Integrated housing

In 2005 Practical Action initiated a project to promote cost effective, sustainable and people centred approaches to housing reconstruction during the post tsunami rebuilding in Sri Lanka. As part of the project intervention two technologies for roof building and wall construction which have been successfully tested for their which are cost effective and environmentally friendly nature is being promoted among communities. The technology for roof building is the filler slab technology and the wall construction rat trap bond technology. As part of the project strategy capacities are built within implementers and labour workforces to ensure sufficient expertise and skilled labour in these technologies. Practical Action is also conducting research on design and construction of buildings that can withstand disasters such as cyclones, floods, tsunami and earthquakes to serve the needs of a larger community in South Asia.

Significant outcomes

284 masons, 25 woodworkers, 16 brick makers and 269 builders were trained on cost effective housing construction and maintenance. They were introduced to 3 new housing technologies including the rat trap bond masonry, filler slab concrete roof and I channel rafters for tiled roofs.

153 tsunami affected families (41 in the South and 113 in the East) received completed cost effective houses including 09 with disability access. The houses were constructed via several organizations whose capacities were built by Practical Action’s Integrated Housing Project.