Farm owner’s organic igloo draws attention
By IVAN LOH
ivanloh@thestar.com.my
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: A mud hut, dubbed an earthen igloo by the locals, is drawing attention to an organic farm.
Besides mud, a mixture of bamboo, branches and even cow dung holds together the structure that was built by farm owner Ng Tien Khuan, 40, in Lojing Highlands.
“The walls are made from a mixture of red mud, cow dung and some cement to make it more stable,” he said.
“The roof is made from bamboo and thatch, held together by ropes and nails with a mixture of soil and cow dung.”
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| Mud shelter: Ng carrying his one-year-old son outside his mud hut in Lojing Highlands. |
The father of four said the idea came about after some visitors suggested that he build a shelter there.
“As most of my days are spent here, I took up their idea and began researching for unique-looking structures that were environmentally-friendly,” he said.
Ng decided against a hut made of wood as it was “boring”.
“I managed to find designs of buildings made of soil on the Internet,” he said, adding that he installed glass above the roof so that daylight could penetrate through it.
“The temperature is an average 21C. The wall is about 50cm thick and has tiny gaps to stabilise the temperature day and night.
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| Family time: Ng having tea with his family inside his quaint but comfortable mud hut. |
“It is very comfortable, even without a fan or air-conditioner,” said Ng, who is from Parit Buntar.
Taking 15 months to construct, Ng said the hut comprised a cellar, bedroom, living room, bathroom and an outdoor kitchen.
Ng, who had initially doubted the viability of the hut due to the humid and wet weather in Malaysia, said it had already garnered much attention from visitors.
“I plan to build two more to accommodate more families taking trips here,” he said.
