NBO Type Designs

National Buildings Organisation (NBO) was set up by the Government of India under the Ministry of Works and Housing in 1954 as an advisory and coordinating body for all technical matters concerning building and housing. 

The NBO provides technical guidance in planning and designing of houses, economical use of materials and appropriate construction techniques and sends printed materials on request. 

Of particular interest to us is the typical design of a house for the poor, which is based on the minimum-needs concept for a plot area of 85 sq m, which is being allotted by the Government to the landless rural families. The house has a plinth area of 20 sq m housing one room with a covered cooking place and an open platform. A sanitary latrine and a washing platform are also provided. The house design allows for construction of another room at a later stage. 

Based on this typical design, clusters of demonstration houses have been built in several regions of the country. Typical details of two such clusters are furnished in Tables. These clusters are really based on the concept of aided self-help and are characterised by innovations in walling, roofing and flooring, even though locally available materials were utilised. An important environmental improvement is the provision of a sanitary latrine for each house, wherever feasible. 

As a civil engineer, if your know-how can be made available with a view to plan, design and build a cluster of 15 to 20 houses in a village, you will be instrumental in changing the life style of that village. 

 Demonstration House in Karnataka 

Demonstration House in Rajasthan