This service is in the 'pipe line'. Once the preliminary work is done we will be able to offer advisory services to build affordable houses, with less costly construction material, less costly techniques, affordable features and less costly processes. Advice will be available in the form of plans, estimates, brochures and leaflets.

With time, this service is to be extended to other areas associated with housing such as garden planning, drainage planning, sewerage planning, garbage disposal, plant selection for home gardens, alternative and low cost energy options, low cost and alternative water options, etc.

 

Housing

AFFORDABLE & ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY MODEL HOUSE AT CHPB

Construction material prices are going up at a very fast rate. Even the labour costs are escalating. This is a threatening feature in the construction industry and the most affected party is the small house builder, who is not capable of generating alternative funding. But the aspiration of the people is on the rise.

CHPB and ministry of housing and construction industries have identified that an intervention is required to address these issues on a priority basis.

Aftermath of a seminar held at CHPB on affordable housing options, it was decided to compile the findings in an actual house rather than in a document that normally ends up in a shelf.

Hence a model house incorporating some of the important research outcomes identified in the seminar is being constructed at the CHPB, in collaboration with the National Building Research Organization (NBRO), with the assistance from the Ministry of Housing and Construction Industries.

A team from CHPB and NBRO jointly planned and now constructing the house. The team not only has incorporated some of the research results of Dr. Kulasinghe, NERD,  Moratuwa University, etc and some of the materials commercially produced by Orient Building Ltd, etc,  it also has combined some of the technology creating entirely new options that were not imagined by the original researchers. The house will be available for public viewing by 22 September.

The main features of the house are

• No sand is used for superstructure at all

• Very less cement is used

• Very less skilled labour is used

• Most of the material used are environment friendly

• Some of the material used also provide for a healthy environment

• Less materials are used

• Timber used is minimal and only runners (2”x 1”) except for the few wall plates

The site was visited by Dr. Kulasinghe renowned civil engineer and researcher, Hon. Ferriyal Ashroff, Minister of Housing and Construction Industries, Secretary and Staff of the ministry of Housing and Construction Industries, Mr. Balachandran, CEO of the National Construction Association, who gave the team directions, guidance and encouragement. 

Technical details