A VERNACULAR STUDY: HAVERI DISTRICT, KARNATAKA

A PRESENTATION BY AKHILA RAMESH

AGENDA

The Need for Rural Housing in India

Page 3

Features of Rural Housing in India

Page 5

Haveri District

Page 8

The Villages

Page 11

Methodology of Study

Page 13

Field Observations

Page 15

Conclusions & Path forward

Page 39

THE NEED FOR RURAL HOUSING IN INDIA

According to Indian Government 2007 census & WB 2005:

Our Country lacks 25-30 Million units of rural housing 42% of Indias population lives on US$1.25 a day The rural area is home to 71% of the population 1 in 5 rural dwellers live in kuccha houses Poverty is concentrated in rural areas

THE NEED FOR RURAL HOUSING IN INDIA OUSING

FEATURES OF RURAL HOUSING IN INDIA

Features of Rural Housing in India

Self Built, Self Managed, Community Financed No public/Private Housing Finance Agencies until recently No Master-plan to regulate development & No bye-laws to regulate construction No trained professionals- Architects/Engineers No Real estate developers & contractors operate in rural areas House Builder in control of production process: households access to land, finance, skills, technology & services determine quality

FEATURES OF RURAL HOUSING IN INDIA

Features Courtesy: Ar Kirtee Shahs presentation at CAPARTs National Workshop on Rural Housing at New Delhi 18-19 Oct 2002

Features of Rural Housing in India

Participatory Social Production Process: A Peoples process Declining Access to bio-mass materials like thatch, bamboo, wood, cow dung Limited Exposure and Access to new building materials, construction methods & technology Gradual Disappearance of traditional know-how on materials & methods Exodus of skilled labour to cities Under-Developed Credit system

FEATURES OF RURAL HOUSING IN INDIA

Features Courtesy: Ar Kirtee Shahs presentation at CAPARTs National Workshop on Rural Housing at New Delhi 18-19 Oct 2002

HAVERI DISTRICT

According to Indian Government Ground Water Report July 2008 :

The Haveri district is located between north latitudes 14d 17 02 to 15d 15 01 and east longitudes 75d 035 to 75d 4923 Haveri has an area of nearly 5000 Sq km with nearly 700 villages Population as per 2001 census is 14.30 lakhs Has annual rain fall of 590-700mm Major soil types are red sandy soil, Medium & Deep black soil, Red loamy and Lateritic soil Principal crops are Ragi, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Wheat, Pulses, Oil seeds, sugar cane, spices, cotton

HAVERI DISTRICT

According to Indian Government Ground Water Report July 2008 :

Sub tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 18 d to 40 d C The rainfall varies in the district from over 903 mm in West (Hangal) to less than 592 mm in East (Ranebennur) October is the wettest month with normal monthly rainfall in excess of 100mm; heavy rainfall though not flooding hazard Major part of the terrain is gently undulating with hilly terrain on western most parts Ground water range is 90-200m Major drainages are Tungabhadra, Varada, Kumudavati and Dharma It lies in low seismic zone

HAVERI DISTRICT

THE VILLAGES

A Survey

THE VILLAGES

S. No

Village

Houses

Population

Area in Sq. Km.

Amount earned per family per year in INR

Kachcha Houses

Pakka Houses

1 2 3

Kakola Chandapura Shrabala

600 320 117

12513 2358 630

1099 0004 0440

13000 18000 15500

525 290 107

75 30 10

9% to 12% of houses are Pakka houses compared to a national average of 20%

METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

The Village study was conducted over 3 days with the help of NEEDS
Detailed Questionnaire with focus on

METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

Socio-Economic-Space Usage-Needs

Focused Group Discussions

with a diverse sample of village

representatives Individual Interviews with Beneficiaries Informal talks with local contractors

Documentation of materials,
space usage, practices etc using photographs

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Kakoli

Chandapura

Shrabala

Socio Economic Commonalities

Main Occupation is Agriculture All children are sent to school Most cant afford higher education Joint family system All own their houses Men marry between ages 22-30 Women marry between ages18-20 Most of them own cattle and a few goats Very few graduates from any of the villages

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Infrastructural Commonalities
All internal roads are kuchha roads Exposed street drain in front of houses Public taps through bore-wells as source of drinking water No plumbing within the houses Villages are electrified Only few hours of electricity per day Only a few toilets: Kakola Chandapura Shrabala 020 out of 600 houses 100 out of 320 houses 0 out of 117 houses

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Infrastructural Commonalities: Kuccha roads

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Shrabala Kakola

Infrastructural Commonalities: Exposed drains

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Kakola

Chandapura

Infrastructural Commonalities: Common drinking water source

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Kakola

Space Usage Commonalities

All live in houses away from their fields. All believe in Vaastu/ Aaya All of them want a katte or verandah outside the house for activities like sitting, chatting, sleeping, entertaining guests, storage of grains, drying clothes etc All of them prefer to have a puja room, and that should be inside the house All of them prefer separate kitchens inside the house; almost of them use firewood and all eat inside the kitchen All houses are in dearth of storage spaces, especially in rainy seasons Kitchens are the only spaces that are relatively free of storage clutter; they are used for dining All of them prefer the bath room to be accessed from inside the house

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Space Usage Commonalities

All prefer toilet access from outside the house All of them dont prefer to have a courtyard inside their houses. This is because they revere a courtyard as integral part of temples They prefer cattle shed to be at the side of houses. This will ensure protection from mosquitoes yet easy access to feed the cattle

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Space Usage Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Kakoli

Chandapura

Shrabala

Katte is an essential feature of all houses. The deeper, the better!

Space Usage Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Kakoli

Chandapura

Shrabala

A screened and separate puja room however small the house

Space Usage Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Paucity of Storage spaces

Space Usage Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Paucity of Storage spaces

Space Usage Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

All kitchens designed for fire wood cooking. Lots of built in storage and shelves. Area lit from roof!

Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Ornate Main doorways; Around 60 lintel- one has to bow low while entering!

Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Narrow windows preferred to ward off cold wind; glass is definite no-no!

Space Usage Commonalities

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Grinding stone - flat (in Kakola only)

Shoe racks in kattes!

Stone ledge in bath

Submerged grinding stone!

Peg for baskets in the katte!

Innovative Nuances!

Where they differ

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

S. No

Description

Kakola

Chandapura

Shrabala

Houses

Very densely spaced; Ground or G+1 structures Prefer flat roof; low roofs @ 8610; they want an external staircase to the roof Ok if wall is shared and entry from outside Only for storage

Are more dispersed, only single-storied Prefer tiled roof; high ceiling up to 15 Strictly segregated from rest of house Are open to using loft for sleeping

Are more dispersed; mostly single-storied structures Prefer tiled roof; high ceilings up to 15 Ok if wall is shared and entry from outside Are open to using loft for sleeping

Roof

Toilets

Loft

Houses in Kakola

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

High density; mix of G and G+1 structures; low roofs

Houses in Chandapura

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Low density, Single storied, High ceiling, more run down houses

Houses in Shrabala

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Low density, High ceiling, mix of G and G+1 structures, run down houses

Where they differ - Materials

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

S. No

Description

Kakola

Chandapura

Shrabala

Roofs
1

Wood, slate, mud & bamboos; RCC used for roofs Laterite /stone/mud/burnt bricks for walls. All walls internal and external are thick High plinth; stone

Tiles for roofs

Tiles for roofs

Walls
2

Mud/burnt bricks for walls. All walls internal and external are thick Low or no plinth!( But people prefer to have plinth) Slate

Mud/burnt bricks for walls. All walls internal and external are thick Low plinth, stone/mud

Plinth
3

Flooring
4

Slate, Red oxide, IPS

Slate/mud

Wood
5

Wood used in large quantitiesMango and Neem wood for reapers, frames, shutters and even columns inside the houses.

Wood used sparsely Mango and Neem wood for frames and shutters

Wood used sparsely Mango and Neem wood for frames and shutters

Construction Materials in Chandapura & Shrabala

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Mud, un-burnt, & burnt country bricks for walls

Slate for lintels and flooring Random stones or mud for plinth

Construction Materials in Kakola

FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Slate stone for roof with 3 Rcc on top

Laterite for walls

Stone rubble for walls

Mango or Neem for rafters, beams, columns

CONCLUSIONS & PATH FORWARD

A holistic approach to construction Cost Reduction Methods: Site

avoid extensive piping, wiring etc Build for future expansion- Build a Aim at localized or in-situ services to

PATH FORWARD

CORE HOUSE- a simple basic plan

including living area (sleeping, sitting, and eating) and service areas (a basic kitchen and a basic latrine and washing place). Then, according to individual requirements, additions can be made later.
Courtesy: Wisdom from Laurie baker!

Cost Reduction Methods Foundation

usually as deep as its width (usually 45cm) fill in this case, deep excavations and infilling with sand or gravel etc can be replaced with a surface beam. For traditional deep foundations as The dug out soil is to be used as inFoundation need not be too deep;

PATH FORWARD

Courtesy: Wisdom from Laurie baker!

Cost Reduction Methods

Walls The C.B.R.I (Central Building Research Institute) Brick Block is useful for interior walls to save space. Small stones are laid into a mould and packed in with a weak concrete to form a block Also, bricks are plentiful in this area. 4.5" walls are stable and strong if corrugated or buttressed. 9" walls are usually capable of being load bearing up to three storey height 25% of bricks, mortar, cost etc can be saved by using the Rat trap Bond. This can also usually be safely used up to 3 storeys in height and is equally load bearing

PATH FORWARD

Courtesy: Wisdom from Laurie baker!

Cost Reduction Methods

PATH FORWARD

Windows
Large glass windows to be

avoided- In rural areas one works in the sun and enters a house to be away from heat and glare. Larger windows dont effectively shut out insects, mosquitoes, bats. up to TEN times the cost of the wall it replaces! A square meter of window costs

Courtesy: Wisdom from Laurie baker!

Cost Reduction Methods

PATH FORWARD

Windows
a glass window. Jalis can be made from brick, tile, laterite, stone, cane etc. Their patterns are endless and pleasing. Simple Jalis cost less than the wall they replace. A Jali wall is a better substitute for

Courtesy: Wisdom from Laurie baker!

Cost Reduction Methods

PATH FORWARD

Doors
little Wood is scarce and costly. Use as as possible. and both quantity of timber, labour and costs Board and batten type shutters are less costly, use less labour and less timber than paneled shutters. In many instances frameless doors windows are acceptable and reduce

Courtesy: Wisdom from Laurie baker!

Cost Reduction Methods Roofs

Tile roofs are OK but call for a lot of timber support (purloins, rafters, battens etc) On the other hand prefabricated and various R.C slabs use energy-intensive steel and cement. Both systems have advantages and evil disadvantages. These including labour and transport cost and other problems have to be studied locally before the better choice is made. Regarding Concrete roofs: C.B.R.I etc have a variety of systems-L-panels, double funicular shells, etc. In practice the latter often has leak problems. Both use steel and cement and have to be over designed to cope with handling and transport. Alternative slab in-situ systems include filler slabs (void formers) which reduce materials and cost by about 30%, but shuttering is costly. Again, local balancing and comparing of overall costs, transport, labour, and energy used etc, have to be made before a choice is made and it will vary from place to place.
Courtesy: Wisdom from Laurie baker!

PATH FORWARD

A holistic approach to construction Waste Management ECOLOGICAL SANITATION PROCESS (ECOSAN) Separation of Human Waste; Solid & Liquid; Dried & Composted ADVANTAGES Reduces Water Usage Reduces load on sewage system Recycles phosphate and nitrogen contained in human waste Simplifies treatment of grey water Before & After Ecosan:
CONSUMPTION LTRS of WATER/DAY DRINKING COOKING BATHING CLOTHES UTENSILS GARDEN FLUSHING 3 4 15 23 25 25 40 135 3 4 15 20 25 0 0.5 67.5

PATH FORWARD

Collectors

ECOSAN SAVING 50%

Toilet Pan

TOTAL

A holistic approach to construction Rain Water Harvesting

PATH FORWARD

Courtesy: Wisdom from Chitra Vishwanath!

Conclusions
Given the huge amount of similarities between these villages, there is a possibility for some modular solutions for house plans that can be tweaked to suit the local cultural preferences and differences in materials. Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEBs) seem a viable and cost effective option with their clear advantages over mud/burnt bricks Design options must be prepared incorporating the points mentioned in the study. Part 2 of the study can dwell into probable design solutions;

PATH FORWARD

Aesthetic

Cost Effective

Culturally Sensitive

A NIVASA PRESENTATION
THANK YOU