Building with straw design and technology of a sustainable architecture

• Main Authors: Minke, Gernot (Author), Mahlke, Friedemann (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Birkhauser 2005; Basel
• Subjects: Straw > Utilization; Sustainable buildings > Design and construction; Straw bale houses > Design and construction; House construction; Building materials
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.

 Economical, ecological: designing and building with straw. Building with straw bales is a technique pioneered a century ago in the state of Nebraska. In recent years there has been a renaissance in the use of straw as a building material largely in the American Southwest, but also in Canada, France, Holland, Germany, Austria and China. Straw is a renewable resource with excellent insulating properties. It is a cheap and easy-to-use option for self-builders, and even large-scale structures can be erected using timber frame-work filled with straw. This book is a practical, hands-on guide to building with straw. Fire safety, protection against moisture, damp, pests and parasites are treated in detail. Numerous on-site photos document the process of assembly and construction step by step. 30 exemplary international projects illustrate the wide spectrum of design possibilities with straw.