Located in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India- the Debris House, which has derived its name from the site that was peppered with the remnants of many demolished buildings, elements of which were recycled into the new construction.
Indian architectural practice Wallmakers who have designed this low-cost home, saw the limited budget as an opportunity to innovate and experiment rather than as a drawback.
To keep costs low, recycled and natural materials were prioritized in the design of the Debris House, an approximately 2,000-square-foot dwelling that makes the most of its compact site.
In addition to locally sourced materials, the environmentally sensitive home includes a rainwater harvesting and recycling system as well as passive air circulation. The home’s rammed earth walls were built using soil that was excavated onsite.
Recycled materials, also salvaged from the immediate area, were used to form a spiraled wall — dubbed the Debris Wall — that serves as a focal point defining the central courtyard, which allows cooling cross-winds into the home. Furniture was also built from reclaimed wood, specifically from the client’s storage boxes.
To protect against unwanted solar gain, the windows are protected with meter boxes sourced from a local scrapyard. The concrete roof and slab were mixed with coconut shells, thus reducing the amount of cement used.
Reference- Wallmakers website, Inhabitat