The community of Londor consists of 112 people living in extreme poverty, whose economic activities are begging and supplying human hair for the wig industry. In 2015, a flood caused by torrential rains and the overflow of a dam affected the fragile houses they had, leaving the remaining buildings in a state of severe degradation, and some families completely homeless
Flood-resistant homes and Community Education Center in Londor
This is a sustainable community construction project for flood-resistant homes and a Community Education Center in Londor, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nad, India. It is characterized by the use of natural materials and aims to combat housing poverty in rural areas and indigenous territories through inclusive participatory design
The VACA Program, led by architect Juan Carlos Loyo, in collaboration with the My Name is Kumar Foundation is devising a construction model for the residents of Londor using local materials such as bamboo and hand-woven palm leaf coverings to provide an easily implemented and maintained solution. The housing and community spaces were intended to be built by the community itself and 10 international volunteers
The built house spans 35 square meters. The construction consists of a structural grid made of bamboo poles joined by nails of the same material and coconut ropes, in addition to four palm poles. The wooden poles, insulated from the ground with a protective layer of concrete and plastic, support a lightweight platform made of bamboo and cement. This platform also rests on a brick foundation line and serves as an access staircase
The structure allows water to flow underneath the dwelling without affecting the interior, while also promoting air circulation that lowers the home's temperature. The palm leaf cladding efficiently dissipates heat, which is beneficial given the extreme climate of the area with temperatures often recorded around 43 degrees Celsius. Thanks to the lightness of the materials, anyone can easily transport and construct this housing module. It is also simple to expand, thus allowing for the progressive growth of the home at very low costs
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