Architect Xinyun Li has developed an affordable housing concept based on mud, straw, bamboo, clay brick, handmade pottery and reclaimed corrugated metal. Designed for the bamboo-weaving village of Para Dash in Modonpur, Bangladesh, the unbuilt proposal explores how local materials and building knowledge can support climate-responsive rural housing.

Known as the $2,500 Vernacular Home, the concept accommodates several generations as well as domestic and commercial activities. Its estimated construction budget of under US$2,500 includes both labour and materials.

Locally Available Materials

The design uses materials that residents can source, process and repair locally. Craftspeople would form and finish 25 cm-thick mud walls by hand. Traditional joinery connects the bamboo elements, while bundled straw provides another natural building component.

Nearby factories would supply clay bricks and corrugated metal sheets in standard local sizes. The reclaimed metal forms a lightweight roof. Because the design uses familiar materials and techniques, residents could maintain or replace individual components without specialist products or imported systems.

Ceramic vessels embedded in the tea house façade serve as ventilation openings. Potters in a neighbouring village would produce these elements at a smaller scale than standard local vessels. They combine an established craft with a functional part of the building’s passive cooling system.

Responding To Heat And Rainfall

The house uses its form and layout to address high temperatures, seasonal flooding and heavy rainfall. A raised veranda lifts the main living spaces above potential floodwater. It also creates a shaded transition between the interior and exterior.

A steep roof drains rainwater quickly and produces a tall internal volume. Warm air rises into this space and escapes through high openings, while cooler air enters at a lower level. Opposing openings encourage cross-ventilation, and a ventilated roof cavity limits heat build-up beneath the metal covering.

Recycled transparent bottles filled with water form part of the roof concept. During the day, they refract sunlight into darker areas and could reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Combining Home And Work

Verandas, courtyards, enclosed rooms and workspaces organise the compact plan. Separate sleeping areas provide privacy for different generations. An upper balcony beside the younger couple’s room offers space for bamboo weaving, an important source of income in Para Dash.

A small shop and tea house face the village road. This position connects commercial activity to the household while keeping the main courtyard more private. Overall, the proposal treats local material availability, climate, craft and daily use as linked parts of affordable housing design.

Source & photos: Xinyun Li (via V2com)