Adequate Response to 21st Century Challenges Needs Your

Support!!!

Abbottabad based Bioenvironmental Manager, Sardar Taimur Hyat-Khan has

successfully erected low-cost Semi-Permanent Shuttering to construct low-cost; easily
replicapable; disaster-proof and super insulated homes at his own R&D cost. The
methodology involved is capable of rapid construction for homes, “Gharonda”; insulated
cattlesheds, “Bandi”; poultry sheds; low-cost green houses or kitchen gardens for
nutritional food security called “Wah Gardens”; cottage industry workplaces; mosques;
grain silos; godowns; cold stores; Bio Reactors (for generating Methane for Direct
combustion or Electricity generation utilizing sewage with no external energy input);
shops, offices and other structures.
The building is ideally placed with a South facing exposure to take maximum
advantage of the lower declination of the sun in winters for passive solar heat gain and is
well lighted through windows and sky lights. Air circulation is catered for through wind
catchers and cross ventilation. It consists of an aero dynamic, geodesic dome that covers
the most floor space with the least walls or roof and rests, but is not grouted to, a floor of
2 tons per square foot bearing capacity. This results in freedom for the structure to move
with, rather than resist earthquakes up to 9 on the Richter scale. Secondly, the aero
dynamic design does not oppose high velocity wind and allows it to flow over the
structure thus providing capability to resist up to 250 mph winds. Rising temperatures in
summer and increased cold in winters is greatly contributing to the miseries of the
common people. Increased need of energy for heating and cooling at a time when energy
is scarce and prohibitively costly is yet another factor which is adequately catered for by
emplacing the lowest possible cost and abundantly available insulation adobe material.
Arising from the technology of our own cultural streams rather then the inappropriate
western technologies, the concept is ready for ownership by our people.
The concept has grown from the Mongol “Ger”, which is the origin of the Urdu
word “Ghar”. The Ger was the knock down felt tent that was easily transported on horse
back and included the concept of the tension band that was in use for thousands of years
before engineering and architectural science uncovered the principle. This design was
incorporated by the Turks and named as “Yurt” the plural of which “Yurtu”, or Camp, is
the origin of “Urdu” or language of the camp. The dome of Muslim architecture is the
prototype of the Geodesic dome which is the strongest structure in an engineering sense
and consists of 40 triangular facets. The compressional forces of traditional architecture
are replaced by pre-stressed “tensional members” which is best described as “Tensigrity”
or Tensional Integrity of the structure. Each member is linked to the other and passes on
applied force to the others to provide equal strength of all members. Similarly,
gravitational force from below or impactional force from above is not resisted but is
allowed to flow through the structure.
Emergency shelters of 20 foot diameter and 11.5 feet apex height (380 sq. ft. floor
space) erected on these principles can cost as little as Rs.10,000.00 (Rs. 26.30/ sq. ft.
floor space) and can be erected in a few hours including time to cut and size the tensional
members from readily available tree pruning or bamboo. This exercise can be carried out
in the absence of electricity in the case of disasters. The semi-permanent version of the
construction of the same dimensions consists of adobe on wooden or bamboo frame
sufficiently strong to carry the weight. A 1-Foot thick adobe shell can be easily carried on
normal size members of 2 and 3 inch thickness. This version can be constructed for under
Rs. 40,000.00 (Rs. 105.20/ sq. ft.). The permanent structures, with 100 year guarantee
and called “Gharonda” by the adapter/ developer, consists of an RCC shell of 3 inch
thickness that is covered with 1 foot adobe or soil-cement layer, upon curing. It is
estimated that this configuration can be built at a cost of Rs. 80,000.00 (Rs. 210.50/ sq.
ft.) with an attempt to curtail it at Rs. 60,000.00 (Rs. 158.00/ sq. ft.).
The real beauty of the system is that it envisages transfer of soft technology to all
and sundry without exception, in order to meet the target of over 200,000 housing
requirement of the bewildered and disaster struck poor masses. The design can be readily
incorporated in Eco-Friendly settlements or Hyat-Kots (Fortress of Life) complete with
waste water gardens for recycling water; energy recovery from liquid and slurry of bio
degradable solid waste. The walls do not prevent “breathing” of the structure which
avoids positive or negative ionization, resulting is a stress free inner environment. Inbuilt
roof-top water harvesting; sewerage treatment and fly/ mosquito proofing round off the
environment friendly and friendly environment for sustainable living.
 This system is capable of rapid erection by using permanent inner and outer
shuttering utilizing pressure filling of concrete over Steel Bar Re-enforcement. Steps
involved are; Firstly, construction of floor pad with inbuilt sewerage and water supply
lines; Secondly; erection of inner shuttering; Thirdly, erection of outer shuttering and
pressure filling; Fourthly, curing and removal of outer shuttering and finally
emplacement of adobe cover through self-help basis and removal of inner shuttering.
Small groups of youth can be empowered and equipped with requisite shuttering and
tools as a direct means of Livelihood which meets a vital requirement of the people.
Designing and trials of different versions for disaster proofing began after the
2005 EQ and built upon efforts at low-cost Ceramic Adobe Construction being studied
and tried by the developer since 1990. At an R&D expense of Rs. 3 million the final
version is ready for mass dissemination. The existence of EQ Fault lines, storms and
finally Global Warming accompanied with the equal and opposite reaction of increased
cold in winters demands that such methods of construction be immediately undertaken.
Resistances to change and ingrained habits have to be abandoned in order to adequately
respond to 21st Century challenges. We have to live in harmony with nature in order to
continue living at all! It is a pity that adequate attention is not being paid to the
development despite or because of it being a win-win empowerment situation for all! To
struggle against all opposition, meager pay and constantly face undue criticism has
helped the vision by enforced but ultimately welcome decrease in costs.
Low-Cost, Semi-Permanent, Inner Shuttering Frame!
 Emergency Shelter/ Workshop.
(Parachute Cover provided by Pak Army).
 Moving Towards The Future!
Nurture Nature Because Nature Nurture You!