As the effects of climate change continue to escalate across the world, new and innovative designs and building practices are essential to help populations adapt to changing weather conditions. These modular bamboo tiny houses have been created by Bengali architect Marina Tabassum to serve as flood-resistant shelters for the vulnerable communities living in the floodplains of Bangladesh.
Developed by Tabassum as a passion project during the 2020 lockdowns, Kudhi Bari was designed to be a functional dwelling for the marginalized population living in the sand beds of the river Meghna. As this area is prone to severe flooding and riverbank erosion, a highly modular style of shelter is necessary to be able to move the house to safer environments in times of crisis. This is achieved through the use of a flat pack system – able to be easily assembled and disassembled as necessary – a design that is inspired by a vernacular style of building that has developed in this area over time. In addition, Kudhi Bari incorporates two levels, with a bamboo ladder leading between them, maximizing the amount of living space available for inhabitants and providing an extra level of refuge during floods and other severe weather events.
The Kudhi Bari, meaning ‘small house’ in Bengali, is a simple structure. It is primarily made from bamboo, which is inexpensive and can be easily sourced in Bangladesh – a factor which was important to Tabassum to ensure that the dwellings will be affordable and practical for use by the vulnerable populations it seeks to serve. Corrugated metal facades and roofs are featured in the design too, materials that are readily available at local marketplaces and can easily be sourced or replaced if necessary. The only part of Khudi Bari not produced locally are the steel joints that hold the structure together. These joints are provided by Tabassum and her team and serve to hold the frame of the house together in the style of a simple spacer frame, allowing Khudi Bari to serve as an easily dismantlable structure and a mobile and modular dwelling.
The implementation of the Khudi Bari into the building practices of vulnerable Bangladeshi communities was a priority for Tabassum. A number of building workshops, meetings and community engagement activities were undertaken with the Bangladeshi communities themselves, thus involving the community directly with the construction process. The Khudi Bari is a brand-new design, but once completed it looks like any other house in the Bengali landscape. This was important to ensure the acceptance of this new type of dwelling in the community.
Tabassum says: “It was a priority for us to make a form that people can relate to. It’s important to engage in direct dialogue with the communities to understand their needs and aspirations. In order to do that, it’s essential to listen and not impose – to build up a relationship with the community based on trust and mutual respect.”
The Khudi Bari project is ongoing since 2020 and Tabassum continues to work with communities to implement this modular, flood-resistant building design among vulnerable populations. Khudi Bari is now being implemented in climatically challenging locations across Bangladesh and has also been scaled up to create larger structures the Rohingya refugee camps.
