Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !

PROJECT PROPOSAL

ELEVATION ELEVATION ELEVATION

1 : 100 1 : 100 1 : 100
TKM FlOOD REHABILITATION PROJECT

810

15 300 15 300 15 150 15

60
15

15
150

150
300

300

Kichen
150

150

Bedroom 1 Living / Dining 150 x 300

Government of Kerala

300 x 300 300 x 615

645
15

15

Bedroom 2
300 x 300
150

150

OPTION 3

ELEVATION
300

300

1 : 100
Toilet
150

150

FOR

150 x 300
15

15

60 PROJECT NO:
0000
15 300 15 300 15 150 15
DATE:
August 28, 2018
DRAWN BY:
GROUND FLOOR PLAN GJP
REVIEW ED BY:
1 : 100 DPG

AREA STATEMENT

PLINTH AREA : 52.25 SQ.M

28-Aug-18 3:38:02 PM

DESIGN
SKETCHES

01
THIS DRAWING IS A PROPERTY OF GEORGE TEENA & ASSOCIATES. NO PART OF THE SAME SHALL BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT OF THE ARCHITECT.

Project Brief
Prepared for: Government of Kerala
Prepared by: TKMCE , TKMSOA Faculty Team
28 August 2018
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !2

TKMCE , TKMSOA KOLLAM, KERALA

Abstract
This project proposal is a design and planned implementation of post-flood reconstruction houses for
flood victims. It is a sustainable holistic built form which can be built within a specific time frame on
various kinds of soil conditions. Almost all of Kerala’s 16 districts were severely and catastrophically
affect by the floods caused due to extreme Monsoon rains in the month of August 2018 and most of
Kerala’s infrastructure and economy suffered irreparable damage. The House form, plan and building
technology aims at being Sustainable, adopts Indigenous Technology, appropriate for the regional
climate, Eco friendly and helps to improve the living conditions of the user group. Above all it is is
cost effective with regards to its low construction costs and Time Management.
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !3

Contextual Information

(Photos: Earth Observatory/Nasa)

A severe magnitude flooding affected Kerala in the month of August 2018. It has been declared as the
worst since the “Flood of 1924”. During this calamity all 14 districts were put on high alert by the state
government. This unprecedented high rainfall in close to a century caused the death of around 450
people with many people missing within a fortnight and displaced lakhs of people from their damaged
homes. Infrastructural destructions comprising housing, roads etc have been heavy and unprecedented in
Kerala’s modern history. The Government of Kerala has stated that more than 16% of the population has
been affected by the floods. This Flood has been declared as a “Level 3 Calamity” (Calamity of a sever
nature).

Images released by NASA shown above highlights the devastating effects of flooding in parts of Southern
Indian state Kerala from space.  The picture on the left was taken before February while the second was
taken on August 22 indicating the vast area inundated by the monsoon flood.

Climatical Conditions

Source : Indian Meteorological Department

Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !4

Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest
summer monsoon and northeast winter monsoon. The mean daily temperature ranges from 19.8 °C to
36.7 °C. Mean annual temperatures range from 25.0–27.5 °C in the coastal lowlands to 20.0–22.5 °C in
the eastern highlands.

Design Programme

TKMCE, in the aftermath of the Monsoon Flood has entrusted a task force based in response to the letter
by the State Government comprising faculties from TKMCE and TKMSOA to study and design a Low Cost
House using appropriate Technology (Low Cost + Earthquake Resistant) with the intention of building it
within a minimum time frame at any proposed site.

The Brief for the Housing Project was as follows

Sustainability + Cost Effectiveness + Indigenous Technology + Time Management + Improvement of
User Lifestyle conditions.

The objective is to facilitate the flood victims by constructing a House which has to be sustainable,
should incorporate purely Indigenous Technology and implement the construction with the minimum time
possible. To meet this objective, the cost of the project and the speed of construction was prioritised.
The aim also included maintaining the social and cultural framework of the focus group (Flood Victims)
prior to the monsoons while at the same time incorporating a system which would improve their present
lifestyle in terms of social hygiene and well being.

The proposed Design also aims at conforming to the Building Regulations and Mandatory Norms yet
delivers in its promise to improve the living/working conditions of the user group.

The preliminary design stages comprised a study into the local architectural character of the region,
Materials, Climatology, Various Site Conditions, Adaptive Technology and how to improve the present
living conditions of poor/flood victims.
The typical local architectural character mainly comprises single storey detached houses composed of
either brick, hollow concrete blocks with timber raft tile roofs which are either pitched or hipped in
form. with a climatological component of tropical behaviour with high humidity during monsoons, the
average precipitations of 165 millimetres, the nature of the climate requires adequate ventilation and
shading from the sun and rain. Incidentally the traditional architecture of Kerala utilised passive solar
design with regards to form and with ingenious use of traditional materials like laterite, brick, timber
and terracotta.

The questions arose to the use of appropriate materials and technology to match the thermal comfort
performance of the traditional houses with cost effective, new materials that would meet sustainable
goals. The Moral responsibility lay in finding a solution to mitigate the climatic changes in the state due
to improper planning and implementation of sustainable constructions. Another criteria was to find a
solution to and design a typical Built form which can be built in any given soil conditions.

The preliminary studies highlighted the need to adopt a Passive Solar design form ( It brings 47% of active
energy savings), Interior layout and Design to improve living conditions of the user group, Use of Pre Fab,
Pre Stressed Technology PSPF ( Cost Effective, Time Saving, minimum wastage and accurate estimation) ,
a unique Foundation suitable for various soil conditions.
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !5

The second stage involved drawing up concepts with regards to the best effective passive solar design
form which also meets approval of local sentiments, a careful study related to availability of sustainable,
eco friendly pre stressed/ prefab materials of construction available in Kerala, Ideal foundation design
and the best way to implement the programme within a specific Time Frame.

Concept Drawings

Five options as depicted above were drawn up and analysed and it was decided to use three concepts as
design proposals to the Government.

Concept 3,4 and 5 were selected as it met the requirements of the brief.

The market study on adaptive technology is highlighted in the following page

Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !6

Study on Appropriate Technology to be adapted into the Design.

http://ecubestructural.com ( Technology developed by Engineer Eapen George)

1) foundation details 2) Hollow prestressed wall Panels

1) floor slabs with concealed conduits 2) Final structure

The images highlight the various stages of the construction technology used for constructing a House.

1) The technology comprising Prestressed Prefab modules (PSPF).

2) The grill foundations can be used in various soil conditions while the Ballast used for filling the
plinth serves as a shock absorber during earthquake which helps in minimising damage to the
structure to a great extent in case of such worse case scenarios.
3) The Hollow PSPF wall panels also serves as an important element of heat insulation.
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !7

4) The mode of construction is easy to the extent that it can also involve community participation

unlike other mode of constructions like brick masonry or Compressed Mud Blocks the construction
activity can also involve the community for which the built form is intended for.

5) The prefab technology also ensures Low Embodied Energy compared to other constructions

materials.

6) Wastage on site is minimised and contained.

7) Accurate cost estimations helps in meeting Construction Budget.

8) The Technology developed is purely indigenous and appropriate for the climatological, social,
cultural conditions in the state

9) Being modular it can also be incremental should the user later decided to modify or expand the
dwelling
10) It is cost effective as the firms said the total cost (sans finishes like floor tile, lighting fixtures,
wiring, painting etc) is 1100 Rs/sqft

Site Visit

1) Plinth and Foundation details 2) Wall panels and Floor beams

The images in this sections highlights how the technology is used in real life conditions. The team
decided that this indigenous technology can be adapted into the design because of its ease of
construction and climatological advantages along with cost savings. The team decided to retain most of
the construction elements like Wall Panels, Foundation details and to innovate with regards to the
Openings like Windows and Doors and Roof including the Gable.
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !8

3) View of the Entrance with window frames 4) Exterior view of the house built in Palakkad

Design

As mentioned before the basic objectives of the project were to facilitate the return of displaced
families by constructing a new alternate housing for them.
The project also aimed to build the homes on the same plots as they were previously located, or on new
plots decided by the government while delivering a comfortable environment that incorporates efficient
planning, construction technology thus enhancing their quality of life.

Option 1
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !9

ELEVATION ELEVATION ELEVATION

1 : 100 1 : 100 1 : 100

TKM FlOOD REHABILITATION PROJECT

810

15 300 15 300 15 150 15

60
15

15
150

150
300

300

Kichen
150

150

Bedroom 1 Living / Dining 150 x 300

Government of Kerala
300 x 300 300 x 615
645
15

15

Bedroom 2
300 x 300
150

150

OPTION 3
ELEVATION
300

300

1 : 100
Toilet
150

150

FOR
150 x 300
15

15

60 PROJECT NO:
0000
15 300 15 300 15 150 15
DATE:
August 28, 2018
DRAWN BY:
GROUND FLOOR PLAN GJP
REVIEW ED BY:
1 : 100 DPG

AREA STATEMENT

PLINTH AREA : 52.25 SQ.M

28-Aug-18 3:38:02 PM

DESIGN
SKETCHES

01
THIS DRAWING IS A PROPERTY OF GEORGE TEENA & ASSOCIATES. NO PART OF THE SAME SHALL BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT OF THE ARCHITECT.
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !10

Option 2

ELEVATION ELEVATION
1 : 100 1 : 100
TKM FlOOD REHABILITATION PROJECT

1200
15 300 15 540 15 300 15
60 82.5 180 15 180 82.5 60
15

60

Bedroom 2
180

Living / Dining 300 x 360

360

540 x 360
Government of Kerala
585

120

Bedroom 1
300 x 360
15

Toilet
Kichen ELEVATION
OPTION 4

ELEVATION
180

300 x 180
300 x 180
1 : 100 1 : 100
FOR
15

120 60 120 120 60 120

PROJECT NO:
15 170 15 300 15 170 15 300 15 170 15 0000
DATE:
August 28, 2018
DRAWN BY:
GROUND FLOOR PLAN GJP
REVIEW ED BY:
1 : 100 DPG

AREA STATEMENT

PLINTH AREA : 63 SQ.M

29-Aug-18 8:58:39 AM

DESIGN
SKETCHES

01
THIS DRAWING IS A PROPERTY OF GEORGE TEENA & ASSOCIATES. NO PART OF THE SAME SHALL BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT OF THE ARCHITECT.
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !11

Option 3
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !12

ELEVATION ELEVATION ELEVATION

1 : 100 1 : 100 1 : 100

TKM FlOOD REHABILITATION PROJECT

840

15 300 15 180 15 300 15

180
60 15

15 60 15

60
Toilet
15

180 x 270
60

60
300

180

180

Bedroom 1
510

300 x 300
Living / Dining
795
15

Government of Kerala
Bedroom 2 300 x 510
300 x 300
300

180

Kichen

OPTION 5
180 x 270 ELEVATION
90 15

1 : 100
60

FOR
15

15
60

PROJECT NO:
15 300 15 180 15 300 15
15

0000
DATE:
August 28, 2018
DRAWN BY:
GROUND FLOOR PLAN GJP
REVIEW ED BY:
1 : 100 DPG

AREA STATEMENT

PLINTH AREA : 57.34 SQ.M

29-Aug-18 10:13:43 AM

DESIGN
SKETCHES

01
THIS DRAWING IS A PROPERTY OF GEORGE TEENA & ASSOCIATES. NO PART OF THE SAME SHALL BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT OF THE ARCHITECT.

Description
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !13

1) Building data

Option 1 consists of a single floor with an area of 52.25 square metres.

Option 2 consists of a single floor with an area of 63 square metres.

Option 3 consists of a single floor with an area of 57.34 square metres,

Evolution of design concepts

Due to the fact that the project could involve rebuilding the houses on the previous plots, the foundation
details were predetermined beforehand. The climate played a significant role in conditioning the design,
with ensuring that proper ventilation becomes a predominant consideration in the design
In particular, the houses were designed to allow for a flow of air through the building. The Shading Net
panels at the gable ends allow for cross-circulation of air. Ventilation is further increased by means of
the Full windows in the main bay of the building, which separates the residential zone (Dry area) from
the Services Zone ( Wet Areas)

The House layout is based on a modular grid which allows flexibility in terms of layout as the Grid can be
arranged according to the Users preferences. the modular nature of the dwelling units and its
technology allows for extension of the walls, in theory allowing for the inhabitants to easily make future
low cost adaptations.

The design also aims to fulfils significant social and economic improvements. It is a fact that majority of
health related deaths in rural India has been attributed to poor hygienic conditions in the dwellings and
environs. That this house is designed to ensure cleanliness and hygiene and comfortable (thermal
performance and IEQ) could help the inhabitants to appreciate the houses and have a sense of
attachment to this dwelling.

3) Structure, materials, technology

a) Materials
The principal material was PSPF wall panels and Grill Foundations compressed earth blocks (CEB), an
indigenous technology available in Kerala itself at a low cost.
Prefabricated furniture units (Ferro cement and Marine Plywood) is to be used from locally sourced
materials.
Roofing material could be a variety of options ranging from Ferro cement Panels or Metal sheet roof or
Sandwich panels over Steel rafters.
A Gale Fabric Netting Panel at both gable ends.
Terrazzo flooring or Epoxy Resin or Tile flooring for all the rooms.

b) Construction Technology
The technology proposed is based on the objective of Economic and Time efficiency. The construction
technology of Ecubestructural Combines was principally chosen for its low cost as well as its ease
of assembly. The design is proposed as a typical dwelling unit to be built on various site conditions based
on the geology of the various regions. The houses were designed to be assembled from modular units
prefabricated in Palakkad and brought to the site. Prefab units have generally Low Embodied Energy
(Low EE). Due to the strength of its robust construction and design it is also Flood and Earthquake
resistant. The construction process does not require skilled labour as the construction method is not
sophisticated and can involve community participation too.
Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !14

4) Environmental Considerations
As noted, trees have been proposed to be planted in the plots of the houses. These trees will play a
useful role in providing shade for the houses.

5) Rainwater treatment and rainfall

The project can and should involve an efficient water-retention system . At present the design houses do
not feature rainwater gutter in the roof but flood control gutter and storm drains can and should be
constructed in case there is a colony to be built.

6) Ageing and maintenance problems

Any social housing project should incorporate measures to mitigate maintenance problems due to ageing.
Proper use of strictly certified materials in the construction is one method to extend the lifespan of such
houses. Obstacle free layout with provisions for storage of housing items related to services and
furniture along with good appliances related to lighting and sanitary will also help.

Members Involved in the Team

Project Leader - Dr S Ayub (Principal TKMCE)

Project Coordinator & Structural Consultant : Dr B Sunil Kumar

Architects : Prof Ayappan K A, Prof George Jacob (Principal TKMSOA), Prof Dipu George ( Dean TKMSOA)
Prof Jayakrishnan G, Prof Poornima Kurup,

Technology & Design Consultants : Eapen George & Prof Dipu George ( Dean TKMSOA)

Landscape architect: Ar Susan Thomas

Post Flood Relief Housing Proposal !15

References

1) Baynes, Chris (15 August 2018). "Worst floods in nearly a century kill 44 in India's Kerala state amid torrential monsoon
rains" . The Independent. Accessed 22 August 2018.
2) https://m.gulfnews.com/news/asia/india/kerala-floods-death-toll-rises-to-445-1.2270695. Accessed 21 August 2018
3) Babu, Gireesh (17 August 2018). "Monsoon havoc in Kerala: 324 lives lost since May 29, says CM Vijayan" . Business Standard
India. Accessed 23 August 2018.
4) Kerala floods live updates: Death toll rises to 79; Kochi airport to remain closed till August 26". Times of India. Accessed 24
August 2018.
5) Death toll soars in India monsoon floods" . BBC News. 2018-08-16. Accessed 25 August 2018.
6) Raghavan, T. , Sharad (20 August 2018). "The Hindu explains: 'Calamity of a severe nature'" . The Hindu. Accessed 26 August
2018.
7) Fawkes, Chris (10 August 2018). "Active monsoon brings more flooding" . BBC News. Accessed 123 August 2018
8) Gupta, Swati (16 August 2018). "Kerala floods: Red alert issued as death toll rises in Indian state" . CNN. Accessed 26 August
2018.
9) Pradha, Bibhudatta. "Over 8 Lakh People In Nearly 4,000 Relief Camps Across Flood-Hit Kerala" . NDTV. Accessed 23 August
2018
10) German Development Cooperation, Towards Sustainability: Building Practices in Post-Tsunami Housing Programmes, 2006.
11) https://archnet.org/system/publications/contents/8733/original/DTP101232.pdf?1391611331 Accessed 29 August 2018
12) https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/nasa-satellite-images-show-devastating-effect-of-kerala-floods-from-space-
a3921261 Accessed 29 August .2018
13) Planning Commission, India (2007). Kerala Development Report . Academic Foundation. p. 223. ISBN 978-81-7188-594-7.
14) Brenkert, A.; Malone, E. (2003). "Vulnerability and resilience of India and Indian states to climate change: a first-order
approximation". Joint Global Change Research Institute.

15) Sudha, T. M. "Opportunities in participatory planning to Evolve a Landuse Policy for Western Ghats Region in Kerala"  (PDF).
Department of Town and Country Planning, Kerala. p. 14. Accessed 22 August 2018
16) Hydromet Division Update Real Time Map . India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 21 October 2014.