IFAKARA HOUSE TWO

House 2 - COB MUD WALLS WITH THATCH ROOF

The second house of the Ifakara housing survey comprised of cob-constructed walls with a thatch roof. This house is part of a larger complex which houses many animals. All of these animals had spaces of their own. There was a large water hole near the house that the animals used for drinking, this, however, is a potential mosquito breeding hotspot.

Individual Blocks

The cob construction walls were made from the local earth material into a mud that was poured into a mold which was then left to dry for three days before the next was poured on top.

Openings

The bedrooms contain large windows that are screened and covered with cloth to create a dark and stuffy environment.

Interior Spaces

House 7 is comprised of 3 rooms with mud walls and a floor of dusty, slightly uneven cement or fired bricks. The interior doorways include wood lintels but no doors, just cloth sheets. Room 1 is similar to a hallway or foyer, and the thatch roof includes a plastic sheet between the thatch and the stick frame to keep out moisture. However, the 2 bedrooms do not have this plastic covering, and there are numerous holes in the thatch in addition to the open eaves.

Environmental Data

To better understand the possibility of mosquito bite rates and thermal comfort of the occupants, carbon dioxide, light intensity, and temperature were measured in the house.