“We’re designing an ultra-low-cost toilet around removable containers that make it easy to collect and transport wastes safely from the community. We know from many conversations with residents of Shada that a good toilet is a symbol of cleanliness and modernity. Beyond being odorless, hygienic, and vector-free, our toilet needs to be elegant, modern, and pleasant to use. And it needs to be cheap. To that end, our toilet combines a 20-L bucket, a liquid container, and a western-style toilet seat into a sealed, portable, urine-diverting toilet.
sustainable
The £150 Hobbit Hole
“It looks like something straight out of Middle Earth – and the story behind it is almost as fantastical. This cottage cost just £150 to build, using only natural or reclaimed materials, and is now rented out for a fee of fresh milk and cream. And with no mains electricity, gas or water, the bills don’t come to much either.
Vaulted Roof Technique
“The vaulted roofing system using conical tile has been developed and used by Centre of Science for Villages, Wardha, Maharashtra for the last four decades. The roof is easy to construct and uses local materials and skills.”
Off-grid, handcrafted life on Oregon farm & workshop
This is the full length video interview of Brian’s off-grid farm and Zen house that we featured the other day.
Tile Faced Mud Block
“Tile faced Mud Blocks have been developed and used by Centre of Science for Villages, Wardha, Maharashtra for the last four decades. The blocks are made of earth and not baked. they are protected by a baked tile that is inserted during block production to provide weather proofing. The blocks use lesser energy in production as compared to conventional kiln baked bricks and can be produced with local materials and labour.”
e-khaya
“e-khaya is a fireproof shack replacement system for informal settlements. Fire is deadly in these crowded communities and an e-khaya will protect lives and possessions. It is easily community built, low cost, thermally and acoustically insulating, durable and attractive. And we are currently working on the concept of an additional level that can be added as a family’s needs grow. Sanitation, fresh water, lighting, hot water, simple cooking facilities and ‘urban farming’ are all either incorporated already or will be in the future.”