Mixed blessings: How the mud cottage was built

Land was bought in 2018 December. It was a 40 perch, West facing ,sloped land in Warriyagala, Nillambe .About 14km from the Galaha Junction. There are 2 natural streams on its border.

A view across from West to East

A view across from South to North

One stream at extreme Right. My sister and I exploring the land, like mountaineers

Sitting on a huge rock in the stream

Newly cut roadway to land

Ready to start building a small hut

Baasunnahe (Head workman) observing religious rituals prior to commencement

A journey of a thousand miles has just started...A big responsibility. A huge challenge for a single mom with no building experience whatsoever. Add to that a limited savings.,, However, I am determined to start. I believe things will fall into place if I only make the first move.

First drafts of plans. I did them from scratch, inspired from other mud houses, vernacular architecture etc

I was meticulous about dimensions. Since I wanted a small house with built in furniture. I wanted to see if it was tiny enough but with adequate space to move around without bumping on people.

Testing quality of the earth in the land by making test bricks, Son helping out!

Planning where to site the house

Inspired by ancient buildings in Kandy, Kandy Vishnu Devalaya

More planning

Still planning

Land is cleared

Makeshift hut built in North-East corner of the land

Plans being edited

Tested soil to see if clay percent is between 3 to 20 percent. It was quite high and deemed suitable for building. Mixing the soil to make adobe bricks/sun dried bricks

Making adobe bricks

My friend Susanthi, helping to dry the bricks

The natural water hole at the bottom of my land

Plans becoming colourful

Mapping the house on the land with stakes

All staked out

We build up the water hole

Rock foundation

Having breakfast on the go

Tea, anyone?

Cashew plum from the garden tree

Kids visit

What ultimate fun is this!

Some progress

I get a free load of used clay roof tiles from a friend

Son helping to paint them

Son helping to build a mud wall!

One mud wall done. The brick wall on the left is the toilet.

Its June 2019. At this point, I run out of money and I stop work. One of my trusted friends advices me to seek the opinion of a structural engineer before I proceed. When I do so, they tell me that the strength of the foundation is insufficient, compared to the slope of the land. I need to reinforce with tie beams. Also, since he is not experienced with mud houses, he recommends I put in concrete columns to bear the load of the roof.

On his instructions, the half built walls were demolished...It was a very sad site for me...

I change the plans a little

One of my very close friends gives me a gift of Rs.500,000.00...I cant believe it...She says she doesnt want my dream to whither away and die. I start the tie beams

Columns are up

Planning stage of the roof. To keep costs minimum, I go for a simple roof

My very good friend, Mr. Sunil, who has supported me throughout my journey of building with mud, asks me to come to his town, Pasyala. He takes me to a village where they sell used old doors and windows. They are relatively cheap. Made of superb jak wood. And beautiful!

I buy all that I think I need and store in my parents house.

I apply for a personal loan, find a new Head workman who has built a mud house in Muruthalawa 20 years ago. I start on the roof.

Roof is almost done. Its November 2019

Basunnahe advices me to utilise the space underneath the tall roof as a loft. Its an unforseen expense. I need timber steps and more timber for the loft floor. But I take his advice.

We have a small celebration to place the doors and windows. Its done at an auspicious time by Basunnahe

A happy moment...

The walls are being built up. These are similar to rammed earth. Two boards are kept to the width of the walls and the space between filled with th mud mix and rammed in. Its slow process. One layer has to dry. For layers to connect with eachother with a good interlacement, rocks and metal rods are driven into bottom layer. Similar to lego pieces.