THIRUANANTHAPURAM:
Habitat Technology Group, which has the credit of building and realizing housing dreams of thousands of families, will celebrate 30 years in housing sector by holding a series of programmes besides construction plans and initiating a unique Bamboo Design School.
The programmes to be held as part of Habitat’s thirty-year anniversary were detailed by Habitat Techn
ology Group founder Padmashree G.Shankar in a press conference held on Tuesday at Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the 30th anniversary celebrations (HabFest) at Poojappura Ground on May 14. Shasi Tharoor, MP; O Rajagopal, MLA: B Sugathakumari and Manju Warrier will participate. A four-day exhibition on affordable housing, national seminars and workshops will conclude on this day.
Habitat Group will present National awards for individuals and institutions who have contributed to low-cost architecture. An expert panel will select six winners who will be presented with memento, felicitation note and a cash award of Rs 33,333 at the concluding ceremony of HabFest.
Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac will inaugurate ‘Design and Build Bamboo School’ and the Local Administration Minister K T J
aleel will unveil two prototypes of affordable houses near Parambil temple Mudavanmugal, Poojappura, on May 3 (Wednesday) at 5.30 pm. The logo release of Habfest@30, will also be done at the function.
Habitat Technology Group Chairman, G Shankar said the organisation has preserved the core values in housing during the past 30 years. “This has helped the Group to grow steadily and become one of the best in the housing sector,” he added.
The Bamboo School, designed and constructed by Habitat in a lush green campus at 
Mudavanmugal,has a wide variety of bamboo species. The technology for construction using bamboo will be developed here. Workshop facility for construction using bamboo and a bamboo treatment plant are also part of the campus.
The school aims at sustainable development and utilization of bamboo resources in Kerala through scientific management and stakeholders’ participation; promotion of bamboo-based building technologies; and development of a workforce of architects, engineers, artisans, and masons for such technologies.
The other objectives of the school are, to develop a database on structural properties of bamboo-based buildings, cater as a resource center for technologies related to bamboo, enhance employment opportunity and livelihood security of those dependent on bamboos through assured supply of raw materials, and gather information through literature on bamboo in general and its use in construction and treatment process.
In addition, the school will undertake research and development ,which aims at bringing out va
lue added bamboo products; create awareness and enhance the capacity of stakeholders of bamboo resources such as artisans, masons, engineers, planners and policy makers; use bamboo for environmental protection and greening up of degraded lands and other diversified activities such as watershed protection and river banks and as geotex in construction of roads and bridges.
Shankar said Habitat plans to achieve these objectives thro
ugh organised training programmes, workshops and seminars. Training will be provided to selected artisans, masons, engineers and other construction labourers for three months. They will be provided with necessary training materials (books, booklets and handbooks in local language), tools and workspace to ensure both theoretical knowledge and hands-on-training. Apart from courses on bamboo construction, there will be short-term courses on bamboo handicrafts and furniture.
The two prototypes of affordable houses at Mudavanmugal seek to optimize the space requirements and incorporate cost-effective and environment-friendly materials and technologies. One house has two bedrooms, a multipurpose hall, kitchenette and a toilet while the other type has only one bedroom but a more spacious living/dining area with a verandah.
