Construction and architecture are among the most exciting sectors for coir to explore, offering tremendous opportunities for product diversification, according to architectural experts.

Speaking at an international seminar organised as part of Coir Kerala expo at Alappuzha, they noted the potential application of coir in every aspect of construction – from building roofs to walls to flooring and interior and outdoor decoration.

The Minister for Revenue and Coir, Adoor Prakash pointed out that eco-friendly coir composites can be excellent alternatives to concrete and other non-sustainable building materials.

“Architects must take the lead in devising new uses of coir in construction. New developments in this area are taking place in individual capacity, but we can greatly speed up this process if we put in collective effort,” he said.

P.C. George, MLA and Government Chief Whip, called for finding ways to ensure collection of enough raw material within the State to meet the growing demands of the industry.

This is for the second year in a row that Coir Kerala has held a session on ‘Archi-coir’.

V.P. Joy, Principal Secretary (Finance), noted that with wider applications, coir can potentially be a flourishing industry in the micro and small entrepreneurial sector, creating jobs for unemployed youth.

Sajan Pulimoodu, chairman of the Kerala Chapter of the Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID), said coir may be unpretentious and modest and long thought of only as a floor mat, but its possibilities are enormous.

Jabeen Zacharias, a leading architect, made a presentation on some of the ways in which coir could be used in building industry – for roofing where it would use less cement and be nearly 50 per cent cheaper than other options such as asbestos; for walls and partitions, for flooring, as beautiful murals and wall mosaics, as furnishings and furniture, as accessories, in gardens as well as in the construction of roads and bridges.

The speakers also urged the government to support more research into coir composites for construction and suggested a nationwide competition to encourage innovation and development of new coir products.

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