The paper presents work on low-cost and sustainable alternative building materials having advantages on areas such as India where concrete or steel housing is expensive. The project addresses the challenges and stereotypes of using these materials as a structural component for low-cost housing and their same capacity for adaptation to the broad spectrum of factors—physical, ecological, social, economic and technical—through different products developed which can dictate the production of the construction environment. Managing the response to the ever increasing housing needs of Indian population expanding by 1.3% every year, has long been a problem for its government. Providing affordable housing remains a major concern of the government as 37% of its population remains below the International poverty line (US $1.5 a day).

In India, the maximum affordability of household was defined to be 5.1 times the household’s total gross income as compared to the developed countries (In US it is 0.3 times or less of a household’s gross annual income). Based on the development index of a location the average cost per square meter is about $130 in semi urban areas, $130 – $173 in B class cities whereas in metro cities it increases to $173 – $258. So, majority of Indians have per capita space equivalent to or less than a 3 meter × 3 meter room for their housing needs like living, sleeping, cooking, washing etc. Whereas according to conventional norms, the average is 10 square meters per person in rural areas and 11 square meters per person in urban areas. The use of natural materials like straw, bamboo, fibers (jute, coir), earth etc. is a centuries’ old practice in India. These materials apart from being locally available have easy workability and speedy construction hence reducing costs. Also industrial wastes like fly ash and rice husk possess pozzoloanic properties which can act as excellent substitute material. This paper aims to bring together the studies of these materials keeping in mind their affordability.