We believe that there is an increasing need for more sustainable projects from both an environmental and a social point of view. One possible way to reach this goal is through the use of local materials. Such an approach could as well enhance resilience and self-protection of local communities, allowing them to be more and more prepared to deal with the emergency. These communities would be able to reduce the time needed for rebuilding without so much need for the local government’s support.
Following the earthquake, Build up Nepal began working to rebuild rural villages by empowering local people and using local materials. They worked with Earth Bricks (CSEB) to teach local communities and entrepreneurs on how to make their own bricks and rebuild their villages. They began rebuilding with Earth Bricks in more than 50 villages together with INGOs, NGOs, and local entrepreneurs in Nepal.
EAHR team researched the existing typologies of housing in Nepal, according to their geographical location and the relationship of its inhabitants with the use of housing linked to daily work. Our proposal sought to optimize the existing materials approved by the Nepalese authorities. For this, we applied the Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks technology used by Build up Nepal, because we support the use of local materials and the development of resilient communities.
For the purpose of increasing sustainability, we minimized the use of reinforced cement concrete by designing smaller houses, while maximising the space. We designed openings from floor to ceiling in order to reduce the use of lower cement bands. We also tried to narrow the employment of foreign materials, for example avoiding the use of glass in windows. All these actions also help to reduce construction cost.
