Imagine a home that can be packed and moved anywhere you want. Sounds like a grown-up version of Lego, right?
Well, a house in Kerala’s Kozhikode is exactly that. It is made using a special technique by Kerala-based engineer Majid T K.
“The technology, although unfamiliar to many, is not entirely new. It is already in use in many countries, including India,” says Majid.
Called Light Gauge Steel Frame (LGSF) technology, the technique uses cold-formed steel as the primary construction material.
This frame can be used for the walls, roofs, decks, or even for the entire house.“The first step to building an LGSF home is to meet the requirements of the customer in terms of the structure. The architect then presents the preliminary sketching and designing,” he explains.
The design plays a major role in determining the cost of the house. Once the design is done, it is moved to the structure team.
First, they create the design and structure. Then, they use advanced machinery in the factory to fabricate the steel frames. Finally, they bring the sections to the site and assemble them.
“If you look from the outside, it would resemble a steel structure,” he says adding that the structures are very lightweight so no machines are needed to do the fittings.
They can be done easily on any terrain or topography with very minimal cost of mobilisation, he adds.
After the steel structure is done, they add cladding to the frame using materials like fibre cement, calcium silicate boards, and Ferro cement on both sides.
The homes are sustainable in nature as they are based on zero-waste principles. And the walls of the house are insulated keeping the house cool during summers.
“So, in short, the homes are fire and disaster-resistant, sturdy, use less labour, take less time to construct, are eco-friendly and sustainable, what else do you need?” he remarks.