Project data

Start of construction: December 2008

End of construction: March 2011

Construction costs of building: 38.500 euro

Costs of interior: 22.500 euro

Contribution SSF:

In the summer of 2008 we have started with the design for the hostel, in cooperation with the people concerned. The building costs 38.500 euro, of which the people of Bhandardhik have contributed 20%. The finishing including the complete interior cost 22.500 euro, and will be funded by SSF and Impulsis. The amounts are approximate, due to the ever changing exchange rates.

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The project

The large school community in Bhandar Dhik has 900 students, from class 0 to class 12. The location is situated in the plain area, close to the sity of Pokhara. Because it is centrally located, the government appointed this school to educate a selection of blind and visually impaired children, whom are living in the remote mountain areas.

To make the hostel for 20 blind students earthquake resistant, we use so-called confined masonry. That means that the walls are load bearing and that the columns and beams are working togehther with the walls, by tying them to the foundation. This way of construction is stronger and cheaper than the usual practice with a load bearing rcc frame!

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In a classroom, which was specially built for them, 10 students now learn to read and write in Braille. The lessons are taught by two teachers, who are also blind.

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In a specially adjusted environment the children can follow class one, and after that they will follow class 2 upto 5 in the 'normal' school facilities.

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The children learn how to make notes with the help of a special board. after school the children walk back to their temporary hostel, which is a few rooms at the house of the headmaster.

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The rooms are too small and narrow and they lack all faciliteis, that are needed for this specific target group. For them we will make a specially adjusted design of a high-quality hostel.

Plan of the Ground Floor.

Elevations of the building.

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Just before the end of 2008 we have started with the marking of the foundation.

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The steel bars for the reinforcement in the columns is cut to length.

 

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With a measuring box we mix the correct ratio for the concrete. The steel for the columns is placed on small platforms in the bottom of the foundation.

 

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Half of t he foundation beam consists of a concrete mixture, the other half are large boulders. This is called 'plum concrete'.

 

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On the foundation beam we have cast a ring beam, which improves the stability of the complete foundation.

 

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Then the masonry of the walls starts. The bricks are wetted sufficiently before we use them in the masonry.

 

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Around the columns the masonry ends in a so-called 'tooth'. This enables the concrete to have a firm grip with the walls.

 

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May 2009. Slowly the building grows.

 

 

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June 2009. On the steel reinforcement we tie spacers and then the columns are can be cast in between the walls.

 

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June 2009. After that the roof has been cast.

 

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June 2009. The first floor was just finished before the start of the monsoon.

 

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October 2009. After a long delay, caused by the rain and by the lackof good quality bricks, the masons have continued with the walls of the first floor.

 

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March 2010. The roof on the second storey is being cast and at the ground floor the finishing of walls and floors has started.

 

 

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Oktober 2010. The finishing has started. We wanted special plaster work on the outside, to show to the people that this building is different.

 

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Januari 2011. The building is finished, finally!

 

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1 maart 2011. Official opening of the hostel. The new occupants are ready to go in!

 

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Impressions of the interior. Well... some cleaning is needed first...

 

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Impressions of the childrens bedrooms.