Scrap to super home - Couple's 'House of Bottles' captures imagination
Daijiworld Media Network
Hyderabad, Jun 16: City-based Prashanth Lingam, and his wife, Aruna Kappagantala deserve support and encouragement for conceptualizing extra ordinary houses which are easy to build and cost-effective.
The couple had started a concern named ‘Bamboo House India’ in 2007, with the purpose of creating market for artistic bamboo products made by tribals. Later, they took up construction of houses by using bamboo. These houses got excellent response in Hyderabad, where people as well as five star hotels, resorts, and parks opted for these houses, which provide lot of room for creativity and imagination.
The couple has again aroused the curiosity of the people by building houses by using bamboo and plastic bottles. Their recent effort of building a house in Hyderabad by using about 4,000 mud-filled plastic bottles overawed the people. The total amount they spent for creating this attractive house was mere Rs 75,000. Prashanth says that main items used for this house including the roof beams and pillars, are made of bamboo and plastic bottles.
The walls of this house have been reinforced from inside with mud-filled bottles. Prashanth says that these bottles not only provide strength to the walls, but also lend it the ability to withstand external heat. The couple bought these bottles from scrap dealers by paying one rupee per bottle. The bottles have been used in place of traditional bricks.
“At present, a cement brick costs ten rupees, while red bricks cost five rupees a piece. Plastic bottles cost lot less, they need very less cement to build, and keep the house cool,” Prashanth observes. He says that only five to six gunny bags of cement would be enough to build these bottle houses. He predicts that these houses will last for about 30 years, and that about 4,000 bottles would be needed to build a 225 square feet house. “This technique not only addresses shortage of houses the country is facing, but also bring down cost, and provides solution to the problem of disposal of plastic bottles which are not subject to biological degradation,” he points out.
The couple wants to provide a big boost to this technology in rural areas. They are also planning to approach the ministry of rural development with a request to adopt this technology for building houses under the ambitious ‘Indira Awaas’ scheme of the ministry.
“Under the said scheme, the government provides a subsidy of Rs 70,000, but by using the above technology, an entire house measuring about 400 square feet can be built at a cost of Rs 50,000. We have requested IIT New Delhi to conduct quality test of this technology. Once we get their certificate, this technology will earn further credence and acceptance,” Prashanth says.
Comment on this article
Keerthan, Mulky/Mangalore
Mon, Jun 17 2013why bottles?walls can be built by only mud as like in olden days ....
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P.Ravi Shetty, Puttur
Mon, Jun 17 2013Name of the house " Bottle House" or "Bottle Villa " or " Batli Mane " ?
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Agnello, Mangalore/Muscat
Mon, Jun 17 2013I am surprised engineers and architects belittling the idea. The idea was not to showcase the architecture, the idea is to create cheap alternative to bricks. In this case a bottle filled with mud replaces the brick.You can use suitable mortar to keep the wall and finish it as you wish.The plastic bottles which get strewn about are effectively used!.
An excellent idea which should be refined and put to use.
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Rajan D'sa, Mangalore
Mon, Jun 17 2013Can we get staff ( domestic help ) today to wipe off the dust / cobwebs from inside and outside the bottles incl. the crevices ?
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JerryMoras.com, Canada
Mon, Jun 17 2013Like the out of box idea but needs re-thinking in terms of sustainability. As per me defeats the concept of Re-use, Recycle, Reduce.
I agree with Reuse and recycle but this technology will not reduce waste but increases toxic materials. We need eco-friendly home and save our mother earth from plastic.
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Rita, Omzoor/Germany
Mon, Jun 17 2013I heard and saw in T.v.building such houses for poor somewhere in Africa or south america (Dont remember the Country)for poor and they were suitable.their idea was the scattered plastic bottles in the sense of clean nature and make use of it for the poor.but they filled with sand .the base with such bottles over it some cement it was perfect.why not try something new who doesnt have Money luxury houses to build.
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P.Mascarenhas ME ( Arch), Mangalore / Bangalore / Bangkok / New York
Sun, Jun 16 2013This design / architecture is not practical and good but dangerous. Infact, it may collapse anyday.
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J.R.Reddy ME ( Civil ), New Delhi / London/ Tokyo
Sun, Jun 16 2013Being an Engineer, this is certainly not eco friendly. Infact, it has brought in more toxic material into the house and which is pathetic and harmful considering weathering. Sadly, the designers ( in this case ) need more and better outlook and exposure. Its best that they travel abroad to see more on architecture like I / we do from time to time.
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Sathish Shetty, Mangalore/Dubai
Sun, Jun 16 2013I fully agree with you on and above using bamboo is not eco friendly. At Dubai Miracle garden they used bottles to grow plants and arranged such a way is the classic example for creativity
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Er. P. D. Lobo, BE ( Civil), Prof., NITK, Suratkal
Sun, Jun 16 2013This design is absolutely crap. The interior designer lacks outlook.It could collapse any time. Practically, its nonsense and a waste of money. Somebody is an idiot !
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Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait
Sun, Jun 16 2013OK from creative point of view but not on health perspective.
This is very tedious and time consuming job and not fully guaranteed against hoursebreak and other natural calamities.
Such things have already been exhibted in other countries as fancy item.
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Rakesh shetty, mangalore
Sun, Jun 16 2013SCRAP IDEA. THIS IS NOT SUITABLE FOR INDIAN CLIMATE.
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Roshan, Abu Dhabi
Sun, Jun 16 2013Thank God better you told Indian climate, not INDIAN CULTURE!!!
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Heri , Mangalore/UK
Sun, Jun 16 2013Very creative and very well done. However not sure health wise how safe these houses will be considering that you will be living between 4 walls constructed with toxic plastic waste? Also in the hot and cold temeperatures plastic expands and contracts very quickly... In my opinion this definitely will have lots of effect on the strength and sustainability of the walls....I might be wrong in my assumption though!
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THERESA LOBO, Mukamar-Sharjah
Sun, Jun 16 2013Congratulations to the Creative couple. Great !!! and excelelnt recycling idea. May God bless both of you in abundance.
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Charles D'Mello, Pangala
Sun, Jun 16 2013Environ friendly houses. Good Idea something creative.
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Joseph N Menezes, Mumbai
Sun, Jun 16 2013Congratulations dear Prashanth and Aruna on this innovative house building.I pray to God that HE will bless both of you as wealth out of waste has been recreated.Hope our GOVT will recognise your efforts and be implemented in building low cost houses.
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Lydia Lobo, Kadri
Sun, Jun 16 2013Very creative and excellent recycling idea. I wish the couple good luck in their efforts and success in their approach. May the government support/approve their idea of house-building so that the poor will benefit and the scattering around of plastic bottles will be reduced.
Please upload more pictures.
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