The recurring floods in Kerala have altered the thought process of the Malayalis regarding house construction and the need to build low cost houses that are environmental friendly. This quaint house built in the modern Light Gauge Steel Frame Structure (LGSFS) is at Pallikandi in Kozhikode. In this technology, steel frames and fiber cement boards are used instead of concrete.
A sit-out, living cum dining hall, two bedrooms, a common bathroom and a kitchen have been arranged in this beautiful house which has an area of 489 sq ft. The construction of this house was completed in just 3 weeks by the Bengaluru based company, Eco Connect.
The construction method
» The foundation is built after doing piling on the land. Steel frames were then erected on the foundation.
» Metal beams are installed on the roof, with mesh weld and concreting done over it.
» The walls are built by screwing in fiber cement boards on the steel frames.
» The wiring and plumbing works are done in the open conduit way.
» Doors and windows were installed before coating the walls with putty and then finishing it off with coats of paint.
» The steel frames could be built according to the plan of the house. These frames are built by recycling the old parts of the discarded vehicles. Irul wood, which is less expensive, is used to make the windows and doors. Meanwhile, aluminum fabrication is done on cupboards and wardrobes.
The construction of this amazing prefab house, including the structure and furnishing, was completed on a meager budget of Rs 6 lakh. Experts say that the expenses could be lowered further if a number of such houses are built together. Engineer Jeesh Venmathu says that even three storied buildings could be built using this technology quite easily.
The most amazing advantage of the prefab houses is that it could be built in just 3 three weeks. This type of modern construction method perfectly suits the post flood rebuilding. The construction materials could be reused and the interior spaces could be rearranged as well. The entire house could be unscrewed and relocated to a different location. There is no need for lots of expert workers. A beautiful pre fab house with all the necessary facilities could be constructed in just one third of the expenses of building a concrete house of the same area.
Project Facts
Location – Pallikandi, Kozhikode
Area – 489 SFT
Engineer – Jeesh Venmarath, Formexx Consultants, Kozhikode
98474 34848
Budget – Rs 6 lakh
