Myanmar bamboo house builder wins Nikkei Asia Award

Housing Now offers low-cost homes, hiring refugees and helping local villages

20241218 Housing Now founders

Howsing Now co-founders Raphael Ascoli, right, and Kyaw Zin Latt met in the chaotic aftermath of Myanmar's takeover by the military in 2021. (Photo by Sadachika Watanabe) 

SADACHIKA WATANABE, Nikkei staff writer

YANGON -- Housing Now, a builder of prefabricated, affordable bamboo houses in Myanmar, has been named winner of the fourth Nikkei Asia Award for its social and economic contributions to the Southeast Asian country.

The startup builds houses, health clinics and other facilities for refugees using environmentally friendly and inexpensive bamboo. Prices start at $1,000 per home, about the same price as a smartphone. Housing Now hires low-income people to process the bamboo and build houses, contributing to the local community.

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