Houses
Most houses in Pabal are built using reinforced concrete. Many of the materials are purchased locally. External wiring is used because it is less expensive. Houses can be built in approximately four months if all materials and funds are present. Many houses have a plank at the base of the entrance door to keep water from entering the house. Heavy rain causes problems for surface concrete.
Some prefer to build houses with dung floors over terra cotta floors. These are more traditional, and tend to stay warmer when its cool out compared to concrete floors.
Cost
Houses usually cost about 2-3 lakh to build. The cost is approximately 100 Rupees per square foot.
Pabal Domes
Vigyan Ashram developed the Pabal Dome. It is a geodesic dome that can be shipped in small pieces and constructed in another location. They are easy to build quickly, but are long lasting, which makes them useful for shelter replacement after disasters. They have been installed on the east coast of India, and are thought to be resistant to strong winds and earthquakes.
