Straw Bale Construction Manual

Professor em. Dr. Gernot Minke, Kassel University

• I The technology of straw bale building 1 Introduction Purpose and objectives of this bookAbout the contentsBuilding with straw – a contribution to sustainability in constructionFurther advantages of straw bale buildingObjections and anxieties 2 History and profileration of straw bale building Early buildings (1880-1970)The development after 1980 3 Straw as building material General factsStraw balesStraw panels 4 Wall construction systems using straw bales Introduction to the construction systemsLoad-bearing straw bale wallsNon-loadbearing straw bale wallsFacing straw bale layer as thermal insulationStructural and dynamic aspectsSummary and comparison of the individual systems 5 Roof and floor construction with straw bales Roof insulationFloor constructionsSupplementary thermal insulation of existing structures 6 Physical aspects of straw bale building Heat storage and heat conductivityThermal bridgesThermal insulationMoisture protectionMoisture balanceWind and air tightnessFire protectionSound insulation 7 Designing a straw bale building Special aspects of load-bearing straw bale wallsSpecial aspects of non-loadbearing straw bale wallsDetailing of foundationsBase detailsWall build-upWall junctions with foundation, base and floorRing beamsWindows and doorsWall cornersWall/roof junctionsInterior wallsIntermediate ceilingsService ductsHeavy-duty fixings in straw bale wallsWall recesses 8 Surface protection and finishing works Interior renderExterior renderPaint coatsWater-repellent treatmentWeather boarding, facing and ventilated cladding 9 The building process Supervision and co-ordination on siteHealth and safety measuresAssessment of the quality of the balesSupplementary compaction of the balesTransport and storageSeparating of balesReshaping of balesBale installationWall reinforcementWall prestressingRemoval of deformationsBackfilling of joints and gapsCropping of bale surfacesRendering of the walls 10 Trial and error – an example Preliminary noteScheme designConstruction – the first attemptSolving the problems – the second attempt 11 Building cost, insurance, planning permission Building cost, expenditure of time and personal contributionInsurance of buildingPlanning permission II Built examples in detail 1 Residences Residential building in Ouwerkerk, Zeeland, Netherlands Residential building in Balneario Punta Ballena, Uruguay Residential building in central Montreal, Canada Prefabricated single-family home in Hitzendorf, near Graz, Styria, Austria Single-family home in Dobersdorf, Burgenland, Austria Urban cottage in Berkeley, California, USA Single-family home in Bryson City, North Carolina, USA Singe-family home with guest house, games room and garage in Galston, near Sidney, Australia Single-family home in Lower Lake, California, USA Single-family home at Lake Biwa, Japan The Spiral House, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland Load-bearing straw bale house in Disentis, Switzerland Passive house in Cavan, Ontario, Canada First straw bale house in Vienna, Austria Single-family home in Blanden, Belgium Low-energy house in Maria Laach, Austria Passive house in Wienerherberg, Austria 2 Home and workplace Trout Farm Complex, Tassaraja Canyon, California, USA Residential and office building in London, Great Britain Ulenkrug Farm, Stubbendorf, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany Residential building for ethnic German resettlers, Wargoldshausen, Lower Franconia, Germany The Woodage Sawmill in Mittagong, Australia Straw bale dome as a rehearsal and performance space in Forstmehren, Westerwald, Germany Farm and residential building near Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Franconia, Germany House of a painter near Santa Cruz, California, USA 3 Educational and cultural buildings Foothills Academy College Preparatory, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA Real Goods Solar Living Center, Hopland, California, USA International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center Lodge,Val-Morin, Quebec, Canada Waldorf school in Carbondale, Colorado, USA Salem Childrens’ Village, Kaliningrad, Russia Sanctuary House, Crestone, Colorado, USA Vipassana Meditation Hall, Blackheath, Australia III Appendices MeasuresNetworksInternet linksBibliographyAcknowledgementsIllustration credits