade Offs Thoughtful conscious construction and project management is the key Ask: Why are we making this? Do we really need it? Why are we using this material or technology? Can we do without it? Can we use something greener?
Visit www.aanandaa.com to learn more about Permaculture Follow us on YT | IG | FB @farmaanandaa Listen to our Podcast ‘Permaculture Living with MLG’ on Spotify & others Email us on hello@aanandaa.com | Whatsapp on +91 62838 99456 Questions!