JOIN USA mud house in Jayanagar has stood the test of time and is a testimony to the strength of mother earth. After all it has been built of mud and is the result of long years of research and hard work by Dr MR Yogananda, former faculty member at the Indian Institute of Science. He built the house in 1988 using stabilised mud blocks (SMB) which he says is the result of his findings.
The idea of using mud blocks struck him when he was at Indian Institute of Science exploring the possibility of constructing a building that is not only cost-effective but helps reduce the consumption of energy. Yogananda developed the methods of alternative construction under the Application of Science and Technology for Rural Areas (Astra) programme of IISc. “Stabilised mud blocks help conserve energy by almost 70 per cent.
We have developed these bricks using cement which is a strong element but we have used it rather carefully. The stabiliser in mud blocks is the cement,” he explains.
Yogananda, who is a consulting engineer, is quite passionate about developing an alternative technology to conserve the natural setting of the environment and he firmly believes that construction using stabilised mud blocks is the way forward. “I decided to use this technology in constructing my own house before I start recommending it to others. One good is that you don’t have to plaster the buildings because these blocks gives a natural finish. Thus one saves on the usage of cement. You don’t have to paint it either because it blends with the natural setting,” explains Yogananda.
He further points out that it is important to focus on decentralised production of materials consuming less energy which will also generate employment locally. “Traditional systems which were simple, utilitarian and aesthetic need to be improved with the latest scientific understanding, revived and adapted to suit present day building requirements. Hence, there is an urgent requirement to find alternative building technologies which are energy efficient and affordable,” he adds.
Yogananda’s tried and tested method has impressed a lot of people in the City and there are about 10,000 houses in the City that have been built using stabilised mud blocks. “People have to simply alter their lifestyles and we have been conducting training programmes across the country to popularise the benefits of using stabilised mud blocks. We find a lot of civil engineers, architects and even farmers attending the sessions,” he states.
Not only is the house strong, Yogananda has the roof of the house constructed using hourdi clay blocks and channels. “This is a pre-cast technique and eliminates the use of centering (temporary support for casting concrete). Reinforced joists are cast on the ground using the channel sections. These joists and clay blocks are assembled and the roof slab is completed with 30mm thick concrete along with necessary shrinkage reinforcement,” he states. All these factors ensure long life to the building.