Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, in association with Building Trust International, and Atelier COLE have been working together on a project of building affordable housing for low-income Cambodian families. Framework House is the result of this effort and it is a sustainable home, which costs only $2500 to build and is made mainly from renewable and recycled materials.
Framework House was built from wood and bamboo and can be put together in several different ways. In other words, the inhabitants get to choose the layout they need, given their family size, and according to whether they plan on keeping livestock or if their homes will serve as small storage areas.
Speaking in general, the Framework house is a two-story home, which measures 861 square feet (80 sq m). It is insulated using recycled materials. The ground floor is insulated with plastic bottles, earth bags, and clay bricks while the first floor insulation consists of fir wattle and daub, as well as split and woven bamboo. The house is raised off the ground on stilts, with the main living and sleeping area on the first floor so as to protect the inhabitants in the case of flash-floods.
Despite being very basic, Framework House is also quite innovative and modern. It features fully operable shutters, which aid passive ventilation. The home also features a large overhanging roof, which aids rainwater collection. This rainwater is directed into a gutter and then collected in a 264 gallon tank (1000 l) and purified for drinking. The rainwater also flows into another, 528 gallon (2000 l) tank and is used for washing and cooking. The home is also fitted with a single solar panel, which provides enough power for charging a mobile phone, and using a water pump, while there is also a solar powered light used to illuminate the interior. The 9 existing Framework houses were built by local builders using locally sourced materials.
The Framework House project was undertaken primarily to provide housing for Cambodian families affected by HIV/AIDS or another debilitating disease. Nine of these houses were built, while the creators of the project are currently in the process of developing another house, which will be suitable for higher-density urban areas.
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