COST

EFFECTIVE
ARCHITECTURE
(REPORT ALTERNATIVE BUILDING
MATERIAL AND
WORKS
OF LAURIE BAKER)

BY:
GROUP-2A
SECTION-C, 2nd year

INDEX

INTRODUCTION
NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MATERIALS
INTRODUCTION TO CSEB

MANUFACTURING
SOIL IDENTIFICATION
STABLIZER PROPORTION
CURING
COST ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION TO PULVERISED ASH BRICKS

MANUFACTURE
ADVANTAGES
PRICE PROFIT RATIO
INTRODUCTION TO PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
TYPES
ADVANTAGES
DIRECT COST REDUCTION
PERFORMANCE

 INTRODUCTION TO BAMBOO
ADVANTAGES
USES
EXAMPLE
INTRODUCTION TO FERRO-CEMENT
CONSTITUENT
ADVANTAGES
COST EFFECTIVENESS
APPLICATION
LAURIE BAKER INTRODUCTION
TECHNIQUES
FAMOUS WORKS
INDIAN COFFEE HOUSE, TRIVANDRUM
AUROVILLE EARTH INSTITUTE, TAMIL NADU
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
USE OF RAMMED EARTH
ENERGY EFFECTIVENESS
COST EFFECTIVENESS

NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE BUILDING

MATERIALS:
Demand for new buildings as well as the cost of
building construction is growing at a steady pace.
Bricks, cement, steel, timber, plastics, glass, are
some of the commonly used conventional materials .
Manufacturing processes are detrimental to the
environment.
Use of conventional materials alone to satisfy the
demand for new buildings, can drain the available
energy resources and cause environment
degradation.
Center for ASTRA (Application of Science and
Technology to Rural Areas) formed in the Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore, has developed
alternative building technologies looking at utilization
of local materials and reducing energy consumption to
achieve cost reduction.

INTRODUCTION TO CSEB:-

 Soil Cement Blocks or Compressed Stabilized Earth

Blocks (CSEB) are dense solid blocks compacted using
a machine with a mixture of soil, sand,
stabilizer (cement/lime) and water.
Standard sizes are (305x143x100mm) and
(230x190x100mm).
AT 7% of cement the wet compressive strength of 34Mpa. can be obtained.
CSEB can be used for wall construction without any new
technological problems.
The Soil cement blocks can be constructed using
cement mortar, lime mortar, lime pozzolana mortar or
mud mortar.
Normal cement mortar of 1:6 proportions has been used
in the construction of soil-cement block walls of several
buildings. To improve the bonding frogs have been
introduced on both faces.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS:
Soil Suitability and Stabilization for CSEB
Not every soil is suitable for CSEB in particular. Top
soil and organic soils must not be used.
A good soil for CSEB is more sandy than clayey.

Soil Identification:

 Grain size distribution, to know quantity of each grain

size.

Plasticity Characteristics, to know the quality and

properties of the binders(clay and silts)

Compressibility, to know the optimum moisture

content ,which will require minimum of compaction
energy for the maximum density.

Cohesion, to know how the binders bind the inert

grains.

Humus content to know if there are organic materials

which might disturb the mix.

Stabilizer proportion:
Cement stabilization = 5% average
The minimum is 3% and the maximum is 8%
Lime stabilization = 6% average
The minimum is 2% and the maximum is 10%

Curing:

 The mud blocks stabilized with cement or lime must

be cured for 21 days by a gentle sprinkling of water.
The top of the stack of blocks must be covered by
straw or gunny cloth to prevent evaporation of water.
After 28 days curing, the stabilized mud blocks
(SMB)are used for wall construction

TEST RESULTS, COST ANALYSIS:

Change in compressive strength with extra

pressure and extra cement

WORKS DONE:
BUILDING WITH EARTH IN AUROVILLE

Building with arches, vaults and domes

1. Training Centre of AV-BC
With stabilized earth
Waterproofing

2. Mirramukhi School
10.35 m span
Built in 3 weeks

INTRODUCTION TO PULVERISED ASH

BRICK:-

Pulverised ash brick (PAB) technology is a process

of converting industrial waste materials into quality
building materials. At present, the technology is well
established in converting thermal power plant waste into
quality bricks.
PAB technology uses dry ash (fly ash collected from ESP
or silos of thermal power plants); filler materials (usually
coarse sand or stone crusher dust); and additives (lime,
gypsum or cement). The strength of the bricks can be
engineered by varying compositions. Equipment used can
be manual or mechanized. Mechanized machines deploy
hydraulic compaction to produce a variety of bricks and
can be operated through electric or diesel power.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE:
Fly ash, Hydrated lime, Quarry dust and gypsum are
manually fed into a pan mixer where water is added in the
required proportion for intimate mixing. The proportion of
the raw material is generally in the ratio
fly ash
62%
8%
5%
25%

lime
Gypsum
Quarry Dust

depending upon the quality of raw materials.

After mixing, the mixture is shifted to the hydraulic Brick
Making machines. The bricks are carried on wooden
pellets to the open area where they are dried and water
cured for 14 days. The bricks are tested and sorted before
dispatch.

FLYASH
BRICK

NORMAL CLAY BRICK

Uniform pleasing colour like cement

Uniform in shape and smooth in finish

Varying colour as per soil

Uneven shape as hand
made
Lightly bonded
Plastering required
Heavier in weight
Compressive strength is
around 35 Kg/cm2
More porous
Thermal conductivity 1.25

Dense composition
No plastering required
Lighter in weight
Compressive strength is around 100 Kg/cm2
Less porous
Thermal conductivity 0.90-1.05 W/m2 C

Water absorption 6-12%

1.35 W/m2 C
Water absorption 20-25%

PRICE PROFIT RATIO FaL-G Bricks (Fly

ash)(Without Cement):
Fly ash Bricks made from fly ash, gypsum, sand
or stone dust is turning to a highly profitable
business in India and all around the world.
Fly ash, the raw material for fly ash bricks is
available at very low cost from Thermal power
stations.
Fly ash - Rs 100 per ton in Tamilnadu Thermal
power stations. Transport charges extra.

INTRODUCTION TO PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE:
Prestressed concrete is a method for
overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension. It can
be used to produce beams, floors or bridges with a
longer span than is practical with ordinary reinforced
concrete. Prestressing tendons (generally of
high tensile steel cable or rods) are used to provide a
clamping load which produces a compressive stress that
balances the tensile stress that the concrete compression
member would otherwise experience due to a bending
load. Traditional reinforced concrete is based on the use
of steel reinforcement bars, rebars, inside
poured concrete. Prestressing can be accomplished in
three ways: pre-tensioned concrete, and bonded or
unbonded post-tensioned concrete.
Prestressed concrete is a when cables are placed in the
concrete to combat the tensile forces created when weight
is put on concrete. There are two ways in which this is
done: pretensioning and post-tensioning. In pretensioning
the cables are stretched before the concrete is cast, in
post-tensioning, the cables are stretched after the
concrete has hardened. The advantages are the
elimination of cracking in concrete, reduced cross section

of members, reduced weight of member, less concrete is

needed, longer spans are possible, and there is greater
recovery after overloads. The disadvantages are only the
highest quality of materials can be used, closer control is
needed, skilled workmen are required, greater capital
investment for prestressing equipment is needed and the
high cost of end anchorage units (in post-tensioned work).

TYPES OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE:

Pre-tensioned concrete
In pretensioning, the steel is stretched before the
concrete is placed. High-strength steel tendons are
placed between two abutments and stretched to 70 to
80 percent of their ultimate strength. Concrete is poured
into molds around the tendons and allowed to cure.
Once the concrete reaches the required strength, the
stretching forces are released. As the steel reacts to
regain its original length, the tensile stresses are
translated into a compressive stress in the concrete.
Typical products for pretensioned concrete are roof
slabs, piles, poles, bridge girders, wall panels, and
railroad ties.

Post-tensioned
In post-tensioning, the steel is stretched after the
concrete hardens. Concrete is cast around, but not in
contact with unstretched steel. In many cases, ducts
are formed in the concrete unit using thin walled steel

forms. Once the concrete has hardened to the

required strength, the steel tendons are inserted and
stretched against the ends of the unit and anchored
off externally, placing the concrete into compression.
Post-tensioned concrete is used for cast-in-place
concrete and for bridges, large girders, floor slabs,
shells, roofs, and pavements.

ADVANTAGES:
Longer spans
Unique designs: irregular shapes
Shorter construction cycles
Cost reduction
Shorter floor-to-floor heights
Superior structural performance

DIRECT COST REDUCTION:

Post-tensioning offers direct cost reduction over
conventionally reinforced slabs primarily by reducing
concrete and rebar material quantities as well as rebar
installation labor. Typically, savings between 10%20% in
direct cost are achieved.

Followings are the factors which contribute to direct cost

reduction:
Less concrete material
Reduction in slab thickness reduces total building
height and cost
Less rebar
Less labor cost for installation of material
Reduced material handling

Improved Construction Efficiency:

Since post-tensioned slabs are designed to carry their own
weight at time of stressing, they can significantly improve
construction efficiency and deliver an additional 5%-10%
of indirect savings.
Following factors contribute to improved construction
efficiency:
Shorter construction cycles
Less material handling and impact on other trades
Simpler slab soffitless beams and drop caps/panels
Quicker removal of shoring gives more access to
lower slabs

 Typical 5-Day Construction Cycle schedule for 8001,000 m2 of slab is shown below. 3-day cycle is also
achievable with early strength concrete and industrial
formwork.

SUPERIOR STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE:

The prestressing in post-tensioned slabs takes optimal
advantage of tendon, rebar and concrete properties to
deliver an economical structural system.
Factors contributing to superior structural performance are
listed here:
Use of high-strength materials
Deflection control
Longer spans are achieved.

INTRODUCTION TO BAMBOO:The world timber demand is increasing at a rapid rate but

the timber supply is depleting. Its been found through
research that bamboo can suitably replace timber and
other materials in construction and other works.
Industrially treated bamboo has shown great potential for
production of composite materials and components which
are cost-effective and can be successfully utilized for
structural and non-structural applications in construction.
Bamboo is one of the oldest traditional building materials
used by mankind.
There are also a number of other benefits to choosing
bamboo solutions over wood including:

Strength and Durability: Bamboo is heartier than

oak and stronger than steel. It is flexible and lightweight,
and is water-resistant, minimizing the risk for
warping2 and

Affordability: It is easily grown and harvested,

making it one of the most cost effective construction
materials available.

ADVANTAGES:
Bamboo cultivation has a wide array of advantages,
including:
Reducing cost per uses of bamboo
Increasing jobs
35% higher oxygen emission into the atmosphere
than trees

40% more CO2 absorption than trees

No fertilizer or pesticides required for growth

Establishing an extensive root system into soils,

which in turn draws in and stores double the amount of
water into watersheds, thus preventing soil erosion.

USES:
Internal Uses for Bamboo:

Flooring
Support columns
Electrical wire coverings
Interior walls
Eco-friendly products for kitchen and bath

External Uses of Bamboo:

Structural frames
Corner posts
Girders
Joists
Studs
Braces
Tie beams
King posts
Purlins
Ridgepoles

BAMBOO AS CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL:

Through research it has been found that some species
of bamboo have ultimate tensile strength same as that of
mild steel at yield point and this coupled with other merits
boosts the usage of bamboo as construction material.
Bamboo is a versatile material because of its high
strength-to-weight ratio, easy workability and availability.
Bamboo needs to be chemically treated due to their low
natural durability. It can be used in different ways for roof
structure as purlins, rafters and reapers, for flooring, doors
and windows, walling, ceiling, man-hole covers.
Bamboo Trusses:
The bamboo has strength comparable to that of teak and
sal. An experiment with the construction and testing of a
4m span truss made of round bamboo and different

jointing techniques for web-chord connections gave results

that were matching with the strength of timber.
Bamboo Roofs Skeleton:
It consists of bamboo truss or rafters over which solid
bamboo purlins are laid and lashed to the rafter by means
of G.I.wire. A mesh of halved bamboo is made and is
lashed to the purlins to cover the roof.
Bamboo walling/ceiling:
As the bamboo material is light in weight it is more
advantageous in earthquake prone areas as its chances of
falling are very less and even if it falls it can be re-erected
easily with less human and property loss with least efforts
and minimum cost. Bamboo walls can be constructed in
different modes like

Whole stem, halved or strips of bamboo can nailed to

one or both the sides of the bamboo frame

Split bamboo mats can be fastened to the

bamboo posts or mats can be woven, mud can also be
applied to both sides of such mats

Bamboo strips nailed to bamboo frame or posts for

interior walling

Cement or lime plastering can be done on the mud

covering for better appearance and hygiene.
It has been found that the bamboo in the vertical position
is more durable than in horizontal direction. For partition
walls only single layer of bamboo strips are used.
Bamboo Doors and Windows:

Bamboo frames can replace timber frames appropriate to

function. Bamboo mat shutters fixed to bamboo frame or a
panel of bamboo board fixed to the frame which is hinged
to the wall can be used as door. Small framed openings
hinged to the top in the wall can serve as windows.
Bamboo Flooring:
Bamboo can be used as flooring material due to its better
wear and tear resistance and its resilience properties.
Whole culms act as frame work and the floor covering is
done using split bamboo, bamboo boards, mats etc by
means of wire lashing these to the frame.

Reed Boards:
Reed boards are made by flat pressing the reed at high
temperatures. These reed boards are used in elements
like flooring, walls, ceiling and roofing. They can also be
used for partitions, doors, windows etc.
Scaffolding:
Bamboo poles lashed together have been used as
scaffolding in high rise structures due to their strength and
resilience. The timber planks can be replaced with
bamboo culms and these can be lashed to the vertical
culms.
EXAMPLE:
Green Building Features in India Pavilion:

The following green building features have been included

in the construction:
i.

Site selection though ITPO had no control over it as

there is no cutting or scouring effect in the area.

ii.

Architectural concept of open veranda and courtyard

iii.

Energy efficiency through ventilation and dome

shaped structure

iv. Rain water harvesting

v. Recycling of water, through which green plants will be
irrigated.
vi.

Wind mill

vii.

Solar panels

viii.

Use of bamboo which resulted in saving of steel and

cement

ix.

Use of natural materials like terracotta and bamboo in

false ceiling and benches

x.

Use of ferrocement and plants on top of dome which

will result in energy efficiency by reduction in air
conditioning load.

xi.

Plantation of grown up trees and plants in the area.

xii.

Use of bricks in flooring in open spaces

xiii.

Use of natural materials like thatch over roof of the

vault.

xiv.

INTRODUCTION TO FERRO-CEMENT:Ferrocement, also referred to as ferro concrete

or reinforced concrete, a mixture of Portland cement and
sand applied over layers of woven or expanded steel
mesh and closely spaced small-diameter steel rods rebar.
It can be used to form relatively thin, compound-curved

sheets of concrete ideal for such applications as hulls for

boats, shell roofs, and water tanks. It has a wide range of
other uses including sculpture and prefabricated building
components. The term "ferrocement" has been applied by
extension to other composite materials, including some
containing no cement and no ferrous material.

Typical cross section of ferro-cement structure.

Constituent Materials:
Cement
Fine Aggregate
Water
Admixture

 Mortar Mix
Reinforcing mesh
Skeletal Steel
Coating

Advantages:
Basic raw materials are readily available in most
countries.
Fabricated into any desired shape.
Low labour skill required.
Ease of construction, low weight and long lifetime.
Low construction material cost.
Better resistance against earthquake.

Cost Effectiveness of Ferro-cement Structures:

The type of economic system.
Type of applications.
Relative cost of labour.
Capital and local tradition of construction procedure.
Doesnt need heavy plant or machinery.
Low cost of construction materials.

Recent Applications:
Residential and Public Buildings

Transportation Structures

 Industrial Structures

LAURIE BAKER
Introduction
Born

Died

2 March 1917
Birmingham,
England
1 April 2007
(aged 90)
Thiruvananthapura
m, Kerala, India

Nationalit
Indian
y
Awards
Padma Shri, MBE

renowned for his initiatives in cost-effective energyefficient architecture and for his unique space
utilization and simple but aesthetic sensibility.
Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, he sought to
incorporate simple designs with local materials and
achieved fame with his approach to sustainable
architecture as well as in organic architecture.
He has been called the "Gandhi of architecture.

 He founded COSTFORD (Centre of Science and

Technology for Rural Development), an organization
to promote low-cost housing.

Construction Techniques:
Laurie Baker lived and practiced architectural
principles of cost-effectiveness, use of locally
available materials, respect for nature, avoidance of
energy-intensive materials and wastage minimization
to create beautiful, high quality, cost-effective
buildings which conformed to concepts such as ecofriendliness and sustainable architecture; decades
before these concepts became mainstream
considerations in the built environment.

Some Of His Works:

1. Institutions and Buildings
Leprosy homes for Mission to Lepers across India
Pithoragarh house, school and hospital complex
Nepal Hospital
Allahabad Agricultural University
Lucknow Psychiatric Centre, Noor Manzil
Literacy Village, Lucknow

Centre for Social Studies, Surat

Ahmedbad & Baroda factories
Jyothi Pumps, Baroda
Childrens Village, 1965, Kulashekaram, Tamil Nadu
Mitraniketan , Vagamon
Horst Kowski orphanages and homes across India
(other than Childrens Village Nagercoil)
Houses for the Archbishop of Trivandrum
Tourist Resort near Muttam
Loyola Womens Hostel, 1970, Sreekaryam
Loyola Chapel and Auditorium, 1971, Sreekaryam
Centre for Development Studies (CDS), 1971, Ulloor
St Johns Cathedral, 1973, Thiruvella

Residences:
Jayan and Asha, Kakkanad
Neetas House
HUDCO Suresh
IAS Colony
Abu Abraham, 1989
Major Jacob, 1988, Kulasekharam
Leela Menon, 1973
Mr. Narayans Mango house
Vellayani
A M Jacob
Anirudhin 1969 first house in Trivandrum to have a

preponderance of jalis
Nambudiripaad, 1973, KEsavadasapuram
Nalini, 1989, Anayar
KN Raj, 1970, Kumarapuram
TN Krishnan, 1971, Kumarapuram
PK Panikar, 1974, Kumarapuram
Vaidyanathan, 1972, Kumarapuram
T C Alexander, 1982, Vikramapuram Hill
P J Thomas, 1972, Kuravankonam
Lt Gen Pillai, 1971, Jawahar Nagar
P Ramachandran, 1975, Pottakuzhy
Ravindranath, 1975, Gourishapattom
Varghese Jacob, 976, Kottayam
K V George, 1987, Karakullam
Vasanth Gawerekar, 1982, Manvila
Beena Sarasan, 1989, Kowdiar

About One Of His Renowned Structures

LAURIE BAKER'S INDIAN COFFEE HOUSE,

TRIVANDRUM:

Now although the building is unique in design, there

are a few functional issues.
Due to the placement of the kitchen on the ground
level, it becomes difficult for the serving staff as they
have to continuously climb up and down the ramp to
place the orders & then to serve the people sitting on
the upper levels.

 Thus, they in fact ask the customers to occupy the

lower seating first before going up the spiral.
The entire building is conceived as a continuous spiral
ramp, with a central circular service core and with
dining spaces provided on the outer side.
The form of the building is thus unconventional &
bears Bakers trademark jaalis to let in light &
ventilation.
The building is well proportioned, a cylindrical brickred spiral continuing for a couple of floors and then
terminating in a smaller cylindrical volume on top,
giving a very unsymmetrical balance to the whole
structure.
Negatives Of The Structure
Now although the building is unique in design, there
are a few functional issues.
Due to the placement of the kitchen on the ground
level, it becomes difficult for the serving staff as they
have to continuously climb up and down the ramp to
place the orders & then to serve the people sitting on
the upper levels.
Thus, they in fact ask the customers to occupy the
lower seating first before going up the spiral.

Low Cost Construction:

Rat trap bond
Rat trap bond brick masonry is an alternative to
normal English bond masonry walls by which 15% of
cost can be reduced without comprimising the quality,
strength and appearances.

 Baker creates a variety of textures and patterns by

simple manipulation of the way in which bricks are
placed in the wall.

Filler slabs

Filler slabs employ replacing 'un-productive' concrete

by a 'Filler' material which reduces the weight of the
slab and also the cost by reducing the amount of
concrete used. Also, since the weight of the slab is
thus reduced, lesser steel is required for
reinforcement, further reducing the cost.

AUROVILLE EARTH INSTITUTE,

TAMIL NADU
Raw earth for building has been used worldwide for
millennia but during the 20th century most of the skills
of earth builders were lost and building with earth
became marginal. Through the endeavour of the
Auroville Earth Institute, Auroville is today reviving
these traditional skills and demonstrating that earth is
a noble building material which can be used for
manifesting modern, harmonious and progressive
architecture for the third millennium.
Most of the projects are built with compressed
stabilised earth blocks (CSEB), as this technology
benefits of more than half a century of research and
development worldwide.
There are also three other earth techniques used in
Auroville. These techniques are very marginally used
as only about 10 buildings have been built with them:
Raw rammed earth

Adobe blocks, the traditional sun dried mud brick

Wattle and daub which is mud plastered on a wattle

made of split bamboo or palmyra tree.

APPROPRIATE BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES

BASED ON EARTH:
This research aims at making extensive use of raw
earth as the main building material, thereby using a
local resource to help develop technologies that are
energy saving, eco-friendly and sustainable.
The main research and development is focussed on
minimising the use of steel, cement and reinforced
cement concrete (RCC).
Training Centre of the Auroville Earth Institute is
constructed entirely with stabilised earth, from the
foundations to the waterproofing:
Stabilised rammed earth foundations (with 5 %
cement)
Stabilised rammed earth walls (with 5 % cement
and a homeopathic milk of lime and alum)
Composite columns (round and hollow CSEB with
reinforced concrete)
Composite beams (U shape CSEB with reinforced
concrete)
Stabilized earth mortars and plasters
Wide variety of compressed stabilised earth blocks
(17 moulds are presently available for producing
about 75 different types of blocks)
Various vaults with compressed stabilised earth

blocks
Alternative stabilizers to cement (homeopathic
milk of lime and alum)
Alternative waterproofing with stabilized earth
(various mixes of soil, sand, cement, lime, alum and
juice of a local seed).

STABILISED RAMMED EARTH:

In Auroville, the earth is rammed by hand. Until 1994,
Auroville had only one house made of raw rammed
earth. Stabilised rammed earth was promoted since
1995, after the construction of Mirramukhi School
(presently named Deepanam). Stabilised rammed
earth presents the advantage of being cheaper than
compressed stabilised earth blocks.

ENERGY EFFECTIVENESS:
Costs are too often limited only to a monetary value.
Another important aspect is the environmental cost,
especially with the embodied energy into the material.
The initial embodied energy of CSEB is about 4 times
less than country fired bricks. Of course the carbon
emission is also about 4 time less for the CSEB,
compared to the country fired bricks.

Initial embodied energy (MJ/m3 of materials)

CSEB are consuming 4 times less energy than
country fired bricks:
CSEB produced on site with 5 % cement = 1,112.36
MJ/m3
Country fired bricks = 4,501.25 MJ/m3

Carbon emission (Kg of CO2 /m3 of materials)

CSEB are polluting 4 times less than country fired
bricks:
CSEB produced on site with 5 % cement = 110.11 Kg
of CO2 /m3
Country fired bricks = 444.12 Kg of CO2 /m3

COST EFFECTIVENESS
Earthen buildings have the advantage of using local
resources and being labour intensive. Therefore, most
of the time, they cost less than conventional materials
and technologies. The final cost of a building will
depend mainly on the design, the type of finishes and
the project management. In all cases, the
technologies implemented are cost effective.