How a Kerala couple built a sustainable mud house and forest of their dreams
2,863,349
Published 2020-02-14
But there are some people, who have averted from this global polluter to natural materials for building their houses.
Down To Earth meet up with a couple who lives in their mud house called Nanavu, which is made of earth and other natural materials. This tiny house is in the middle of a small 34-cent forest-grown by them. Energy-efficient and self-sustaining, ‘Nanavu’ was built on 960 square feet, with mud walls encompassing a spacious bedroom, living room, kitchen, hall and an office room. Hari And Asha got married in 2007. Hari is an employee of the local water authority in Kannur and Asha is part of a community that helps farmers practising natural farming. Both of them follow an eco-friendly lifestyle that reflects in every breath of their lives.
Building a house using mud and other natural materials is a revival concept in Kerala, even though the region had a rich history, where tribal houses are completely made out of mud and bamboo. So Hari and Asha started to search for Architects who have experience in designing mud houses. They found Architect Vinod who had experience in working with Laurie Baker, A pioneer in cost-effective energy-efficient architecture and designs. With the help of Vinod, They bought in skilled labourers from Trivandrum and started the construction of Nanavu.
The total building cost of Nanavu is just Rs 4 lacs and 60 percent of it is the labour charges. To reduce the material cost, the couple has used local materials. which includes mud that was dug out for the well, old and dysfunctional coconut trees are used for making doors and window frames, locally made terracotta tiles are used for flooring and roofing. Different coloured ochres are used instead of harmful paints. Mud walls in a house have amazing qualities. It has very good thermal properties. During hot days mud walls will keep the heat out and during winters the walls will keep the interiors of the house warm. Mud houses also breathe. This means they will absorb excess moisture during humid days. The couple did not just stop at building a house from natural materials. They have a 5Kwp solar plant along with Biogas to serve their energy requirements. Because the house is naturally ventilated they do not require air conditioning and ceiling fans for their cooling needs. Electricity from the grid is only required once in a while when using the water pump. This means the couple does not use more than 4 units of electricity a month. That is less than what a middle-class household in a city will use in a day. Their energy frugality can be gauged by the fact that the house does not have a refrigerator. Instead, food is preserved using an earthen container built into the floor of the kitchen. The house also has a toilet linked biogas plant. All organic waste including faecal waste in Nanavu is converted into biogas, which is used for cooking. The couple follows the Gandhian principles of being self-sufficient. They emulate his principal by growing their own food. They have created a natural food forest. The couple follows a farming method which is very similar to zero budget natural farming. The couple now helps farmers grow and sell organic food through an initiative called Jaiva Samskriti. Every Friday they organise a farmers market where customers come and buy directly from the producers. This helps the farmers in the area get better returns for their produce.
All Comments (21)
-
thank you all .there is a small mistake in the story about our land .not 34 acres ,we have only 34 cents of our own and one acre of family property with it .and 45 cents paddy field.
-
I love the last words she said. If everybody will start living like this, earth will turn to Heaven. Earth is created similar to heaven but human beings has turned it to something else
-
Am from Africa we have alot of mud houses too and believe me they are so nice . We have a good natural environment full of good trees. I Love Africa so much.
-
I want to live like this. but he biggest problem is finding a partner with the same passion.
-
Dislikers are Ambuja and Ultratech owners 😁😁
-
“Nature has enough for man's need but not for man's greed." - Gandhi
-
ഇതുപോലെയുള്ള പച്ചയായ മനുഷ്യർ ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ തീരാവുന്ന പ്രകൃതി ക്ഷോഭങ്ങളെ ഇന്നുള്ളു😍😍 ഒരുപാട് സന്തോഷം
-
Not that long ago this was how people lived. Now it's how people dream of living. Boy did we screw up! Love the evaporative cooler.
-
Luckily they both found each other with similar tastes and interests. Minimalism is a difficult mindset detaching one-self from the materialistic world. Anyway congrats...what a life!!!
-
She was my science teacher
-
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." Henry David Thoreau
-
wow, thank you so much, its very rare to see a house built like this in the 21st Century
-
Wow those last words"The earth will become heaven when everyone will start living like this".I believe these couples are true human beings
-
I wish to do this one day too, in Australia. Maybe I will ask you for your advices. I love what you have achieved. May the universe continue to bless you with good health , food and happiness to continue life.
-
This is how humans should live. Such a great example from Kerala ❤️
-
A healthy built home is indeed a happy home. This is so amazing. I grew up in a mud house. Nothing is wrong in how this couple live. They are an inspiration to this generation and coming generations. Living in a house like theirs is not about poverty. A person living in a big mansion thinks he is always happy its the best way to live but thats not the case. As long as that home is sustainable, comfortable, stable full of love and happiness thats a perfect home. Congratulations to this couple for puting the environment first. Mother Nature will always protect those who think and care about Her. From Caribbean Trinidad with best wishes.
-
I am from North India and I love and admire how south Indians are so humble and in intelligence much ahead as compared to north ones.Most of are very genuine ,down to earth .Nothing pretentious ,not have a show off type of fake personality.Here people show off much as compared to what they actually are.These are the some differences I found out while working.
-
2.20 - The importance of a teacher at the right time in life. The teacher may not even know what a positive impact he had on her life by giving her a dream of good living. And now because of the internet this video will inspire many others in various countries.
-
They are so inspiring! As a city girl I feel saddened that we have lost the knowledge of how to live in balance with the world and nature.
-
Ingenious people. This world needs a lot of this kind of people.
