Report by:
Zhuo Pang
Morgane Courdavault
Drishtee Foundation
September 2017
This report is a collection of research for Gharaunda Project during the summer of 2017 working for Drishtee Foundation in India.
Zhuo Pang
Morgane Courdavault
Drishtee Foundation
September 2017
This report is a collection of research for Gharaunda Project during the summer of 2017 working for Drishtee Foundation in India.
Focusing on Mud Bricks
Gharaunda Project envisions a sustainable community environment to support the rural housing implementation and expansion. To achieve this, things need to be done from many perspectives. It is not only about design a house with mud bricks, but also about publicacceptance, material performance and supply chain.
PART I
Reflection of Gharaunda Project
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Plan for Elemental House
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Concept diagram of the Elemental house.
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Enclosed prototype.
Plan for Elemental House
Concept diagram of the Elemental house.
Enclosed prototype.
Gharaunda Project focus on rural housing construction in India, with the goal to build adequate and quality houses for the large rural population and contribute to the overall livelihoods. It is initiated by Brick Up from Portugal in parterner with Drsihtee in India.The first pilot housing - Elemental House - is built in 2015 after immersion program and design phase. It is located near the office of Drishtee in Saurath, Bihar, India. The inital concept of the elemental is generated from the existing two types of house - "kacha" (temporary) and "pukka" (permanent). Kacha houses are often built by mud and bamboo with thatch roof and it is prevalent for poor people in the village; Pukka houses are built by burnt brick and concrete are promoted by the Indian government.
When designing the prototype, the designer said: "a house must not only be solid and permanent but also comfortable, flexible, adjusted, suitable, pleasant to live in and, therefore, new fundamental features must be introduced in order to provide an efficient response to the needs of the villagers: in order to build a livable house." Gharaunda Project focus on rural housing construction in India, with the goal to build adequate and quality houses for the large rural population and contribute to the overall livelihoods. It is initiated by Brick Up from Portugal in parterner with Drsihtee in India. In this sense, a low-cost prototype should offer a new concept, materializing a broader standard of the “minimum living requirements”: an elemental house – solid, permanent and (infra) structured.
Why is there no more mud brick house in Saurath?
After the completion of the first pilot house in 2015 in Saurath, there has been no sign of participation in mud brick making business or use of mud bricks as construction material among the villagers. Compared to bamboo, which is often related to kacha house (temporary), mud brick enjoys the advantage of having a more permanent image because of the similarity with burnt bricks; however, the idea of using or producing mud bricks is still very strange to them. Concrete and burnt bricks are most desirable when they are asked to build a new house.
We think there are several reasons for the lack of public awareness and willingness to use mud bricks:
1. The separation of pilot project from villagers
One problem we identify is that the engagement of villagers seems to stop after the completion of the first prototype. Villagers were involved in the initial immersion program before design and farmers from surrounds were part of the construction team; however, there does not seem to be any follow up for either acceptance survey or project promotion. Spatially, the house itself is fenced and locked, which prevents villagers to visit it. Together with the fact that it was designed to be a private housing, the pilot project does not have a public image. The only users for the house are studentsfrom Drishtee. In other words, the pilot project does not play its role for self-propagation and it is separated from the daily life of villagers, who are our customers and beneficiary.
2. The high cost for the prototype Bihar is one of the least developed states in India. And the average monthly income per household is 3500 Rupees. According to the recorded cost for the built prototype, the total cost is 552,077 Rupees. Although there is some extra cost because of the tools, and many labor cost can be reduced if it is a self-built house, it is still costly for most of the villagers in Saurath. The goal of Gharaunda is to reduce the cost to 200,000 Rupees per house, which is still the total for five years of income. The unaffordability of the prototype, together with the fact that many villagers lack savings post huge barriers for the expansion of the project.
When designing the prototype, the designer said: "a house must not only be solid and permanent but also comfortable, flexible, adjusted, suitable, pleasant to live in and, therefore, new fundamental features must be introduced in order to provide an efficient response to the needs of the villagers: in order to build a livable house." Gharaunda Project focus on rural housing construction in India, with the goal to build adequate and quality houses for the large rural population and contribute to the overall livelihoods. It is initiated by Brick Up from Portugal in parterner with Drsihtee in India. In this sense, a low-cost prototype should offer a new concept, materializing a broader standard of the “minimum living requirements”: an elemental house – solid, permanent and (infra) structured.
Why is there no more mud brick house in Saurath?
After the completion of the first pilot house in 2015 in Saurath, there has been no sign of participation in mud brick making business or use of mud bricks as construction material among the villagers. Compared to bamboo, which is often related to kacha house (temporary), mud brick enjoys the advantage of having a more permanent image because of the similarity with burnt bricks; however, the idea of using or producing mud bricks is still very strange to them. Concrete and burnt bricks are most desirable when they are asked to build a new house.
We think there are several reasons for the lack of public awareness and willingness to use mud bricks:
1. The separation of pilot project from villagers
One problem we identify is that the engagement of villagers seems to stop after the completion of the first prototype. Villagers were involved in the initial immersion program before design and farmers from surrounds were part of the construction team; however, there does not seem to be any follow up for either acceptance survey or project promotion. Spatially, the house itself is fenced and locked, which prevents villagers to visit it. Together with the fact that it was designed to be a private housing, the pilot project does not have a public image. The only users for the house are studentsfrom Drishtee. In other words, the pilot project does not play its role for self-propagation and it is separated from the daily life of villagers, who are our customers and beneficiary.
2. The high cost for the prototype Bihar is one of the least developed states in India. And the average monthly income per household is 3500 Rupees. According to the recorded cost for the built prototype, the total cost is 552,077 Rupees. Although there is some extra cost because of the tools, and many labor cost can be reduced if it is a self-built house, it is still costly for most of the villagers in Saurath. The goal of Gharaunda is to reduce the cost to 200,000 Rupees per house, which is still the total for five years of income. The unaffordability of the prototype, together with the fact that many villagers lack savings post huge barriers for the expansion of the project.
1. Development Alternatives. Status of Brick Sector in the State of Bihar. 2012.
What should be the focus of further research?
Faced with these barriers, we propose that following research should serve to: 1. Understanding the purchasing power for housing in Saurath; 2. Improve the physical performance of mud bricks; 3. Developing a business model for mud brick production in Saurath.
1. Understanding the purchasing power for housing in Saurath We propose to make a community housing expense survey to understand the economic capability, existing housing condition and expectations of villagers who may want to build a new house in the near future. This will help us to set the right price for the prototype.
2. Improve the physical performance of mud bricks We propose to write a technical report on mud bricks. This should include general information such as geographic pattern, strength and weakness, treatment, structure, etc. A comprehensive look at the material itself can make it more endurable and less expensive. Also, it will provide some guidance for future prototype design1.
3. Developing a business model for mud brick production in Saurath To prepare for a business model, we propose to make comparison between unit cost and profit between mud brick factory and burnt brick kiln. This will help us to design the operational model for mud brick factory. For example, if mud brick production is too costly and not as profitable, then maybe we should look at something else. Or, social entrepreneurs in the village can be subsidized by Drishtee or local government to start a mud brick business. We admit that it takes years to change the perception of a new material in a relatively conservative rural setting; however, we also believe that once there is the first successful case in the village, the resistance will be much lower for the next participation.
In reflection of the first built prototype, we shall maximize the social effect of our work and promote the public awareness of the benefit and affordability of mud bricks housing. Also, a mud brick factory in Saurath can be the first step towards the ultimate goal of Gharaunda Project - a sustainable community environment to support the rural housing implementation and expansion.