THE LOW COST

CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUES FUELING
ASIAS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BOOM

Rapid population growth and urbanisation has precipitated

a boom in affordable housing projects across Asia. Whilst
this is proving a huge stimulus for developers, the projects
are faced by one critical challenge: profitability.
Due to the intrinsically low value of affordable housing
projects, profit margins are often so narrow that any
overrun in project duration or cost will send a developers
bottom-line into the red. Consequently, developers are
on the lookout for any new construction techniques or
materials that can reduce costs, whilst retaining the required
levels of construction strength, durability and sustainability.
In this article we take a look at several cost-saving
construction techniques already fueling Asias affordable
housing boom, as well as one with the potential to
revolutionise the entire industry.

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PREFABRICATION AND BUILDING

INFORMATION MODELING
Prefabrication and modular construction is already one of the most common constructions
methods for affordable housing projects around the world. However due to its extensive
demand on pre-project planning and coordination between cross-interdisciplinary professionals,
unexpected issues can arise during construction, subsequently impacting project timelines.
Furthermore, a stigma of low quality has grown around this construction method, causing
some developers to look for alternative options.
To address this issue, new technologies and processes such as Building Information Modeling
(BIM) seek to streamline the coordination between project stakeholders. This software platform
not only displays the project design, like with CAD, but also acts as a shared knowledge resource
for all information about a structure, forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle. For
example, BIM can also provide information such as spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic
information and the properties of building components such as the manufacturers' details.
Benefits of Building Information Modeling
1. Improved project visualisation amongst stakeholders
2. Improved productivity due to easy retrieval of information
3. Increased coordination of construction documents
4. Embedding and linking of vital information such as vendors for specific materials,
location of details and quantities required for estimation and tendering
5. Increased speed of delivery and reduced costs

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PREFABRICATION AND BUILDING

INFORMATION MODELING
Whilst using the software platform requires training and change management to integrate it
into company processes, it not only benefits the design and construction process itself, but
also streamlines the submission of plans to national construction authorities. Consequently,
this method is steadily being introduced across Asia and could represent the future of all
construction projects.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority has set a target of full BIM implementation for
construction projects by 2015.
Singapores Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has recognised BIM as a key
towards improve productivity and is providing funding to assist companies to adopt
the technology. The BCA has already mandated that all projects with gross floor area
of more than 5,000 square metres will be required to use BIM by 2015 indicating that
this could be expanded to cover housing projects in the near future.
In Malaysia, whilst more than 80% of architecture firms are aware of BIM and its benefits,
but only 20% are currently using it. The adoption of BIM is mostly being driven by the
demands of clients, more than Government incentives, since there is at present no
national BIM standard and guideline for them to follow. Despite this, proliferation of the
technology is expected as Malaysias construction industry strives to remain competitive.

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THE SPEEDWALL BUILDING SYSTEM

The benefits of pre-fabrication are well known, but there is still the issue of transporting the
completed materials to the building site and the lead time needed to order the panels. The
Speedwall Building System is a patented construction technique that seeks to overcome these
issues, by manufacturing panels onsite using a mobile panel manufacturing machine. The machine
itself is housed in two standard 40ft containers and once onsite, it can start producing panels to
the desired specification as required.
The panels themselves consist of ladder trusses that are formed using zinc electroplated
galvanized wire, which when spot welded together, create the structural framework of the panels.
Inside each panel is a lightweight insulating core, which can then be covered with cement render
for the construction of walls, floors and ceilings. Once installed the panels are suitable for internal
and external use walls, floors and roofs of buildings up to three storeys.
As the name implies, assembly is up to 12 times quicker than conventional construction
techniques and due to reduced project timelines, project costs of overall decreased. Due to
the adaptability of this construction method, the technology is already in use across Thailand,
Pakistan and Malaysia for a variety of projects including affordable housing.

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THE MOLADI CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Many areas in Southeast Asia are poverty stricken and where the term affordable housing
means something drastically different to those in urbanised areas. One technique that aims to
address this issue is the Moladi Construction System, which has been developed in South Africa.
The system involves the use of a removable, reusable and lightweight plastic formwork mould,
which can be filled with aerated mortar to form the walls of a house in a single day. What makes
the system unique is that it allows the formation of all the walls of a structure simultaneously,
which has significant effects on the speed of construction onsite. The moulds can then be reused 50 times thereby further reducing construction costs and transportation compared to
conventional methods.
The construction method is steadily increasing in popularity with countries including India, South
Africa, Panama and the patented moulds are available for export to developers across Asia.

The Moladi re-usable plastic formwork

House finished using the Moladi Construction System

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WORLDHAUS RAPID PANELS

AND SMART BLOCKS
When looking for case studies on affordable housing projects, India is a prime location due to its
extremes in population size and comparative income levels. As of 2013, Indias housing shortage
was estimated at approximately 30 million homes, with 99% of the shortfall coming from families
earning less than USD 3500 per year.
One company working to bridge this gap is India based company WorldHaus, which provides two
patented technologies calls Rapid Panels and Smart Blocks. The Rapid Panels are similar to the
Molandi system, but go one step further in that rather than just allowing for walls to be cast in-situ,
Rapid Panels also allow for the roof slabs and even the staircase to be created too. This allows for
the construction of mass housing as well as multi-story buildings, at speed, whilst also keeping cost
and waste lower than conventional methods.
The company claims that this method can provide developers with up to

30%

reductions in
labour costs

&

35%

savings in
concrete and steel

making RapidPanels up to 20% to 30% cheaper than traditional construction.

WorldHaus has also created Smart Blocks, a specially designed

block system that can be dry stacked and automatically mortared
through a network of channels through the wall structure. What
this means is that thanks to the alignment of holes through the
blocks, mortar can be poured in, which will then run through
the channels and set, fixing the blocks in place. These holes and
channels can also be used to add plumbing, electrical pipes or
steel reinforcement where necessary, which can then be concealed
within the wall structure. Using Smart Blocks is estimated to reduce
wall construction time by up to 50% and are already being used in
affordable housing projects across India.

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CONCRETE JACKETED RAMMED

EARTH WALL CONSTRUCTION
This old building method has increased in popularity recently as developers look for more costeffective and sustainable building materials. Rammed earth walls are constructed by ramming a
mixture of selected aggregates, including gravel, sand, silt and a small amount of clay, into place
between formwork. Traditionally this was done by repeatedly rammed the end of a wooden pole
into the earth mixture to compress it, but today this is done using a mechanical ram.
Rammed-earth walls are simple to construct, non- combustible, strong, durable and most
importantly, low cost. Furthermore, because they are built mostly using local materials they
generate less waste and are suitable for use in remote areas. For these reasons, the technique
is already very popular in Australia, particularly Western Australia, where the remoteness of
construction locations can be a serious challenge.
The big variable with this construction method is the type of earth used, which is dependant
on the project location. Proprietary approaches are available to help guarantee consistency and
predictable performance but come with a cost. Consequently, the testing of local aggregates and
potential mixes is essential if not using a proprietary system.

Typical cross-section

Concrete jacketed rammed earth building under sonstruction

Completed concrete jacketed rammed earth building

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ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING / 3D PRINTING

Although only at the prototype stage, this new building technique could represent the future of
affordable housing. In April 2014, Winsun New Materials, a Chinese company based in Suzhou,
successfully printed 10 full-sized eco-friendly houses in just one day. Even more impressive is that
the structure of each house cost USD 4800 to print.
At present, the most common applications of 3D printing include novel plastic models or small
prototypes, however this is 3D printing on a far grander scale. Instead of coloured plastic, this
technique lays down a mixture of construction and industrial waste, in thick blobs like tooth paste,
only much larger. Once printed, the structural elements can be raised into place by crane and set
together using concrete.
The printer itself is 105 feet long, 33 feet wide, 21 feet tall and in order to support the growth of
this construction method, the company hopes to build 100 recycling factories across China, to
transform waste materials into ink for the printer.
Speaking to the International Business Times, CEO of WinSun Ma Yihe said:

Industrial waste from demolished buildings is damaging our

environment, but with 3D printing, we are able to recycle construction
waste and turn it into new building materials. This would create a
much safer environment for construction workers and greatly reduce
construction costs.

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THE FUTURE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS HERE

The issue stopping developers simply adopting these new techniques is the fear of changing from
the tried and tested methods. Whilst each of these methods emphasise their cost and time-saving
aspects, the risk of changing to a new construction technique could cause unexpected problems
for a project.
If Asias developers truly are eager to implement the latest cost saving construction techniques,
attention must be given to the developers who have already implemented these techniques and
others like them. But this is not something that can be left to wait, as competitors hurriedly seek
to leverage the latest techniques themselves to enhance their own profitability, under-cut the
competition and snatch valuable contracts for themselves.
Asias affordable housing developers must use this as a wake-up call to seriously consider these
new construction techniques so to not only fuel Asias construction boom, but to ensure their
companys success and sustainability.

LEVERAGE THE LATEST CONSTRUCTION

TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE THE COMMERCIAL
SUCCESS OF ASIAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS
Attend Affordable Housing Asia 2014, 3 - 5 December 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A unique event that addresses your business critical challenges surrounding affordable
housing in Malaysia and South East Asia.

LEARN FROM INTERNATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING

EXPERTS, INCLUDING:
YU Shi-Ming
Associate Professor,
Department
of Real Estate,
School of Design
and Environment,
National University
of Singapore and
Board Member,
HDB Singapore

Rusmin Lawin
Deputy
Secretary
General,
Real Estate
Indonesia

Prof Dr Sudharshan
Raman
Senior Lecturer,
Department of
Architecture, Faculty
of Engineering and
Built Environment,
Universiti
Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM)

CLICK HERE

to download the agenda

Sources:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysia-s-2015-budget/1308860.html
http://www.nst.com.my/node/33219
http://www.worldhaus.com/index.php/products/rapidpanels
http://www.worldhaus.com/index.php/products/smartblocks
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/materials/rammed-earth
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/china-recycled-concrete-houses-3d-printed-24-hours-1445981
Presentation: Sustainable Low Cost Housing Construction method by Dr. I. Patnaikuni, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

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