These houses were built by Anna Heringer with assistance from 14 students and local workers. 75 percent of Bangladeshis live in villages, mostly in loam and bamboo houses, but to improve living standards new houses increasingly use supposedly more durable industrialised materials that are energy intensive and unsuited to the environment. The pilot houses use traditional materials and attempt to boost the local economy and skill base. They increase floor area by adding a storey rather than encroaching on land needed for food production. They exploit thermal mass and cross ventilation to save on energy costs and they restore pride in local identity with a modern interpretation of traditional methods.
Source:
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.
