Budgets are obviously limited for most every project in Nepal, while at the same time the need for affordable housing and schools is almost endless – hundreds of thousands of new, safe structures are needed. Here are a few suggestions to rebuild sustainably and affordably.
earthbag
No Earthquake Damage to Rammed Earth Monasteries
A nice lady here in Nepal just told me there was no earthquake damage to the rammed earth monasteries in the Himalayas after the recent earthquakes. In fact, most of these structures have survived earthquakes for centuries.
Building Detail Drawings in My New House Plan Book
In addition to profiling my 25 most popular house plans, my new house plan book ’25 Small Sustainable House Plans’ also includes 3D drawings and construction details on how to build 20 features for sustainable home such as lofts, porches, alternative roofs, low cost floors, how to add on to an earthbag house, how to build with pallets and roundwood poles, and much more.
Rebuilding Nepal Sustainably: Culture, Climate and Quakes
Free PDF about how to rebuild Nepal sustainably by Patti Stouter of Build Simple.org.
Mud Ball – How I Dug Myself Out of the Daily Grind: Atulya K Bingham
6 weeks, $6,000 and plenty of dirt
“I couldn’t teach another lesson. Nor could I tolerate another day with a boss, a punch card, and the indigestion I suffered from bolting my muesli. This was why I’d spent the past five months camping in a remote Turkish field. Then the first winter storm crashed through the valley, turning my tent into a canvas pole dancer. It dawned on me I might need a house. There were only two problems: I had just $6000 left in my account, and 6 weeks before winter.”
Lowest Cost Earthbag Building Methods
This blog post describes super low cost earthbag building methods that do not have to meet code. These dirt cheap building methods are primarily for those in mild climates (minimal freezing) and low or non-code areas.