PERMAFORMING WORKSHOP

ACADEMIC CURRICULUM

Program Overview
Permaforming is a holistic reference to a wide range of topics including
planning, design, land use, disaster management, energy conservation,
harnessing or capture and generation of natural energies, selection of lowimpact materials and their locality and transport, appropriate passive
technologies, architecture and engineering of structures, agriculture, and
analysis techniques. In this intensive course students are introduced to the
theory and philosophy of natural development, academic science of water,
degradation, and elemental combinations, design and planning of
ecologically, and economically responsible natural structures and agriculture,
bio-dynamic and permaculture agricultural sciences, and socially,
economically, and environmentally responsible urban developments. In
addition, students experience working with agriculture, systems
development, waste elimination in composting and biogas system design,
micro-urban community development, and natural building techniques while
gaining hands-on experience working alongside knowledgeable faculty.

Permaform Institute for Sustainability Arts

PISA was founded by dreamers in an endeavor to create our goals of defining

an alternative to conventional capitalistic based development models
founded on unsustainable and devastatingly harmful development through
educational formats in natural development sciences and practical skill
development project.
Asia was specifically chosen as our educational venue due to its cultural
relativity to current permaforming impacts. The lack of industrial
development can be a benefit when applying alternative development
ideologies, concepts, and technologies, as lacking industrialized
developments open the potential for initial development which is more
conducive to sustainability of non-industrialized regions environment,
economic stability, and social structures.
We also believe that combining the lectures with cultural exposure is a
deeply rewarding experience, and allows workshop participants to explore
the history and architecture of ancient cultures from around the world using
various techniques of design and development with natural and passive or
human powered technologies that still maintain their architectural integrity
and use, or function.
PISA is committed to social, environmental, and economically equity
achieved through micro-urban intentional community design. One of our
primary goals is to educate people in the field of Permaforming which can
positively impact both urban settlements and natural and undisturbed areas
of the world through poverty alleviation leading to less environmental
exploitation, rural communities with increased local employment, cultural,
educational, and social opportunities and decreasing youth and brain-drain,
decreased environmental impacts from activities of development, skills of

self sustainability, and natural structural design skill development which can
easily be transferred to local communities through capstone projects.

Permaforming Workshop
Program: Permaforming Workshop
PISA Faculty: Jennifer Shurley (USA)
Course Description

This is a mixed academic, practical, and volunteer oriented course that

provides background theory and science with skills and techniques for
natural residential housing and other structures design and development in a
sustainable micro-urban framework. The course is taught through both
theoretical lessons in the classroom and hands-on experiences in the
complete design and basic construction techniques of a Permaformed
structure or facility. A variety of methods and materials are explored
including an in depth analysis of historical architecture of the area, cob,
wattle and daub, stone, recycled materials, passive systems integration,
organic waste management, water harvesting and use systems, micro-urban
community development, and sustainable agriculture.
An emphasis is placed on equity, both in terms of social, environmental, and
economic embodied energy of materials and their capacity for function,
impact from planning through destruction, cost, maintenance and
occupation. In addition, appropriate passive technologies are investigated
such as orientation, heat radiation, ventilation and cooling, agricultural
applications, composting and biogas waste elimination, insulation
capabilities, ovens, and water systems.
The Design element is a class participation event, located at our new facility
at the Sentient Apocalypse Coffee Shop in Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Qualifying students who receive a passing score of a minimum of 65% on all
grades for the workshop will be issued a PISA Certificate for Permaform
Design which includes - Compost and Biogas System Designer, Water
Harvesting System Design, Micro-Urban Community Design, and Natural
Structure Design and Construction. Pending certification, each student will
receive the opportunity to volunteer in our development company activities
until they achieve 1000 hours of volunteer experience as a specialty.
Pending specialty Certification and registration, each specialist will be able to
sub-contract through our Sentient Apocalypse Permaform Community
Development Company. The Sentient Apocalypse Permaform Micro-Urban

Community Development Company utilizes certified specialties in natural

structure design, cob construction, natural plaster, passive water system
design and construction, waste management system design and
construction, sustainable agriculture in architectural landscaping, Permaform
community coordination, and Permaform Education Instruction.

Course Objectives

Participants will be able to analyze the specific environmental, social,

and economic conditions of a particular natural development project
and plan according to concepts of equity.
Participants will understand concepts of ecological, social, and
economic footprint and embodied energy and be able to apply them to
a sustainable urban development process.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and experience in the
application of passive appropriate technologies as aids to achieving
sustainability.
Participants will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to design
and construct natural structures using local, low-energy and non-toxic
materials, sustainable agriculture surrounding structures, and passive
systems of water harvesting and recycling, passive solar mass,
ventilation, organic nutrient recycling systems of waste management,
and basic planning and logistical management skills for equitable
operations.
Participants will be prepared to begin working in the infant field of
Permaforming Design and Micro-Urban Community Development as an
alternative to industrialized urban and rural residential development
models around the world.

Learning Modalities

The instructor teaching this course uses lectures, small group work,
discussions, site visits, individual assignment, quizzes, final exams, and
hands on workshops as key strategies to allow each student to develop
mastery of course content, and develop the skills necessary to confidently
begin developing natural sites through their own management in their own
home construction, businesses, or through community developments.

Course Outline

The following is the order in which students will develop mastery of course
content and
natural development principles.
CORE WORKSHOPS
Segment 1- 1-9 of Water Sciences and Harvest System Design
Segment 2- 1-12 of Sustainable Agriculture
Segment 3 1-12 Natural Structure Design

Segment 4 1-12 Natural Building Lab

Segment 5- 1-12 Waste Elimination
Segment 6 1-12 Micro-Urbanism and Community Development
MINOR WORKSHOPS
Please note, minor workshops are offered at various times throughout the
year. Each student wishing to complete the full permaforming program and
receive Permaforming Certificates must take at least 3 minor workshops.
Solar Oven Workshop,
Cob Workshop
Natural Plasters and Finishes Workshop
Natural Human Rights and Global Civics
Wind Generator Workshop
Solar Water Purification System Workshop
Solar Steam Generator Workshop
Note: This outline is subject to change both before and during the course based on student
learning goals, weather, and other factors.

Course Requirements
Course Documentation
1. Volunteer Assignments
Each workshop participant is expected to complete one substantive
volunteer project after the completion of all 6 core segments of academic
studies to be certified as a PISA Permaforming Specialist, and registered as a
licensed sub-contractor for assignment in development projects in Nepal,
and around the world.
Each student application for specialization should be submitted as a video
documentary and specifically reference relevant, key concepts, topics,
activities and experiences that the group has explored since the beginning of
the program, and should show 1000 hours of work for each specialty area,
with a corresponding 10 minuets of video documentation. Natural structure
project films should clearly show the design of the structure, orientation,
passive thermal capabilities, passive systems integration, agriculture and
land development of the site and building. Students will have up to 24
months from their program completion date to submit their video to qualify
for specialty certification and sub-contractor registration with Sentient
Apocalypse. Students should clearly show in their video their own personal
involvement in the process, and describe the location and surroundings of
where the structure is built. Define your materials and design, and describe
your rational for choosing the design and materials. Please list any others
involved, and describe their involvement in the process. Please provide your
schedules, budgets, balances and total expenses both at the beginning and
end of the project with an simple analysis of outcome and expectations,

include a personal assessment of what you learned in the program, and what
you learned in the volunteer building process.
Current specialties include:
(Permaform Students may apply for and qualify for one, or any combination
of all of the following)
Micro-urban natural structure design,
cob construction,
Roofing and recycled wood framing,
natural plaster,
passive water system design and construction,
waste management system design and construction,
sustainable agriculture in architectural landscaping,
Permaform community coordination, and
Permaform Education Instruction.
2. Practicum Project Constructing a Permaformed micro-urban
community structure model
Students will become familiar with cob construction, systems development
and construction, earthworks, and agricultural planning and development
during this permaforming intensive. By course end, students will be able to
design an efficient and beautiful home plus other sustainable structures. The
model project is a small scale model of a micro-urban community structure in
the Natural Structure Lab. All models shall be a 1 inch = 1 foot model size,
and must include lands, and all elements including water catchment, waste
management facilities, and oriented appropriately for passive systems
utilization. Each model should also have a written description of the location,
geology, climate including average rainfall, soil types, culture, economic
conditions, community information, occupation and plans for use, and other
relevant information in order to determine passive systems and design
characteristics.
This is the Permaform Program homework assignment. The models must be
completed and submitted to the teacher, Jeni Shurley by October 5th, and
each student will present their model to the class in the last week of the
program from October 12th through the 16th 2015.
3.Artistic Expression Project
The final assignment is for students to present a creative interpretation or
expression of energy systems of economics, environment, development, and
social systems and how they personally fit into "whole systems thinking."
Students can choose how they want to document this; by artistic
representation, activity, poem, or other creative form of expression to be
authorized by the instructor by October 12th, and presented to the ceremony
participants at class graduation on October 16th, 2015.
4. Individual Segment Certificates
All 6 segment may be taken individually with the exception of the Natural
Building Design and Natural Building Lab which must be taken together.
Individual segment certificates are provided to all students who complete the

program segment with a passing grade of a minimum of 70% on the overall

grade.

Grading
In this course the instructor, Jeni Shurley will actively promote multiple
means of evaluation and authentic assessment including student selfassessment, peer assessment, faculty-student debriefs and rubric. In order
for students to receive individual segment and Design Certificates, the
instructor will submit a letter grade and written evaluation of each student's
learning. Participants will furthermore be evaluated according to a
demonstrated understanding of the methods, techniques and concepts
taught throughout the course as expressed in the assignments listed above.
The Permaforming Design Certificate of Completion is graded and issued as
follows:
Models and
Presentations...................................................................................... 20%
Creative Expression Assignment ...... 20%
Exams.... 40%
General Participation ... 10%

*Participants must receive at least a 65% in order to

receive the PISA Certificate of Completion to the
Permaform Design Workshop.
The Capstone Project is graded as follows:

Design and Plans

.
10%
Written Report of site conditions
10%
Budget and Schedule
. 5%
Drainage
.. 10%
Foundation

.. 10%
Walls and technique
. 5%

Doors and Windows

. 5%
Passive Systems Integration
.. 10%
Roof

. 5%
Water systems

. 10%
Waste Systems

10%
Agriculture and Environmental Impact
.. 10%

*Participants must receive at least a 65% in order to

receive PISA Certificate of Permaforming Structural
Design and Construction.

5 days per week: M, T, W, TH, and F;

Lecture - 1pm 3pm
Workshop -3pm 6pm
LOCATION
The Permaforming Program is offered at the Primal Nascence Eco-Castle in Kampot,
Cambodia. Free camping is available onsite for students, but any student staying
longer than 6 days must pay a monthly Eco-Castle Community Membership due of
$10 USD per person. Campers must provide their own transportation, visa, travel
expenses, tents, food, and drinking water, but they will have access to washing
water, toilets, and a communal kitchen.
LEARN
Through hands-on activities, workshops, classes and seminars, presentations and
field work, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to design and
build using locally-sourced clay, sand, straw, bamboo, wood, stone and other

abundant, affordable and salvaged materials, design productive and

environmentally responsible agriculture, and manage organic wastes to produce
high quality organic fertilizing agents in a high density urban population.

TOPICS & TECHNIQUES

Hands-On Projects

Basic principals of permaforming from social, ecological, and economic

perspectives
Water Science and harvesting and use systems
Sustainable agriculture including permaculture and biodynamics
Architecture and engineering basics
Waste management science and systems
Cob, and wattle & daub wall construction
Exterior and interior earth and lime plasters and paints
Floor, wall and roof systems
Planning and development concepts

About >>>>>
The Primal Nascence Eco-Castle is the worlds first intentionally designed
sustainable micro-urban community and event center. Our PISA facility is located in
the Eco-Castle Keep, providing students the ability to witness and experience
permaforming with a living, breathing post-apocalyptically themed sustainable
micro-urbanism project. This unique location offers students the ability to watch the
Permaformed community development process, and offers multiple avenues to
learn from many projects actively being built onsite.
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Jennifer Shurley is an equity engineer specializing in triple bottom line business,
structural, project, educational programming, community development, and
systems development. She has 15 years of permaforming experience, beginning
with the development of her own home in Hawaii based on the principles of passive
design, and has designed and built many alternative structures ranging from
temporary settlements, to intentionally designed cities. Her experience has lead
her around the world working for individuals, businesses, INGOs, and personal
projects internationally oriented in Africa, America, India, Nepal, and Mexico. She is
the Founder and Community Director of the Pimal Nascence Eco-Castle Community
Association, the founder and creator of the Permaforming program, as well as the
primary instructor of course activities.

FEE
These courses are being offered by donationgive what you can, or nothing at all.
All donations large and small are deeply appreciated, but we are more interested in
spreading this information. Eco-Castle Unit Sponsors are deeply encouraged to go
through the program in the design process of their Eco-Castle Unit.
Please note: The workshop is being held on undeveloped land, and accommodations
are in tents, so participants should come prepared for camping with sleeping bags,
and other requirements according to their schedule. They say Cambodia has two
seasons, the wet and the dry, please do a little homework before you come about
the climate and weather expectations. If standard hotel accommodations are
desired, you can generally find a cheap room below $10 USD a night in Kathmandu
close enough to walk to the workshops, or even at the site can be arranged for
about $130 USD per month. Students will need to supply their own notebooks, bug
spray if you think you might need it, first aid kit, work cloths, gloves, sturdy work
shoes, pocket knife, tool belt, hammer, measuring tape, two foot level, shovel, hand
saw, and whatever other tools you might like to use. If anyone has access to nice
hand tools, I gladly and happily accept tools as donations to the class, and they are
hard to find in Nepal.
If you have a drum, bring it or any other instrument that doesnt require electricity,
and get your primal ready to come out, just remember this is a family event, and a
conservative country, so.
For Sentient Apocalypse Permaform Community Unit Sponsors taking the course,
this workshop will prepare you to design, submit for unit development, and enable
you to build your own community unit. Permaforming students who complete the
course do not have to pay for Community Development Application Fees.
For future permaforming sub-contractors, this course will prepare you to take the
Sentient Apocalypse Sub-Contractor Exam.
REGISTRATION
We have 20 available positions. Registration is first come, first served. To register,
follow these steps:
1) Copy/paste and send the program application to alohajeni@gmail.com.
2) We will get back to you within three days to confirm availability.
Please check our online schedule to get the most recent schedule of workshops.
You can start the program at the beginning of an individual workshop as the
program repeats itself all year, and generally takes 3 months to complete.
.