Bungalows are beautiful and charming homes that perhaps only a select few can proudly own, especially so here in Singapore. The roots of such architecture traces back to Bengal, India in the 19th century, where British officers and administrators constructed these houses based on the native architectural design while incorporating British elegance and style.

Today’s bungalows are often accompanied with large verandas spanning the home’s exterior. The porch area offers visitors a welcome escape from the hot, humid climate. The porch could be extravagantly decorated with features such as sofas, loveseats, and rocking chairs, while massive columns adds to the veranda’s hybrid style.

While such architecture is pleasing to the eyes, it shouldn’t come at the expense of the environment. Increasingly, architects are exploring more sustainable and efficient ways of constructing homes. A variety of factors need to be considered to ensure you have a sustainable house – from materials, durability, smart design, energy efficiency to harnessing renewable energy. Let’s look into one of the most important factor for building a sustainable home – materials.

Carefully selecting building materials can ensure that your bungalow dwelling is ecologically friendly, sustainable and customized to fit your requirements. For a house to be truly eco-friendly, sustainable materials that are plentiful, easily replenished and recyclable should be used during construction.

Rock or Stone 

Rock and stone materials are some of the longest lasting building materials available. Natural stone is incredibly strong and practically unmatched in its durability. The density of rock and stone makes it incredibly protective. It is fire, water and pest resistant while being extremely low-maintenance. Homes constructed from stone materials are impressive and has a timeless style.

Wood 

Wood is the most widely used building material. When sourced from sustainably managed forests and responsibly harvested, it is an excellent sustainable building material option. Wood has a warm and welcoming appearance, with different types of wood possessing different qualities. Wood can be used to construct almost any type of structure. It’s versatility, strength and flexibility are qualities that make wood an excellent choice of material for your home.

Bamboo 

Bamboo and reclaimed lumber are incomparable types of sustainable wood materials. Bamboo’s light weight and impressive tensile strength make it ideal for modern homes. Bamboo is makes an exceptional style choice for a bungalow home.

Adobe Bricks 

Adobe bricks are essentially made from dirt with just enough water to moisten it. Adobe is one of the oldest materials used to construct residential dwellings. Adobe is usually shaped into blocks to be stacked to form walls, similar to bricks. Adding straw and other fibrous materials improves the strength and durability of adobe.

Manufacturers are constantly changing production techniques and searching for new ways to make their building materials more environmentally sustainable. With a bit of research and proper planning, you will be well on your way to building yourself the perfect eco-friendly bungalow home!