HOMEMADE FAMILY HOUSES
by Anna Heringer

Anna Heringer shares her personal story on building sustainable homes in rural Bangladesh together with the local community and students from BRAC University in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and the University of Art Linz/projectstudio BASEhabitat (Austria).

Three families, 13 architecture students, 18 craftsmen, eight water buffaloes and three houses…

Eight students from BRAC University in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and five students from BASEhabitat and the University of Art Linz (Austria) came to the remote village of Rudrapur in rural Bangladesh, to work together with the local people on a model for sustainable, modern architecture.

The challenge for the pilot project on rural housing was to improve the living conditions in the rural areas while maintaining the existing level of sustainability as well as to meet the needs and dreams of the people.

Three families dismantled their old homes in full trust that we will build a house they'd feel proud of and would serve their needs.

And so it began: Design, planning, building, site supervision, communication with clients and villagers, trial and error...

Every day, neighbours and strangers gathered around the sites, gave comments and started discussions. The most 'popular' site was at Rahini's house that was just beside the main road, next to the market. Fifty, sixty and sometimes more curious visitors who wanted to know why we build in mud, and what was it that we were adding to the new house to make it special.

"A house made of earth will never be as attractive as a brick building to the villagers. Even when it is cheaper," says Mahbub Islam, who has been involved in rural development work in Bangladesh for more than 20 years. I asked: "So you think it is not worth the effort, doing research on improving loam building techniques?"

He replied: "It'll be a big challenge to implement the results. What counts are not only rational aspects like durability, cost effectiveness or sustainability. You have to meet the dreams of the people and add a special value to the loam houses. Something that touches them emotionally."

So what is it that we could add?

We did a lot of experiments to improve the foundation; introduced a damp-proof course; and made the walls stronger through a reinforcement with straw. But most of all, we tried to focus on creating a perfect indoor climate through coconut fibre insulation, glass windows and lots of openings for cross ventilation and a good design. I don't think we can convince someone with rational arguments about sustainability, but we could do so with a comfortable building that one can be very proud of.

A good design doesn't need more money; we only need creativity, some reflection, and a little bit more intelligence maybe. Because this is not a matter of being poor or rich. Sometimes even limitations can be the best inspiration to stimulate creativity.

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Born in October 1977 in Germany, Anna studied architecture at the University of Art in Linz, Austria from where she graduated with her diploma thesis: "School—handmade in Bangladesh". Together with Eike Roswag and a team of craftsmen she realised the "Handmade" school in Rudrapur, Bangladesh. The project won several awards, amongst them the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. She is working as an architect and consultant mainly in developing countries such as Africa and Asia. Anna is also teaching at the university in Linz (studio BASE habitat) and more recently at the Technical University in Stuttgart as a visiting professor.

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