Bamboo Architecture

Bamboo Arc hitecture

Sandeep Virmani and Vivek Rawal

T

hi s is the story of two settlements - Orlaha (Triben iga nj

demonstrate and pilot the rehabilitation policy for the government

block) and Puraini (Birpur block) of Supau l district, Bihar. In

of Bihar which has subsequently launched a rehabilitation

these vill age hamlets . people reconstructed 45 an d 89

houses respectively. after the 2008 Kosi floods. They worked eVith

Owner Driven Reconstruction (ODR) Collaborative - a (o lleni' e of professional

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March 20 12ARCHITECTURE ... OE5IGtl

organisations -

to

deve lop

programme to rebu ild 100.000 houses in Saharsa. Supaul and Madhepura districts of Kosi region.

Kosi flows through the flat plains of north Bihar dividing itself

in sm al l streams. nourishing the soil and commu nities before

year-old path. And this revisit was devastating with a damage to 1,5 0,000 houses. It was unprecedented. But it was also followed with unparalleled efforts of reconstruction to ensure dignity of human life. Rich fel-ti 'l e lands of north Bihar known allover the country for its labour (skilled and unskilled) had enough building materials. skills, crafts , knowledge and wisdom to provide a strong foundation for a more resilient future. It is with this perspective to build upon local traditions, ODR Collaborative started its work with communities in Orlaha and Puraini.

Goddess Ganga, Sea and the Bamboo: As the enraged Kosi floods overtopped its banks, destroyed and carried everything in its path dovvn to the Ganges and into the sea, the sea is pleased. He asks, "You bring me rich gifts from your land, but why don't you ever bring me the bamboo?" Ganga replies, "All those who rigidly try to obstruct my angry waters must be destroyed. Only the bamboo bends low and touches my feet, quelling my anger. So I spare him. " This story was told to us by a Dabia mistri, a bamboo building artisan, as we surveyed the ravaged landscape (with only the bamboo groves still standing) after the Kosi floods made millions of people homeless. The government of Bihar had invited us to propose a housing solution for the region of Mithalanchal, mythologically famous as the land of Janak, 5ita 's father. The Kosi , a large tributary of the Ganges that begins in far away Tibet, has always flooded , and therefore made the northern region of Bihar between the Ganges and the Himalayas, rich and fertile.

converging again in its mighty form . Also, the river path has been shifting westwards, and total shift has been more than 1OOkms in the last 250 years. But when Kusaha dam was breached in September 2008, the fury of waters drown ed and destroyed many villages. The people of north Bihar are aware of floods, but with th is breach, Kosi river had decided 0 return eastwa rds to its 200-

Here, to talk of sustainability is almost ephemeral; and yet the

choose the options that could be completely un-sustainable. It is

people of this region have built one of the most enduring

not easy when sustainability is not a matter of empo we red

lifestyles on the se fertile planes. And central to their life is the

deCi sio n-making, but a result of situational constraints. Aspiration

bamboo- they say. 'from birth to death' eve ry step in their lives ,

of imitating glittery lifestyle of cities influences the decision-

is supported by the bam boo. The usuall y held notion of trying to

making . Constrained communities which when given a choice can

build such that nature cannot degrade the materials easily. does

also make un-sustainable choices. Sustainability is viable only

not exist here. However, they build such that the d egrading

when it is not a result of lack of options or external impo si tions.

material is changed without bringing down the structure.

ODRC felt it was impo rta nt to empower communities to make

Sustainability was not something that people in north Bihar

deci sions, help them evolve their own contextual solutions and

needed to learn. In fact. that was something they could teach , to

enable them to improve their housing conditions with something

anyone who listened . But at the same time, they could very li ke ly

that is more durable and requires less maintenance. Local materials like bamboo could be used to deli ver such opt ion s.

Su stainability goes beyo nd carbon footprints and this story of Orlaha and Puraini explored its myr iad other dimensions.

Prefabricated Bamboo Frame Structure: Many families grow their own bamboo groves, particularl y of Harot (Bambusa Balcoa) that is structurally stro ng and forms the main frame of the house, and Chab (8ambusa Tulda) for the long straight rafters of the roof and Makhaur (8am busa Nutans) for ma king the bamboo mesh to make the walls between the frame . They always have extra to sell to those w ho do not have land to grow them . All the components of the house are prefabricated by the Dabia karigar (sk illed labourer), the frame erected and then filled in with wa ttle and daub. We learnt this from Dabia Tribhuvandas w ho worked with the design team to develop the

first prototypes for the

reh abilitation programme to consider. While the concept was good, incremental improvements could be made to safeguard agaillSt multi-hazard conditions of floods, storms and earthquakes and ensure a low maintenance home for the 40-50 years of the life of the bamboo. Sustainability must ensure that people can PLAN OF A TYPICAL HOUSE

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upgrade, change and add to their home easily.

EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT TIES

CYCLONE-RESISTANT FEATURES

Crafting the Home with Dabia: The bamboo artisan of Mithal.anchal builds the entire home only using one tool, a knife called Dabia. Understanding this traditional skill and designing solutions that could be built only with the Dabia , challenged our design acumen. The government of Bihar had an ambitious plan to rebuild a hundred thousand (one lakh) homes . Therefore, the programme was to design such that the rich traditions and skills of bamboo building are brought in. Providing recognition , ownership and pl'ide in the community knowledge can go a long way in continuing this sustainable practice. A mass housing programme would easily lose quality and speed if mistris had to be taught how to use new tools. Local technologies are usually best adapted for the local ecological setting. Therefore, the new design would need FLOOD-RESISTANT MECHANISM

to incorporate construction details that achieve our objectives without using any other tool. Most bamboo housing solutions have thus far suggested bolting joints together; this would not only

Bamboo has ten sile properties that are better than steel, building

require new materials (bolts, washers, plates, etc) and fabrication

a well connected frame (with braces and the first floor as

to be made available but drilling and scre wing tools as well.

diaphragm) will take the lateral thrusts of the earthquakes easily;

Therefore, the different types of joints in the house were secured

the connectivity of the plinth to the wall through the roof will stop

with three types of lashings (tying with rope) with a bamboo pin

the storms from uprooting the house, For the floods, the answers

to provide rigidity wherever necessary.

came from Madhubani; the region faces more floods than Kosi. The

A Creative Use of Pesticide Pumps: It was learnt from Dabia

people build their plinths higher than the average annual flood level

artisans that to ensure durability of bamboo, it was important to

and in extreme situations, simply climb into an attic space seven to

use appropriate variety of bamboo for specific purpose. Harot as

eight feet above and wait for the flood waters to recede. So the

columns, Chab for rafters and purlins and Makhaurfor lattice work

proposed house would have a first storey to use and save their

in wattle and daub. Mature bamboo, of at least three years, was to

belongings and themselve s from the floods . The wattle and daub

be used. While the bamboo is strong, it is the starch in its cells that

between the frames give way to the pressure of the flood waters

attracts the insects and fungi. There are techniques that can remove

protecting the main frame and the roof from collapsing. Instead of

the starch from the bamboo walls, and typical recommendation is

building a rigid structure to beat the forces of the floods, traditional

the use of a centralised treatment system. This was a lu xury the

engineering builds to absorb/release the forces of nature.

people of north Bihar could not afford as the tran sport of bamboo

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to the treatment unit and back to the village will require

pu m ps and then pushing the prefabricated pile into this hole with

intermediaries and the cost of bamboo would double. Learning

its own self weight. All this is achieved by three people in less

from the boucherie method from ABARI, Nepal . the equipment

th an o ne hour per pile, When the initial hole is made , the water

was rede signed to suit the bamboo variety in Bihar, optimising the

pl' 5su re in the hole (high water-table) is neutralised by creating

overall costs and overcoming the leakage of chemicals . Thi s method

a suct ion cre ated wit h a cupped hand over the auger pipe as it is

involved pumping of recommended preserva tive solution of borax,

pus hed into the ground. Eighty nine houses in Puraini constructed

boric acid and copper sulphate at a pressure of 0.1 to 0, 14N/mm2

th ei r found ations in this manner.

through the cut end of the bamboo till it seeped out from the other

All Together or no One: The spirit of collective efforts in Orlaha

end replacing the sap, Bamboo with a minimum size of 70- 1OOmm

an d Puraini strengthened the reconstruction process, Not everyone

in diameter at thin end and wall thic kness of bamboo not less t han

had equal capabilities and some people had been impacted more

10- 12mm were used. Mounted on a bicycle, this improved

in the fl oods. People of Orlaha and Puraini ensured that no one was left behind. As much as 17 families who had lost their land due to excessi ve scouring or erosion of land in floods were supported with

n

additional sum of 5000 rupees to buy alternative land or reclaim the existing homestead plot. People of Orlaha and Puraini got together to identify and ensure th at all families could gain access to the requi red land. While seven families reclaimed, 10 families bought another piece of land to rebuild their homes.

Social mobili ' dtion of community to undertake reconstruction in a campaign mode provided catalytic energies to the process of

TYPES OF BAMBOO LASHINGS

reconstruction. A social facilitation hub at village level called Kosi

pesticide pumping equipment was provided to entrepreneurs who could provide services to various households, They could charge a family the labour cost of five to seven rupees per bamboo, wh ile the chemical mix was sold in sach ets ready for dilution in the pesticide pump. This way, the owner of the house could cut and treat the bamboo in their own bamboo grove itself, simplifying the process drastically.

Ti e with rope

Pile Foundations without Electric Power: This region is familiar with earthquakes; in the 1935 earthquake, a large number

oi--- Bamboo Co lumn -

of houses simply tilted or 'sank' into the so il due to 'liquefaction' . a result of sandy (unconsolidated) soil conditions with a high watertable. The water-table can further rise wi th the vibrations of the

BAMBOO JOINERY DETAILS

earthquake engulfing the foundations of buildings. The soil looses their strength resulting in a watery grave for the building.

Setu Kendra (later concei ved at a level of cluster of two to three

Flood plains like the Kosi region have many vi llages wit h suc h

panchayats in larger GoB programme of Kosi flood reconstruction)

soi l conditions and require pile foundations to hold the buildings.

mobilised families, identified issues and worked to evolve solutions

In Puraini, which wa s surrounded by the Kosi tributaries, pile

through community consultations and local wisdom as much as

foundations were necessary. However, casting RCC piles was a

possible, KSK team regularly discussed progress, se nsitised everyone

challenge with high ground water-table at only 4ft depth . When

to needs of families with single women or old aged people and

faced with this challenge, they resorted to a 'jugaad' by lowering

ensured community support. It helped in liaison with banks and

a bottomless drum to dig the pit and hold the soil and water on

ensured timely access to financial assistance . It also played effective

sides. Once the y reached the required depth of 10ft in this

role in training people for bamboo treatment and in ensuring

manner, the y lowered a pre-cast RCC pile in place, removed the

compliance to technical guidelines brought ou t by the technical

drum used as shuttering to hold soil and compacted the sand by

committee of the government of Bihar. KSK team was supported by

ramming. They also developed a system for making holes for the

a reso urce team from Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan, Hunnarshala and

piles by use of hand auger normally used for installin g hand

People in Centre (ODR Collaborative member organisations) .

HI March 2012ARCHITECTURE+ DESIGN

People Decide, Artisans Build and Craft: Dabia artisans

its usable output in form of organic fertilizer. After v isiting a

strengthened with solution to provide more durability added

demonstration toilet and learning its usage. people quickly made

improved bamboo house to the options available to home owners.

their own dry pit toilets with the help of trained local masons w ith

The artisans and masons. the source of knowledge and guidance to

many growing fruit trees and plants near their toilets. While there

people. earned place of pride in the community through building

are hardly any example of successfu l eco-san toilet programme at

so lutions that provided shape to aspirations and improved quality

the settlement level. Orlaha and Puraini w ith its nearly 50 per cent

of life. Strengthened by ODRC team on technical guidelines. artisans

of toilets in active use demonstrated its potential and acceptability

collaborated w ith home owners to help them decide on appropriate

in north Bihar. With more rigorous socia l efforts. there is little doubt

type of construction. Empowered with freedom to choose and

in the success of eco-san toilets.

equipped with knowledge. families of Orlaha and Puraini opted for

Availability of electric power particularly li ghting could bring

houses based on their preferences. family needs and capabilities of

about a sign ificant change. Children could study in the evening.

financial contribution. Of the total 134 families. 88 families chose

Mobile phones cou ld be charged at home itself (without payment).

to build houses with brick walls and bamboo attic and bamboo-

One could be safe w hile stepping out of homes in the evening. One

based roofs. 44 families built completely with bamboo (walls. attic

could see we ll w hile cooking the evening meal. North Bihar villages

and roofs made of bamboo) and remaining two chose to build in

have little access to the power grid and solar lighting was a more

brick with RCC roofs. People of Orlaha and Puraini in the process of

sustainab le alternat ive . On completion of the house. each family

building their homes celebrated use of bamboo through the craft of

chose to install so lar lights. Solar lighting was beneficial and as

the Dabia artisans. During his visit to Kosi region to see bamboo

families are able to invest more in future, the upgradation cou ld be

houses before upgrading it through rehabilitation policy. the chief

made to add more electric points. additional panels and bigger

minister of Bihar. had a discussion with the Dabia artisans. And

batteries. Solar street lighting was also installed through community

today. in the larger programme of Kosi. reconstruction to build

funding making access easy and safe during the evenings and nights.

100.000 houses. more than 300 artisans are taking responsibility

Policy recommendation has been made to improve the quality of

to guide home owners to decide appropriate house type and

products through the quality assurance mark and encouraging the

oversee the construction to ensu re qual ity.

service supply chain for the users.

Decentralised Services- Sanitation, Solar Lighting and

Biological contamination due to stagnant water. lack of waste

Drinking Water: Appropriate sanitation was a critical need for the

disposa l system and use of shallow hand pumps (locally known as

environmental improvement. Use of toilets offered more dignity.

chapakal) for drinking water made the water unsafe. Crushed guava

particularly to teenaged girls. physically disabled persons. old aged

leaves w hen put in drinking water from hand pumps gave purple

or persons with illnesses. Contamination of ground,vater in typical

hues indicating excessive iron content. This was a test learned from

twin pit toilets particularly due to high ground water-table was an

Megh Pyne Abhiyan (a local NGO network working on water safety).

issue. With the help from Biome. Bangalore. a solution in the form

Also . less dissolved oxygen was an issue with drinking water. Open

of eco-san toilets was developed using a special toilet pan that

well s worked better as the process of oxidation improved. dissolving

separated so lid waste from urine. Very soon. the community

oxygen and precipitating iron content and improving quality of

christened it' Faydemand Shauchalaya' (beneficial toilets) realising

\路vater for drinking purpose. Community \vi sdom had imbibed this

III l\!Iarch 2012ARCHITECTURE+OESIGN

House construction in Orlaha and Puraini Total houses: 134 (45+89) Total cost of house reconstruction: Rs 95, 57 , 750/(Project assistance: Rs 71, 50, 000; People's contribution: Rs 24, OS, 000 )

Average house size: 300sq ft Average construction cost: Rs 23 7 per sq ft Total toilets: 107 Total cost of toilets: Rs 8,56,000 Cost of Solar lights: Rs 8, 84, 000 (Project assistance Rs 8, 45,000; People's Contribution Rs 39,000) Hamlet level infrastructure (Street solar lights, Access Roads and Drinking water well) solution in its tradition but now seemed forgotten or neglected due

Cost: Rs 32.78, 480 (Project assistance Rs 32, 50.

to wrong policies of hand pump promotion. Hand pumps (chapaka0

000; People's Contribution Rs 28.480)

could be used for other needs. After discussion with the community. a well was planned in Orlaha on t he southern end considering natural recharge and discharge points. Geo-hydrological appraisal

and Puarini and included in the policy for reconstruction, planning

with the help from Megh Pyne Abhiyan and ACWADAM, Pune

at district and regional level still remains to be taken up. If regional

indicated recharge and discharge points for ground water flow in

development effort is not coordinated with the settlement

both the villages.

planning processes, the fear is that it might just increase the risks

larger Picture - Towards a Region Plan: Not only a good

of the disaster.

house, improving quality of life also needs better regional

The Way Forward - Kosi Reconstruction Programme: Today,

infrastructure. En suring safety of settlem ents and improving

Kosi has started flowing back in its normal course. People of Orlaha

infrastructure in the region is opportunity at the time of

and Puraini have gained confidence that they would be more

reconstruction. The need is to ensure that these development

resi路l ient in their new houses. Local efforts, materials , skills and

objectives are aligned in a harmonious way with nature. While

local

expanding settlements become better connected with roads and

Col labo rative acted as a catalyst and people of Orlaha and Puraini

other infrastructure, the Kosi continue to flow unobstructed

not only rebuilt their entire settlement but demonstrated a way

wisdom

formed

the

basis

of

reconstruction.

ODR

reducing disaster risks. Putting in place the system to bring

for the entire Kosi reconstruction programme. Policy for Kosi

together people's own wisdom with analytical skills of planning

reconstruction programme draws upon their experience to learn

professionals through participatory planning processes can lead to

about the financial assistance in instalments, social mobilisation

as

and facilitation by Kosi Setu Kendra , use of bamboo as per

Pan chayats. Though demonstrated at the settlement level in Orlaha

technical guide lines, construction of houses by homeowners

a regional

plan and

strengthen

loca l institutions such

through local Dabia artisans and masons, supervision by master artisans, building of eco-san toilets and installation of solar lights.

Based on this policy, a programme to reconstruct 100,000 houses is presently underway. With Orlaha and Puraini showing the way and government of Bihar providing policy support. bamboo has emerged

as a viable and

sustainable option

offering an

improvement in the quality of life for large number of families in Kosi region. Thanks to the local Dabia artisan's skills, wisdom, willingness to learn , adapt and deliver, people of Kosi region can continue to build better in a sustain able way.

dJo

Sandeep Virmani and Vivek Rawal represent Hunnarshala Foundation and People in Centre ConSUlting respectively in OOR Collaborative.

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