STRAW BALE DESIGN/BUILD

Jacob Deva Racusin and Timothy Rieth

Course Description: Have you always wondered about straw bale construction? Heard it is only for hot and dry climates? Think again! With their combination of insulation and thermal mass, plastered straw bale walls can be perfect for cold - and even wet - climates if they are designed and built according to a set of time-tested principles. This course will balance evening sessions in the classroom and daytime work on site so you will learn to think your way through a bale house while gaining a feel for the nature of straw, clay and lime as building materials. Emphasis will be placed on appropriate detailing in cold and wet climates for non-load bearing construction, although the information can be applied in any environment.

Credits: 35 AIA Learning Units available

Suggested Reading:

Serious Straw Bale by Paul Lacinski and Michel Bergeron
More Straw Bale Building by Chris Magwood, Peter Mack, and Tina Therrien
Design of Straw Bale Buildings: The State of the Art edited by Bruce King

Things to Bring

Sturdy work gloves

Measuring tape, utility knife

Notebook and pens/pencils

Clothes to get dirty in (long sleeved shirts and long pants to protect from the straw)

Eye protection

Work boots

Dust mask

Camera

Rough Course Outline

Sunday
5PM Orientation to Yestermorrow, dinner, Introductory slideshow

Monday
AM Introduction to materials and techniques, beginning bale stacking
PM Bale stacking
EVE Technical details slideshow

Tuesday
AM Bale stacking
PM Bale stacking
EVE Open Studio/Presentation

Wednesday
AM Lecture and slides: Design programming for SB buildings
PM House tours
EVE Free

Thursday
AM Plaster preparation
PM Plaster preparation
EVE Presentation on Owner-Building: practical, philosophical, and political considerations

Friday
AM Plastering
PM Plastering
EVE Dinner and graduation 6pm

Schedule subject to change slightly due to inclement weather or the desires, requests or focus of the students.