http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/08/04/stories/2003080401900100.htm
Sick of concrete jungles, some urbanites are willing to try out mud houses,
which are cool and eco-friendly. Another advantage is that mud houses do
not cost the earth.
"We don't want a concrete structure," they told the architect. "We want a
house made of mud."
With more people like Ajayan feeling alienated in concrete jungles, urban
housing is witnessing a quiet revolution: there is an increasing demand for
eco-friendly architecture. Believe it or not, some want concrete to be replaced
by material such as mud.
Seven years ago, Kollam-based architect Eugine Pandala's construction
of a 2,500 sq. ft mud house caught the public imagination. Pandala has been
commended for his "eco-friendly organic architecture and the use of natural
materials".
Spurred by the desire to experiment and improvise on the traditional methods
of construction, Pandala built V. N. Jitendran's house out of mud dug out
from the plot. "I just wanted a low-cost house; it was Pandala who came up
with the idea of a mud house. I knew mud houses were as good as any concrete
ones," says Jitendran.
There was no blueprint for the design; it evolved organically. Many checked
the plan. Some opined that the house would collapse in no time especially
since the monsoons were long and strong in this part of the country. "But
time has proved them wrong."
It hasn't collapsed or cracked. Save a few areas -- such as the modern bathrooms
and kitchen, where glazed tiles have been used -- the rest of the house has
mud accessories (bed, table). Even the walkway has been fashioned out of
mud.
Architects point out that people are still apprehensive about the durability
of mud structures -- mainly because of the lack of awareness about the technology
involved.
Are mud structures a passing fad? The answer is "no".
Says film producer G. Suresh Kumar, whose 13,000 sq. ft studio `Revathi Kalamandir'
is currently being built by Pandala, in mud, at the Kinfra Film and Video
Park, near Kazhakootam,
"The construction is in accordance with the principles of Vaastusastra.
I wanted a soundproof room to house my acoustic console, and thus, double
walls have been built. Only a part of the building will be double-stroreyed.
The cost is 50 per cent less than that of a concrete structure," says Suresh.
A layer of thick iron net is interspersed with chicken mesh (iron-net).
A mixture of mud and cement is spread over the nets. The mud, thus used,
should have at least 20 to 30 per cent less of clay content. For, too much
of clay leads to excessive shrinkage (to about one-sixth) upon drying. "Terracotta
tiles may also be used to give an ethnic touch. The roofing may also be done
using ferro-cement, " explains Pandala.
If you thought only single-storeyed structures could be built in mud, you
couldn't be more wrong. Walk into architect G. Shankar's four-storeyed office
at Poojapura, Habitat Technology Group, and you feel the coolness of terracotta
tiles beneath your feet. On the choice of mud for construction, Shankar says,
"This is my answer to India's housing problem. It is my response to the onslaught
of globalisation. Mud is a re-usable, no-energy material and is available
locally."
But can such structures withstand rain and earthquake? "Why not?" asks Shankar.
"It's the technology used and the method of construction that equip a structure
to withstand rain and earthquake."
For instance, a method called `wattle-and-daube' is used to build houses
in earthquake-prone regions. It comprises a load-bearing structure, usually
wooden, interwoven with a lattice netting from vegetable matter. Or else,
the `cob' method is primarily used, whereby big lumps of mud are piled onto
one another and mud added to fill in the gaps. "Apart from cement, rural
stabilisers such as straw and bitumen may be added to strengthen mud," explains
Shankar. "The non-erodable mud-plastering used is in strict adherence to
the norms of the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Rourkee," says
Shankar. But not all are enthused.
Says Reuben Koshy, architect, "Mud structures have an earthy feel, but clients
mostly opt for concrete. Mud structures can't be mass-produced, for they
require expertise and strict supervision. Aspects such as plumbing and electrical
work need careful planning."
"The pipes, for plumbing and electrical work, can be laid simultaneously
with the construction work. If alterations are required, chases can be made
in the walls. Modern tiles can be used on the floors and walls of the bathroom.
Or else, mud plastering can be done and the floor can be made waterproof too.
Chemicals mixed with mud can make it termite-proof. Effective use of modern
technology makes it maintenance-free," adds Eugine.
Some are sceptical about the re-sale value and maintenance involved. Says
G. Vidya, who works at the VSSC: "With benign home loans, building a conventional
house with good re-sale value makes better sense than investing in a non-conventional
one."
With the concept of vacation homes and getaways fast catching on in the city,
a few architects, including P. S. Sunil Kumar, are sure that people would
acknowledge the benefits of eco-friendly, traditional architecture. One of
Kumar's works is Dr. Vijayan's hospital, built in mud, at Nedumangad. The
architect uses building materials such as bamboo, mud and wood in his projects,
which include the construction of houses and resorts in other States as well.
K. Chandramohan, another city-based architect, says, "The use of mud should
be popularised in domestic architecture. However, there are certain constraints
in using mud. These can perhaps be overcome by using pre-fabricated mud blocks
along with the structural system (beams and pillars)".
Says Shankar: "Like any other building material, mud too has its limitations.
The challenge lies in overcoming them."
It is an often-held notion that such methods of low-cost construction can
either be aesthetic or practical, "not both"; adding a degree of flair and
panache to a place invariably takes away some of its functional value. It's
a myth happily shattered by the likes of Pandala, Shankar and Kumar.
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