Making of a Bottle House

[box type=”shadow” ]For a region of the world where money tends to be scarce, the bottle houses are estimated to cost 1/3 of a house made of concrete and bricks. Around 10,000 bottles are required for a 250sqft building. Also, the structure is adaptable with bricks and stones along with fish net.[/box]

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An average 10’x10’ room built with plastic bottles would require around 9,000 to 10,000 bottles. The bottles are usually procured from scrap or some hotel chains or water bottle companies, depending on the region.

These filled bottles along with the concrete cement is layered in such a way that it builds a strong foundation. Concrete being a strong binding agent, holds the pet bottles together and thus, makes the building durable and strong. The fishnet brings the ‘bricks’ and the concrete together, providing a base for such a binding. Interestingly, a fish net is replacing steel!

Volunteers filling the plastic bottles for eco-construction technology

The prototype built in Chennai was tested for demolition. While the demolition company on an average takes about 20 minutes to pull down a 10’x10′ building, it took them over four hours to demolish the bottle structure. Standard earthquakeresistance tests that were conducted in CSIR, Taramani, reported that this could withstand till a scale of 9.8 Richter!

It is also possible to build a twostorey structure, as demonstrated by the maternity hospital erected in Malawi, Africa.

Using Nylon fishing net and plastic bottles, can address two key issues

Nylon fish nets cost only five per cent of the construction materials. This makes these buildings approachable for people with lower means. “India faces a housing shortfall of 19 million dwelling units. By using these PET bottles and fish net, one gets to build sustainable and earthquake resistant homes that reduce carbon footprint and also give rise to cottage industry by giving employment opportunities to the old and infirm.”

These low cost buildings make it easier for an investment on making many infrastructures available to the people in rural areas. Also to mention that such innovation can be used in many places across the country to reduce on waste and carbon emissions that are generated during baking the bricks. The ecoconstruction technology has laid the foundation to a better way of making hospitals, health and education centers, community kitchens and homes across the world. This could revolutionize the concept of make dwelling available to all.