Centre Of Science and Technology For Rural Development (COSTFORD),

A non profit making voluntary organization of scientists, technologists, Educationalists, professionals and social workers We strive to facilitate for empowering and enabling poor and weaker sections of the society to improve their living conditions by the application of appropriate and people friendly technologies adopting participatory, democratic, transparent and gender sensitive processes COSTFORD was formed on March 15th 1985 under the leadership and guidance of Shri. C. Achutha Menon, former Chief Minister of Kerala. The Head Office of COSTFORD is at Ayyanthole, Thrissur. Padmasree Dr. Laurie Baker, our Chairman, is our teacher and guide. COSTFORD tries to reduce costs so that the scientific approaches to common materials, techniques and needs come within the reach of the poorest people but are equally acceptable to all. COSTFORD tries to teach people themselves how to improve their living and working conditions. COSTFORD is mainly aimed at tackling the problems of the poor and especially of the rural poor. However, so many people have been impressed by the simple, do- it-yourself, commonsense approach that quite a number of middle class people and government organizations and departments also seek and get COSTFORDs help.

PHILOSOPHY

TRUTHFULLNESS
in construction towards materials

PHILOSOPHY

ENERGY SAVING
Energy embedded in the materials Day to day use of energy

PHILOSOPHY

NATURE FRIENDLY
Judicious use of natural resources and renewable materials Maximum utilisation of renewable resources

PHILOSOPHY

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Maximum use of manpower Creation of rural employment Minimum use of mechanisation

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

COST REDUCTION IN EXCAVATION During excavation for foundation, the excavated soil can be put inward, as it can be used as infilling ,rather than putting out and then again shovel back for infilling. If the soil is strong & hard there is no need to dig wide trenches, with concrete layer at the bottom. Dont dig deeper than necessary. Consistency of soil is more important than solidity. Only dig as wide as your foundation wall is going to be.( usually 45 cm)

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

FOUNDATION Bamboo reinforced surface beams in lime concrete

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

If stone is not available bamboo reinforcement can be done. In sandy areas, along the sea cost, foundation with bamboo reinforcement is suitable. Salt and saline will not affect or destroy either the concrete or the reinforcement. Special difficult soils may be well benefit from more scientific methods. For example, reclaimed soils and black cotton soils are notoriously bad and difficult and dangerous. The traditional deep excavations and infillings with sand or gravel etc can be replaced with a surface beam. No excavation is required except the removal of top few centimeters of top soil. The beams can be reinforced with bamboo instead of steel. In section, the beam can taper upwards, eg: a wide flat base, say 50cm, 50 or 60cm height, tapering to a top surface only 20 or 25cm wide.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

FOUNDATION Dry stone masonry filled with local soil Stone masonry in mud mortar

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

PLACEMENT OF WALL ON FOUNDATION For small single storeyed house, there is no need to build the brick wall over the middle of foundation. It can be over the outer half of foundation walls. The wall( 9wall) can be made to be in flush with the outside of the rubble wall(foundation wall). This prevents the seeping of rain water into the stone wall and weakening it. For single & double storeyed houses, the wide concrete layer beneath the basement in not required. A 18(45 cm) rubble wall is enough to carry full load unless the soil is very poor or loose.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

WALLS Sand-lime bricks / blocks

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

BAMBOO REINFORCED SURFACE BEAMS IN LIME CONCRETE

THANKASERY HOUSING, KOLLAM, KERALA

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

MUD ADOBE, COB, RAMMED EARTH, CEB FLOORING

STABILIZED SOIL BLOCKS

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

WALLS
BRICK MASONRY IN RAT-TRAP BOND

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES The acceptable brick size is 9 x 4.5 x 3 inches. They should be of appropriate size. To be hold in one palm of the hand Thrown by one man and caught in one hand by other man. English bond was the most commonly used as brick wall in india. Rat-trap bond is unknown in India, but used in England for past several hundred years. Using rat-trap bond, 25% of no. of bricks and cost of wall can be saved. It provides good thermal insulation, strength and imparts a good look therefore can be recommended instead of other bonds.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

BRICK MASONRY IN RAT-TRAP BOND

BRICK MASONRY IN RAT-TRAP BOND

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES In laying a brick wall of specified length, first lay out one row of brick. There may be gap or layout may over run the end of wall. In such cases do not insert pieces, which create bonding problem. Just move each brick a tiny fraction, it is possible to make right number of bricks fit correctly into the length of the required wall length. LAYING PROCEDURE: Lay mortar to cover the brick course of 1st layer. Then place the next brick course in position over that. Press out the emerging mortar so that it is in level with the face of the wall, so that no further pointing is needed.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

WALLS
ARTICULATED SLENDER MASONRY

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES SIMPLE TOOLS: The plum bob should be used at the ends of the wall . String should be used for the wall between. The plumb line should fall to the bottom course and not to the brick immediately below it. LAYING OF MORTAR:(rat trap bond) Mortar should be placed such that it should not be wasted in the cavity. So use a wooden piece to cover the cavity so that it is not wasted. Dimension of a wooden piece = 3 feet x 3 x 3\4. Wet the wall before putting mortar.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES BRICK JALIS: Jail- formerly used as pierced stone panels. This is Indias oldest method of letting into building, filtered light & ventilation, but maintains privacy & security. This can function as a complete load bearing wall or as panels. Jail can be extended from floor to ceiling & column to column.

The vertical joints of the course can be kept open to form a jail. Air holes or ventilation holes can be made , this can perform the function of the window

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES 1 sq.ft of window cost 10 times the cost of simple brick or stone wall it replaces. For looking out, to let light and fresh air a jalli can be used effectively. This is a excellent alternative to a costly window. Windows can be simple, inexpensive & employing little labour. But at the same time they should provide light, air and security. A vertical shutter with two round projection in the center at their ends can be pivoted at the top and bottom, will be a cost effective one.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES Wood is getting scarce and costly. They should be used as little as possible. In many instances frameless doors and windows are acceptable and reduce both quantity of timber, labour and cost. Board and battern type shutters are less costly, use less labour and less timber than panelled shutters. Glass is often not necessary. They should be used when it has a useful purpose and is essential. Glass manufacture is energy intensive. It is extravagant or unnecessary use in ANTI NATIONAL

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES DOORS: Vertical planks can be held or screwed together by a iron strap with a hinge provision. This iron strap is hinged to a holdfast which is built into the wall. So the use of a door frame & panels is eliminated. Planks held together by horizontal battens cuts cost and reduces greatly the cost of labour.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES POINTING AND PATCHING Plastering accounts up to 10% of the total cost of the building. Painting & maintenance of plaster is required. Patching and pointing can be done, which gives a fair face, no painting and maintenance is required. POINTING: This is to provide smooth finish to an unplastered wall. This should not be done as extra job after the wall construction is complete. Place the brick over the mortar, after laying the mortar, then gently press the brick. The bulging mortar is pressed with the trowel to give a smooth finish.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES PATCHING:

Bricks vary slightly in length and so only one side of the wall can be leveled. So bring one side of stretcher in line.

Fill the hollows with mortar on the other side this process is called patching.

The leveled side can be given a line pointing.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

Lintels of concrete and steel is not required over doors and window openings up to 4 feet wide. This consists of one row of bricks placed over the frame of opening laterally. Above them there are two rows of bricks placed on the edge, with one row on each side. The space between these upper two rows of brick sis then filled with concrete in which a small steel rod is placed. The only weight the lintel actually carrying is a small triangle of brickwork. All other weight of wall above are carried by the wall at the sides of the opening. This is less than half of the cost of R.C.C. lintels.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

For other openings, brick arches or corbelled arches can be employed instead of reinforced concrete lintels. These are cost effective and imparts good look. In corbelled arches each projects out by 2.25 beyond the course and are held by the counter weight by the wall above it.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

Arches can be used rather than lintels. Many varieties of arches , flat, segmented, pointed, rounded, corbelled and so on. All arch method are equally suitable for mud wall construction. Adequate width of support walls should be provided to deal with the arch thrust.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

Corbel arches can be used for openings as wide as 5 meters. These can be different shapes & sizes, which are less costly than R.C lintels.

During construction, this does not require extensive framework for support.

With a smallest framework, other large size arches can be made by adding one or two rows of dry bricks( no mortar), according to the span of the arch.

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

Normal round and segmented arches needs shuttering or support during construction, but corbel arches need no shuttering.

This is extremely simple & easy to make. One quarter of a brick is extended out from the brick below it. In corbelled arches each course projects out by 2.25 beyond the lower course

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

ROOF
RCC FILLER SLAB

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

RCC FILLER SLAB

ALTERNATE MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

RAIN WATER HARVESTING

There must be suitable place to store the harvested rain water,& protect from evaporation. On such place is the space between the foundation in the ground floor. This requires water proofing of base & plinth walls. This system would be better if we have continuous rain.

CHENKEL CHOOLA HOUSING,TRIVANDRUM

A

DN

D1 JALI JALI

BED RM 2.03 X 2 TOILET

D2

LIVING RM 3.76 X 2
D2 JALI

TOILET BED RM 2.59 X 1.47

W1JALI D2

TOILET
D2

D2

KITCHEN 3.2 X 1.47

2.62 X 1.62

KITCHEN 3.03 x 1.5

KITCHEN 3.03 x 1.5

2.62 X 1.62

D2

LIVING RM 2.62 X 2.47

D1 W1

BED RM 3.03 X 2.59

BED RM 3.03 X 2.59

D2

LIVING RM 2.62 X 2.47

D1

W1

W1

W1

W1

0.23

OPEN TERRACE

OPEN TERRACE

FRONT ELEVATION
A'

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

UP
W1

W1

W1

1.19 0.11 0.11

3.02

0.23

3.01 0.11

1.19 0.11

BED RM 2.03 X 2
JALI

LIVING RM 3.76 X 2
D1 D2

BED RM 2.59 X 1.73

D1

BED RM 2.59 X 1.73

D1

TOILET

UP TOILET
W1 JALI D2 D2 JALI

UP LIVING RM 2.59X 1.86

D1

TOILET
D2

D2

TOI

D2

D2

JALI

KITCHEN 3.2 X 1.47

W1 W1

KITCHEN 1.62 x 3.7

LIVING RM 2.59 X 1.86

D1

KITCHEN 1.62 x 3.7

TOI

W1

LIVING RM 2.5 X 2.47

KITCHEN 3.03 X 1.5

W1 D2

KITCHEN 3.03 X 1.5

LIVING RM 2.5 X 2.47

W1

DN

D1

D1

W1 W1 W1 W1

D1

D1

OPEN TERRACE TOILET

OPEN TERRACE

JALI

TOILET

JALI

3.5 X 1.5

BED RM 2.03 X 2.47

BED RM 2.03 X 2.47

3.5 X 1.5

JALI D2 JALI

D1 W1

W1 W1

D1 W1

KITCHEN 1.65X3.04

LIVING RM 3.82 X 3.04

BED RM 3 X 3.04

BED RM 3 X 3.04

LIVING RM 3.82 X 3.04

KITCHEN 1.65X3.04

OPEN TERRACE

OPEN TERRACE

D1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1

D1 W1 W1 W1

UP

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

CHENKEL CHOOLA HOUSING,TRIVANDRUM

CHENKEL CHOOLA HOUSING,TRIVANDRUM

CHENKEL CHOOLA HOUSING,TRIVANDRUM

CHENKEL CHOOLA HOUSING,TRIVANDRUM