Willow Weaving

For the natural plinth wall, I wish to make the border out of willow weave. 

When this is done properly it looks very neat and beautiful 

I had my first attempt this Christmas....

Little more practice needed.

For the plinth wall we need 150mm of tightly packed willow weave, which I can waterproof and build the bales directly onto.

Using some of the cuttings we had another go at a required height.

This was assisted by some local children.

Even though the snow has halted anything starting on site, I can construct all the elements under cover ready for the quick erection.

Straw Bale Success

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/year-anniversary-straw-eco-homes-Martin-near/story-17930234-detail/story.html

Crit Day

Crit Sheet

Presentation day - Due to weather conditions I did not have much physical work to show on site. 

We presented to our tutors, and guests for 20 minutes, in powerpoint form. 

The feedback was all positive, (the sheet above) .

I had various models to show at 1:50 how elements would go together 

Tyre foundations with plinth wall.

Possible adaptation into mortise and tenon joints

willow weaved plinth wall.

Main points from the crit: write-up wise, get my facts and sources figured out.

build the best possible for the site, and then have write up and theory behind the adaptations.

My Ideas on a Natural Plinth Wall

Mortise and Tenon Timber frame Building

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YooKTtVH2bk

Triangulating Bales

Currently Straw bale buildings can only be applied to the level of the eaves, and cannot fill Gable ends due to their shape. 

But I am sure this is possible? 

I am going to test this theory on a couple of my own bales.  

Being able to build the bales up into gable ends will not only create a consistent building material, but will also make sure the insulation and air tightness is consistent throughout the wall, leaving no gaps.

Wish me luck.....

Baling Needles and how to Split Bales

To make Bales certain sizes, to fit around openings and in the bale courses, it is vitally important to retain the tension and tightness in the twine, holding the straw together.

Baling needles are not available to purchase in the UK, and very hard to find in the USA, the only way is to make your own.
Here I have found some existing designs, two which are used in the construction industry currently, and the third, a custom made Needle used in the baling workshop I attended under Mark Saich.

The needles take two new pieces of twine through the bale, at the level of the original string. 

These are my notes and easy to read and follow guide on how to split straw bales.

Home Grown Holiday Homes!

Check out this designer, who has built Straw Bale holiday homes in Yorkshire!

The Journey.

Introduction

The goal of this journey is to Create a Home Grown House, as carbon neutral and as low-carbon footprint as possible.  I want to build with what I have on the site, in a scale and manner which would require no or minimal machinery input, and to prove to myself and to others, that building sustainably and intuitively doesn’t have to cost the earth, but it can be built using it.

Since an essay on Bill Dunsters’ BedZed in my 1^st year of Undergraduate studies, I have been highly interested in all forms of sustainable and zero-carbon design.

By the year 2016, all homes should be zero carbon, an ambitious plan set out by the UK government.  People may think this is completely unobtainable.  But it is very much within reach. 

When I first started initially thinking about zero carbon and low energy housing, I felt that it was all just a sales gimmick, the new trend in construction.  I felt like clients were getting fooled into thinking that if they bought an air-source heat pump or installed rainwater collectors then they would be single-handedly combating climate change.

But when all was put into practice, I realised that the key is off-setting.  It is all good and well building with rammed earth to be low-carbon, but how does that earth get there? If it is off-site then you need trucks to deliver it, and if it is on-site then you need JCBs to dig it up.   This energy used in transportation needs to then be off-set by your building. 

I still find it comical seeing some products available on the market labelled carbon neutral, made in China! Think of the carbon footprint which that product has already created before it has even reached the building site.
That is one of the disadvantages of technology, it needs to be powered, transported and prepared.

All we need is shelter, but the modern world has us having bespoke kitchens and bathrooms, safe electrics and plumbing, pvc worktops and laminate doors. Not exactly your natural home.  Natural homes in modern terms I think relates more to the materials used, especially in the finishes, lots of wood, beautiful earth and lime plasters, wood ceilings and trims, all of course incorporated tastefully in a code approved structure.

There are many instances now where people are taking building their own, ideal homes into their own hands, shows like Grand Designs and self builders are adapting to their surroundings to become more self-sufficient, something which I think all homes should try a hand at.