My quest for low cost housing and building with natural materials during a collaborative research with Usama Ahmad, a visual artist, I got an opportunity to work with Ar. Yasmin Lari and her Zero Carbon Housing Project. The project was intended to build houses/shelters for flood affectees of Pakistan in 2022 floods. This opportunity was given by Rizq Organization for their project "Rizq Zero Carbon Shelters" and I am glad to announce that work has been started and will be completed within a month, InshaAllah. Also, while living in Pubjab, we are capable of helping people in Sindh, it is all possible because of the amazing team and efforts of Heritage Foundation of Yasmin Lari.
Now the question arises, why I was so interested in working and collaborating to be a part of this Zero Carbon Shelters Project as an Architect and as a Social Entrepreneur?
Let's start with the general definition of Zero Carbon Housing... Wikipedia says, "Zero Carbon Housing is a term used to describe a house that does not emit greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere."
So how can we achieve this kind of housing? Well, Yasmin Lari has an answer. She says, "Our return to traditional materials and construction techniques could help eliminate carbon emissions." And she had built more than 45,000 homes from mud, lime and bamboo. Being an architect since 1963, she had started to advocate for "barefoot social architecture" from 2000. And now she uses local materials that are low-carbon, low-cost and have been used in vernacular constructions for thousands of years substituting expensive, emissions-intensive materials such as concrete and steel which has to be transported to site. Well the point here is, if she can, being a highly experienced Architect, why can't we?
You should definitely read about her efforts for shelters for affectees of natural disasters in Pakistan. She started this work in 2005, after the destructive earthquakes in Kashmir, Pakistan and the work continued till today and been a source of empowerment and housing for many. (The pictures below are taken from Design Boom and Architecture for the 99)
Coming back to my point of interest: about the blueprint of shelters she says, "Every family in Pakistan can build it, even those below the poverty line. And remember, we have more than 50 percent of people living below the poverty line." She also claims, that the local and natural materials that we use can be reused 100 times, they help to create buildings that can withstand the effects of global warming without further contributing to it. How? Let's see .... (And the lessons I learned from it)
1. If you see the process of lime, it continues to re-carbonate throughout its lifetime, slowly turning into limestone and reducing its carbon impact. The more you use it, the more carbon is absorbed.
So, replacing cement with lime will be a good idea, right?
2. Bamboo is a fast growing renewable resource that sequesters CO2 throughout its life.
Therefore, let's grow and use this aesthetically pleasing natural material.
3. Locally present mud/earth reduces the transportation cost and carbon footprint and also the operational CO2 footprint as it provides natural insulation to the house.
4. Additionally, thatched roof helps in natural insulation and ventilation, both.
Interesting, right? You agree with my lessons? I hope so.
Now, let's pause for a minute and think about it: why are we focusing on building materials so much and all of this low carbon footprint talk? Well, because according to UN report, building and construction practices are responsible for approximately 38% of all energy related carbon emissions. Therefore, the building industry is pushing to find alternative means and methods to reduce the amount of emissions that are associated with both the construction process and the day to day operation to maintain buildings.
Just a reminder here again, Yasmin Lari had found one!
"Natural and local materials and techniques can reduce carbon footprint."
And working with her team and understanding methodology and techniques and of course their vision of community development along with women empowerment, there has been many great lessons. I am happy to be a part of this and will continue on this journey of supporting and advocating for it, InshaAllah.
There's more to this collaboration and project, but for today, that's enough. Leaving you with some food for thought. I will share more in next one InshaAllah. Lastly, ready to hear from you if you are interested in advocating for low cost and low carbon projects! Let's connect!
P.s the sources that helped me in writing this piece:
-Dezeen Carbon Revolution Series
-Wikipedia: Zero Carbon Housing
Finally (one last time), here are some pictures from 'Rizq Zero Carbon Shelters', MashaAllah. The teams are amazing that are working for it including Rizq and Heritage Foundation. These pictures belong to both foundations, I haven't been on site personally, yet.
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