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IDENTIFICATION OF LOCAL & SUSTAINABLE BUILDING

METHODS FOR RESIDENCES IN KERALA
Athulya N K Ar.Sharon Joseph
15055009 Asso. Professor
Mangalam School of architecture and planning Mangalam School of architecture and planning
Kottayam, India Kottayam, India
athulyankmethala@gmail.com

Abstract—

This dissertation is concerned about locally sustainable building construction methods for the
residences in kerala.The need of achieving more sustainable world is increasing day by day. To make
that change every building should be sustainable. There are main parameters to make a building
more sustainable. This research only focuses on the old natural building construction techniques. This
research intended to identify those sustainable techniques and promoting it

Keywords—sustainability, natural materials

I. INTRODUCTION (HEADING 1)

Now the climate change is the biggest issue we are facing. The reason behind this severe change is human
activities. The building sectors are being one of the largest consumers of energy and they emit carbon dioxide
in a large level. What can each of us do to reduce the ecological impact on planet? It is possible to make a
change by individuals in our planet. Only because of the climate conditions have changed severely people are
aware of why these traditional and sustainable designs are needed. In Kerala we had lots of sustainable
practices in our tradition. By using those old sustainable techniques we keep alive these traditional skills and
values that are slowly disappearing. So we need more sustainable practices for living more sustainable life.
Building more sustainably by using the old sustainable practices and new technologies. This research is
focused on only natural sustainable materials and construction method. And this research is to find out what
are the options in natural buildings in our context.

II. WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is a concept that includes social, economical and environmental aspects of our society.
‘’Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
(United Nations Brunt land Commission Report)
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The word sustainable means homes that are designed to decrease the overall environmental impact during
and after construction. In kerala to define sustainability our traditional old buildings are one of the best
examples.The old mud buildings and wood buildings were highly sustainable. Traditional buildings buildings
were made from locally available natural materials like mud,wood,bamboo,clay tiles,lime plastering etc.All
these kind materials are recyclable. So that the
imapact of the traditional buildings were less as
compared to the new modern buildings. Because the
materials are not reusable. So that it will became a
waste to our environment. One of the main problems
of construction industry is the construction waste

In case of traditional buildings the wood can be dismantle and reestablish. Or it can be used for other
purposes. And also traditional buildings with solid walls are more eco-friendly because they need less cooling
in summer and less heating in winter than modern glass and steel structures, according to a study.

Figure2.1Overhanging eaves, Figure 2.3 Old mud building

timber roofing

Most of the parts of traditional buildings can be reusable. Or it can be modified into an another form. So the
construction waste become very less. So the traditional buildings are one of the best example for the
sustainability concept.
Building components of sustainable architecture

 Use of energy

 Use of sustainable materials

 Environmental friendly

 Waste management

This research is focused on only natural sustainable materials and construction method.The construction
waste are majorly because of the material.And in terms of material there is 3R’s rule. Reduce, reuse and
recycle – these all helps to cut down the amount of waste we throw away. They conserve natural resources,
landfill space and energy. The traditional buildings were one of the good example of this concept

III. WHY SUSTAINABLE

What can each of us do to reduce the ecological impact on planet? It is possible to make a change by
individuals in our planet. We are facing a large population growth and the concern over having enough
resources for development to meet our needs in the present and that of future generations. Building industries
are one of the largest consumers of energy and carbon dioxide production.These all are resulting in to the
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climate change. So if we need a sustainable world, cities we want a sustainable building, more sustainable
and smart buildings.
‘’We shape our building; thereafter they shape us.”
-Winston Churchill

80% of our lifetimes are inside our buildings. So buildings must have a true connection with us. They shape
our lifes.So sustainable buildings are needed.

IV. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

The overall selection criteria of the materials are resource efficient, Indoor air quality, Energy efficiency,
Locally available and affordability. Also recyclable materials are most choosend.The materials should be
available 5 km far from site. There are 2 types of material sources .One is growing sources like bamboo,
wood etc, and existing sources like mud, lime stc.Growing sources are most sustainable materials. Mud,
lime, wood, bamboo, stones, coconut leaves etc are some natural building materials used by our ancestors.

V. LIVE CASE STUDIES

Live case studies are done to understand the different materials and local construction techniques. In
peoples mind natural buildings were looks very gloomy and not very attractive. So also done a case study
which looks very pleasant even if it is by natural materials.

A. XAHIR HOUSE (AUROVILLE)

 This is an experimental house with different natural building methods. The residence is entirely
constructed using natural locally available materials .It is an `perimental building so that they were
used multiple techniques and integrate it togethor.The purpose of this case study is to know how
different techniques were used with natural materials. And to study the different methods for
foundation,wall,flooring,roof etc
 Foundation-Rubble trench foundation using construction waste ,that allows to seep down water and
collect to rain water tank. Random rubble masonry for plinth
 Walls are doned using the cob method and adobe bricks
 Wooden and stone lintels
 Lime Crete flooring-Using waste broken brick bats ,lime etc
 Bamboo and thatch roofing
 Lime plastering
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B. DEBRIS HOUSE
The Debris house is designed by Ar.Vinu Daniel.And it is situated in pathanmthitta.As the name indicates
it is constructed with the construction waste from the site. And he used many reusable materials for
windows,jallis,furniture etc.

 Foundation-Random rubble foundation. Plinth beam is provided to tie up the building

 Walls are done using mud.1 Debris wall and other walls are rammed earth.
 Concrete lintels and beams
 Filler slab roofing
 Terracotta flooring
 Waste materials for jallis
 Painted with waterproof material

C. EARTHBAG DOME

This is an experimental house .The earth bag dome is a very simple dome with solar chimney at the top.
The solar chimney helps to circulate air.
 Foundation-Rubble trench foundation
 Walls and Roof-Mud filled earth bags
 Wooden window frames
 Lime plastering

VI. LITERATURE CASE STUDIES

Literature studies are done for finding out other construction techniques.
A. WEAVING WALLS
Weaving walls is a residence designed by Ar. Biju bhaskar(Thannal hand sculpted homes).It is situated in
thiruvannamalai
 .Bamboo foundation
 Plinth-rubble masonry
 Bamboo Framed structure
 Walls-cob, wattle and daub and Stone walls
 Lintels-Bamboo
 Double roofing using bamboo, Timber and Mangalore tiles
 Mud plastering
 Dado skirting, Mosaic flooring
 Green roof
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B. SUOI RE VILLAGE COMMUNITY

It is a community house designed by Ar.Hoang Thuc Hào in Vietnam. It is a complete example for
sustainable building in terms of materials, energy,rain water system and waste management
 Stepped stone foundation
 Walls-Stone walls and rammed walls
 Bamboo columns and rafters
 Palm leaf for roofing

Identified different techniques from the live and literature case studies These are the different options for
each building parts:

TABLE I.

CASE
METHOD USED
STUDY
FOUNDATION
Rubble trench foundation

Xahir house
Rubble trench foundation allows
water to seep down to the channel
through the gaps between the
rubbles
and water flows into the earth.
Excess water is an be directed to
the rain water harvesting tank.

Debris house Random rubble foundation

Earthbag
dome

Rubblr trench foundation

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Thannal Bamboo foundation

All of them are small projects ,so

shallow foundations are used.In
the context of kerala we can use
stone for the foundation. Or new
Inference
bamboo foundations need to be
developed because bamboo is a re
growing resource.And the stone is
a existing source.
PLINTH
Xahir house Random rubble foundation
Earth bag
Rubble trench foundation as plinth
dome
Random rubble masonry
Debris house
Plinth beam is added
Thannal Rubble masonry
Suoi re village
Stone masonry
community
WALLS

Xahir house
Cob walls, Adobe bricks
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Earth bag
dome

Polypropylene sacs filled with

mud and lime

Debris house

Debris wall &

Rammed earth wall
Wattle and daub & Cob wall
Thannal
Bamboo reinforced mud wall
Suoi re village
Stone walls & Rammed earth wall
community

Compressed stabilizes earth

Data
blocks, compressed earth blocks
collection
Fiber reinforced mud blocks

LINTEL AND WINDOWS

Xahir house Timber lintel and window frames
Earth bag
Timber
dome
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Debris house Concrete lintels

Thannal Bamboo
FLOORING

Lime crete flooring

Xahir house

Debris house PCC floring with terracotta

Thannal Mosaic flooring

Suoi re village
Bamboo flooring
community
ROOFING
Xahir house Bamboo & Thatch
Earth bag Polypropylene bags filled with
dome mud
Filler slab roofing using coconut
Debris house
shells
Double roofing using bamboo
Thannal
,timber,tiles
Suoi re village
Bamboo & Thatch
community
PLASTERING
Xahir house Mud and lime plastering
Earth bag
Lime plastering
dome
Mud plastering
Debris house Painted with waterproof
material
Thannal Mud plaster
Suoi re village
No plastering
community
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VII. INFERENCE & CONCLUSION

When we look back in to our tradition we get a conclusion that a good roof and foundation can keep the
building safe from our climate conditions. And withstanding in our climate is one of the majort part in the
sustainable life span of our building.old nalukettu is an example for this.Nalukettu is with overhanging roofs
wider verandas protecting the stem walls from rain etc.

The old several traditional practices explained in this report were very sustainable construction methods. We
can understand this by the case studies and data collections. The techniques like stone ,bamboo foundation,
attle and daub,cob,adobe timber and bamboo roofing were used were old traditional practices. These
techniques were sustainable in that context. Because the resources are locally abundant material.And all the
buildings constructions are respecting nature. Also the indoor environmental quality inside those buildings
were very healthy.But in our context the perspective about
residences and buildings beauty is changed.So everyone
goes behind modern buildings with those modern
materials.
Conserving the old practices means we are protecting our
tradition.So going back to those practices helps to protect
our culture and tradition. But the problem behind this is
the peoples mentality.So we need more innovations in
these techiniques.As architects we can design wonderful buildings using old practices and new
technologies.A best example for this is cseb blocks.

By integrating the old practises and new technology we can create beautiful sustainable buildings. The Case
studies also example for how we can build with natural and recycled material innovatively. So as architects
we must follow the old tradition and uses our new technologies.This datas can be used to create new
construction methods using new technologies in our context.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to many individuals who in many different ways
assisted in the completion of this dissertation.