Now, prefabricated wood houses in India

New Delhi: Lockwood International, a leading New Zealand-based wood construction company, has launched its first prefabricated wood houses in India aimed at the luxury realty segment in the country.

The company showcased its first model house at the Classic Golf Resort in Gurgaon, on the outskirts of the national capital, on Tuesday. MacDonald Sarin, a realty asset management company in Gurgaon, will market the houses in India.

"Just like modular kitchens and bathrooms, prefabricated wood houses are made by fixing pre-designed wooden building blocks," said Ajit Sarin, the proprietor of MacDonald Sarin.

The houses cost between Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,000 per sq ft.

"The wooden building blocks are fixed by a special lock-wood technology without use of nails or cement or steel in just two months. So people do not have to wait for a year or two to enjoy their dream house," Sarin added.

"These houses are very popular in European countries.

"Initially we will cater to the high end segment, designing it specifically for farm houses and second homes. But in future we will expand this concept to the middle housing segment."

The Indian Forest Research Institute has tested pinewood for its suitability in Indian conditions, Sarin said, adding these structures are also resistant to earthquakes and termite attacks.

New Zealand's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton launched a prototype of the house. He is in India to offer sustainable timber resources to the booming Indian housing and construction industry.

"As India is now protecting its native forest and needs to import the timber to meet growing demand for construction and other industry, New Zealand can provide the timber for its huge construction Industry," he said.

"The New Zealand wood industry currently generates $3.1 billion in exports to India. We are the fifth largest export market for wood products."

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