This article is a part of Thannal Homes series – Owner’s Build
Introduction.
In today’s world, where modern architecture dominates our living spaces, there is a growing awareness of the need to live in harmony with nature. Many people are looking for ways to build homes that are sustainable, eco-friendly, and affordable. In this article, we look at the inspiring story of a young farmer, Jagadeesh, from Mettukadai, Erode, Tamil Nadu, who built his G+1 natural home in just 7.7 lakhs using Thannal’s techniques.
Jagadeesh V, a nature enthusiast, participated in our Thannal Native Farmer’s Natural Building Workshop in April 2019. His passion for living in harmony with nature inspired him to embark on a journey with Thannal after gaining experience in natural farming. Three years after attending the workshop, Jagadeesh began constructing his own natural home in August 2022, which he completed by January 2023.
The home covers an area of 570 square feet and was built at a cost of 7.7 lakhs rupees. The cost per square foot comes to about 1350 rupees, significantly lower than conventional construction costs. The house comprises two bedrooms, one on the first floor, a hall, a kitchen, a toilet, and a portico. The walls were made of burnt bricks with mud mortar and burnt bricks with lime mortar. The roof between the ground floor and the first floor is an intermediate roof made of palm wood rafters with wooden planks. The first-floor roof was a combination of Mangalore tiles (terracotta tiles) and wooden planks. The finishes included mud plasters, lime-sand plasters, and lime-clay final renders. The project utilized only reclaimed wood from old buildings.
This project is an excellent example of building a natural home in a village with the help of local artisans. With only five to six people, including Jagadeesh, the owner, working on the project, it was completed in a short amount of time and at a reasonable cost. The project also revived the skills of the village artisans, which could benefit both themselves and others. The project helped the artisans recognize the importance of these skills and the potential to pass them on to future generations, ensuring the preservation of traditional building techniques and knowledge.
Jagadeesh’s constant involvement in the project made it cost-effective and less time-consuming. When the owner takes a more active role in building their home, it eases the process and adds a personal touch to the natural home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired the natural farmer to build a natural home?
Jagadeesh, a natural farmer from Mettukadai, Erode, Tamilnadu, is a nature enthusiast who attended Thannal’s Farmer’s Natural Building Workshop in April 2019. His passion for living in harmony with nature and his experience in natural farming inspired him to embark on a journey with Thannal and build his own natural home.
How long did it take to build this natural home, and what was the cost?
Jagadeesh’s natural home took six months to build, from August 2022 to January 2023. The natural home covered an area of 570 square feet and comprised a 2BHK, a hall, a kitchen, a toilet, and a portico. The total construction cost was 7.7 lakhs rupees, with a cost per square foot of about 1350 rupees.
What techniques and materials were used in building the natural home?
The walls were made of burnt bricks with mud mortar and burnt bricks with lime mortar. The roof was a combination of Mangalore tiles and wooden planks, with a flat roof for the first floor. The finishes included mud plasters, lime-sand plasters, and lime-clay final renders. All wood used in the project was reclaimed from old buildings.
How many workers were involved in the project, and who were they?
There were five to 6 workers involved in the project, including the owner to build this sustainable home. The masons were Arumugam and Ganesan, and the carpenter was Hariharan.
How did owner's involvement in the project make natural building more cost-effective and personal?
Owner’s constant involvement in the project made it more cost-effective and less time-consuming. When the owner takes a more active role in building their natural home, it adds a personal touch and ensures that the home is tailored to their needs and preferences.
Conclusion:
Jagadeesh’s natural home is not just a building but a testament to the power of community and local knowledge. With the help of local artisans, he was able to build a sustainable home that is not only affordable but also in harmony with nature. By choosing to build a natural home, Jagadeesh has demonstrated that we can live comfortably and sustainably without compromising on our quality of life. We can all learn from his experience and take small steps towards building a better and sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
Thank you for sharing this Informative Post
Vanakam Jayanthi,
Sure, we understand your interest in visiting Jagadeesh’s natural home. Since we cannot share his contact information publicly, can you write to thannalroots<@>gmail.com? We appreciate your understanding!
Vazhgha valamudan, namaste,
Good afternoon Revathi & Shyamala,
Thank you for reaching out to us. Kindly check your email for guidance and assistance regarding the construction of a traditional house for your great-grandnephew in Chengelpet.
Vazhgha valamudan namaste,
Good afternoon Thannal Team
Some years ago in my 50s after reading newspaper articles contacted Thannal. Could not attend workshops family constraints. Now for our g. grand nephew at chengelpet Very very small plot, 1000 sqft..low budget.we would like to construct a typical Traditional house. Wooden Rafters seasoned we have. Guidance from you Essential. A village 10 km from main Town.
Can you guide please.
Thank you
Revathi &Shyamala
n
Hi ,
Congratulations for the entire team of Thannal who are doing excellent work to eco friendly house construction project….I want to build budget friendly such a house in Madurai…can I get Mr.Jagadeesan’s contact number ….it will be useful for me…thank you…
Vannakam Dinesh,
For construction-related queries or services, you can reach out directly to Thannal’s “Mud and Lime” wing. They will be more than willing to assist you. To inquire about project-based matters, please contact us at mudandlime.thannal<@>gmail.com or you can also fill out the form on our one-page website: https://www.mudandlime.thannal.com/.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Hi, I would like to construct a natural home in Namakkal. Can you please share me the contact of a Civil Engineer/Natural Builder?
Vanakam Saradhamani,
Kindly check your email
Dear Thannal team,
That is a very inspiring story. Interested in having an earth home constructed in Tiruppur. Kindly share the contact details of Jagadeesan . Would love to have a look at his house before starting.
Thanks much,
Saradhamani
Thannal,
A big salute to you for the difference you make to our one and only Earth.
I’m interested in having an earth home built. Kindly let me have the contact info of Jagadeesan.
Best regards
Saradha
Namaste Ravinkumar,
Kindly check your email
Dear Team,
Thanks for sharing the story. Is it possible to share Jagadeeshan’s contact details. Would love to understand more about the project.
Namaste Mahitha Reddy,
Kindly check your email
I need help in construction work in thiruvannamalai….can you help.
Pls share the details of owner’s contact I want to construct eco Home pls Guide me thannal team
Thank you for your comment, Shankar! We’re glad that you found our article enjoyable.
Vanakam Vijay,
Sure, we’d love to have you visit Jagadeesh’s natural home and see the beautiful work that he has accomplished. Since we cannot share contact information publicly, we will email you more information. Thank you for your interest!
Vanakam Ponraj,
Sure, we understand your interest in visiting Jagadeesh’s natural home. Since we cannot share his contact information publicly, we will email you with more details. We appreciate your understanding!
Vanakam Venkatesh, it’s great to hear that you’re planning to construct a natural home in the Krishnagiri district. Best of luck on your journey to living in harmony with nature!
Vanakam Arjun! We’re glad to hear that you liked Jagadeesh’s natural home. For Jagadeesh’s home, he used lime and sand plasters for exposed walls and clay with milk of lime for the interiors. You can find more information on different types of Indian natural finishes at https://thannal.com/types-of-indian-plaster-part-1/. We hope you find it helpful!
Thank you for your kind comment, Madhusmitha. We agree that building eco-friendly and sustainable homes is essential for the environment and the future of our planet. We hope Jagadeesh’s inspiring story will encourage more people to consider building natural homes and adopting sustainable lifestyles.
This is a inspiring story,I hope more people will follow the example of Jagdish.A eco friendly sustainable alternative is the need of the hour.
Kudos for capturing such beautiful picture of natural home on the farm. The house is awesome. Interested to know how more in detail about the plaster.
Planning to construct in Krishnagiri district (Denkanikota)
Is it possible to visit this house?
I live about 10kms from Erode
Hi can I get the owner details .. bec I’m also constructing a cob House and it’s in foundation stage which would help me a lot
Excellent
Thanks for reaching out to us, Arshad. We appreciate your interest in building an earth-friendly home. We recommend participating in our hands-on workshop or online course to learn more about the natural building process and get equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to construct your home successfully. You can contact us to learn more about our two-day or ten-day workshop. Additionally, you can also check out our recently published online course, available at https://course.thannal.com/.
Thank you, Somashekharji, for your kind words and support! We agree that eco-friendly homes are the need of the hour, and we’re thrilled to see more and more people like Jagadeesh taking steps towards sustainable living. We appreciate your encouragement and will continue to work towards promoting natural building techniques.
We are planning to build home in July 2024. Could you please provide us your contact info and suggestions to build earth friendly home.
Congratulations to the owner of the house for getting constructed an eco-friendly house. Thanks to the entire Thannal team for encouraging such need of the hour constructions. Keep it up 👏👏👏