Nepal Housing Reconstruction Programme called a design competition entry for the "RURAL HOUSING " with the cost effective and which could improve the living of rural people using the vernacular.I would like to share our entry to the competition which became the winner entry.

1. 1
RURAL HOUSING DESIGN COMPETITION
“Build Better Nepal”
Submitted by
Sanjay Neupane
Pratik Lohani
Kathmandu Engineering College, Kalimati, Kathmandu
Nepal housing
Reconstruction Programme

2. RAMMED EARTHED CONSTRUCTION, TWO-STOREY
REC-1.1
2

3. 3
REC-1.1
CONTEXT
The need for housing, especially in the rural areas of Nepal, affected by the earthquake of 2015 is
immense. As a part of the design completion organized by NEA,we decided to select a family from
Nuwakot, one of the most affected districts by the earthquake. The information and details of the
family is listed as below
Owner’s Name: Thakur Nath Adhikari
Address : Majh Gau,Khadga Bhanjyang VDC, Devighat, Nuwakot
Total Family Members:10
Occuption :Farming

4. 4
REC-1.1
The Khadga Bhanjyang VDC was one of the hardly hit areas in the Nuwakot district.The house where
the family resided has been brought to ground and they are currently restricted to a temporary
shelter, primarily, a CGI assembled structure in the vicinity of the ruins of the destruction.
The original house, as described by Mr.Adhikari, was three storied with the ground floor including
kitchen and dining area along with a puja room. The porch or pidi included a “FALAICHA”. The first
floor included bedrooms and a balcony used as bedroom during the summer and also used as a
storage space. The second floor was primarily used for storage of grains, aangan, an open area in
front of the house was used especially during festivities and rituals.
SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS
• Open space- Aangan
• Living room
• Kitchen/Dining
• Puja room
• Common Bedroom
• Bedroom-2
• Storage Space
• Matan
• Shed-Goth

5. 5
REC-1.1
CONCEPT:FUTURE OF THE PAST
The Architectural style of Nepal bears an unique identity. The use of vernacular materials and
technology makes it stand out in the world of architecture, but with the rise in RCC structure in the
rural areas of Nepal, the existence of such building is at a peril.
Future of the past is looking into our proud architectural history and further strengthening its
existence using new and innovative technology to meet the demands of the modern world.

6. 6
RME-1.1
The design is a two- storey building which can accommodate 8-10 people. Planning of the building is
done considering the modern needs without compromising the traditional importance of the spaces.
It consists of living room, kitchen/dining, puja room and pidi at the ground floor. At the second floor
there are two private bedrooms, one common room and a matan space for the storage and drying of
grains. Attic space under the slope roof could be used as storage or other purposes. An open well
staircase is provided directly accessed through the living room. Lack of natural daylight is one of the
major problem in rural building. So, skylight is provided at the roof which diffuses the natural daylight
to the building through the open well staircase.
The design focuses on earthquake resistant construction using locally available construction
materials. Similarly rammed earth has been used for structural type, where clay tiles or CGI sheet is
used for covering the roof along with wooden rafters and purlins. All designs have been based on the
revised National Building Code of Nepal (NBC) in order to ensure that earthquake resistant
construction measures are included. This includes the provision of horizontal bands, vertical
reinforcements, corner reinforcement, and T-junctions to improve diaphragm effectiveness. Some
modern and innovative structural technology is introduced in design for better earthquake design.
Climatic conditions and social and cultural aspects have also been factored into the design of the
house. The design concept and the objective of the design is to contribute towards resilient models
to improve safety in future earthquakes.

7. 7
REC-1.1
RAMMED EARTH TECHNOLOGY
With rammed earth techniques, moist earth is poured into a formwork in layers of to 15cm
thick, and then compacted by ramming .The formwork usually consists of two parallel walls
separated and interconnected by spacers.
In nearly all traditional rammed earth techniques, the formwork is removed and re-erected
horizontally step by step. This means that earth is rammed in layers from 50 to 80 cm high,
forming courses of that height before the formwork is moved. When one course is complete,
the next course that is rammed is moister than the one already in place, which is partially
dried out.
Therefore, there is a higher shrinkage in the upper course than in the lower, leading to
horizontal shrinkage cracks at the joint. This can be dangerous, since capillary water can enter
this joint and remain, causing swelling and disintegration. As can be seen in the same figure,
vertical cracks can also occur in such walls.
With the French pisé technique, this problem can be solved by using a layer of lime mortar
above each course before laying a new one.
A lime mortar cures over several weeks and remains plastic until the loam has stopped
shrinking; sometimes even the side joint between sections of the course is made with mortar
at an incline. Another method to avoiding horizontal shrinkage cracks is to ram in a way that
the wall is produced vertically.

8. DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
8
Model REC-1.1: RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION TWO-STOREY
MODEL REC-1.1
PLAN
TOTAL AREA: 1792sq.ft
None
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
896 SQ.FT
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
896 SQ.FT
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI

9. 9
DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
Model REC 1-1: RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION TWO-STOREY
ELEVATION
None
FRONT ELEVATION SIDE ELEVATION
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI

10. DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
10
TWO-STOREY
SECTION
Model RMC-2.3: RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI

11. RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION(REC)
11
Technical Details

12. DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
12
Model RMC-2.3: RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION
TECHNICAL DETAIL 1 (SEISMIC ELEMENTS)
SKYLIGHT
CLAY TILE ROOFING
LIGHT WEIGHT GABLE
PURLINS (WOODEN)
RAFTERS (WOOD/BAMBOO)
TIE BEAM (RCC)
WOOD FLOORING
BAMBOO BEAMS
RCC VERTICAL REINFORCEMENTS
TIE BEAM RCCRAMMED EARTH WALL
BAMBOO FLOORS AND WOODEN
FLOORING
RCC TIE BEAM AND CYCLOPEAN
FOUNDATION SHALL BE DULY
PROVIDED
RCC VERTICAL REINFORCEMENTS
RAMMED EARTH WALL
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI

13. 13
DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION
TECHNICAL DETAIL 2 (Foundation and wall details)
WALL SECTION AND DPC DETAILFOUNDATION DETAIL
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI

14. DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
14
STONE MASONRY IN CEMENT MORTAR
MODEL SMC
TECHNICAL DETAIL 4 (Foundation)
None
SMC
*Source : NBC202
CORNER STIFFENING DETAIL
JOIST FIXING DETAILCROSS SECTION – RING BEAM
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI

15. DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
15
RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION
MODEL REC
TECHNICAL DETAIL 4 (ROOFING)
None
PLAN
SECTION
FIXING OF RAFTERS TO WALL PLATE
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI

16. DATE:SCALE:TYPE OF HOUSE:
DRAWING TITLE: DESIGNED BY:
Nepal Housing
Reconstruction Programme
16
TWO-STOREY
3D VIEW’S
Model RMC-2.3: RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION
SANJAY NEUPANE
PRATIK LOHANI