Construction of the Hastings Country Park’s Visitor Centre by Constrawtium
In 2017 we ventured with other members of the INTERREG initiative UPSTRAW, to see the above area for a new Vistors’ Centre in Hastings.
Murray Davidson of Hastings Borough Council spoke about the ambition for the proposed build and we explored how to could pool our energies to bring this to frution.
In May of this year a corsortium of natural builders (Constrawtium) began work on the site.
Constrawtium, consists of: Huff and Puff Construction, SIA Design Build, Green & Castle, and Red Kite Design.
The group have been working exceptionally hard and we are proud that their labours (both demonstrably & studiously behind the scenes) are becoming visible for the public to see.
As part of the European StrawBale Gathering 2019 in Todmorden we are pleased to announce that Murray will be presenting a talk about public procurement of strawbale buildings.
We encourage you to be a part of this exciting adventure and visit Todmorden for ESBG2019 as this notable event will include top speakers, builders and educators of the natural building arena of which the UK has never seen before! Tickets are available here
SBUK founder members Chris Hawker & David Copeland are Speakers at ESBG 2019
Chris and David have been with SBUK since day one. Respected builders in the industry they bring with them a studious and creative outlook having met whilst studying at the Centre of Alternative Technology. Their expertise will feature in a workshop on straw bale building within a timber frame. Come and see them at esbg2019.org
ESBG 2019
The European Straw Bale Gathering (ESBG) is a biennial event, which the UK is privileged to be hosting, for the first time, in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.
Tickest are available here
ESBG this year is part of the Interreg funded UP Straw project. In keeping with the aims of UP Straw, we will be demonstrating the wonderful insulation, fuel cost cutting and carbon reduction properties of building with straw to: planners, architects, public authorities, universities, self-builders and communities.
ESBG 2019 is all about…
- Exploring healthy public buildings made from straw
- Raising awareness of the benefits of constructing public buildings from straw
- Highlighting features & benefits of straw bale buildings
- Understanding public procurement, building regulations, green mortgages and insurance
- Inspirational case studies
- Networking for professionals and students in the secto r “Straw is an excellent material for building and insulating new and existing buildings. Straw is CO2 negative because CO2 is stored in straw during growth, widely available, fully recyclable and has a rapid growth cycle,” said Barbara Jones, Director of the School of Natural Building. “Straw is warm in winter and cool for ever!”
Tulse Hill Straw Bale Build
In the urban landscape of London, where land to build is scarce, and new build opportunities are few and far between, the area of Tulse Hill is fortunate to have within its community a construction that is currently taking place on epic proportions.
Arguably, Europe’s largest urban straw bale build, the Tulse Hill Bale Build has markedly grown into a sight to behold!
Richard Dormandy and Nicole Lyon are orchestrating the construction of the church hall, which began in 2017. With work mainly carried out by volunteers they intend for fitting out to be completed by 2021.
This is a formidable piece of work which was initially assisted by our founding members Straw Works.
The church which is adjacent to the new hall was completed in the mid 19th century, and the site where the hall is being erected was demolished in the 1980s. With a group as enthusiastic as this to bring new energy to their surroundings and build their own meeting place with consideration to the planet, it comes as no surprise that this creation has developed as strikingly magnificent as it is.
The Douglas Fir frame went up in March 2017 and the office and kitchen will be built-in this year (2019). Clay plaster will be applied as well as limecrete for the natural finish….
…and the lift and stairs will complete the picture.
Like what you see? Want to help? Contact Nicole below:
We have great pleasure to announce Richard Dormandy will be at this year’s ESBG2019. Purchase Early Bird tickets here
Come and see us on the @NaturalBuildUK stand G57, at @futurebuild: Today – Thursday!
Come and visit our director @JNaturalBuilder from @hartwyn and @NaturalBuildUK partners at @futurebuild : Stand G57
Omer Saatcioglu from University of Bath is speaking at the BSBG
Really pleased to have Omer presenting the excellent research work from the University of Bath – The lecturer will give information about a load-bearing straw-bale wall assembly which aims to be an economical alternative for the countries where timber is a limited natural source.
Get your tickets now from www.strawbalebuildinguk.com/The-Big-Straw-Bale-Gathering
Name:
N.Omer Saatcıoğlu
Organisation:
University of Bath
Lecture title:
Re-Reading Straw Bale
Brief description:
The lecture will be subjected to the summary of an ongoing research project at the University of Bath about the straw-bale construction. The lecturer will give information about a load-bearing straw-bale wall assembly which aims to be an economical alternative for the countries where timber is a limited natural source.
Speaker Bio:
Saatcioglu is a “Visiting Research Fellow” in “Center for Innovative Construction Materials (BRE CICM)” at Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering in “University of Bath” and currently been employed as an “Assistant Professor Dr.” at “Istanbul Kultur University”. His major research interests include “Straw Bale Design”, “Green Building Systems and Technologies” and “Simplicity and Complexity in Architecture”.
Saatcioglu has taken an active role, as an architect, in the process of designing and constructing Turkey’s first load-bearing straw-bale building. Under the organization of Turkish Wheat Association, design and construction processes were completed as a demonstration project for the public to visit. At the same time, straw-bale construction and green architecture lectures were given by him to the volunteers and the public. Saatcioglu has several papers, proceedings and two international patent pending applications about straw-bale construction.
Rae Parkinson is teaching clay plastering!
The wonderfully talented, Rae Parkinson, is teaching a clay plastering workshop at the Big Straw Bale Gathering!
All workshops and talks and included in the ticket price – so get your ticket now here!
BSBG Workshop – Will Stanwix – Making Clay Straw Blocks
Will Stanwix, co-author of ‘The Hempcrete Book: Designing and building with hemp-lime’ will be running a workshop at the Big Straw Bale Gathering teaching you how to create you own clay straw blocks. Learn about how to vary the mix to create insulating blocks or mass blocks and how to lay them.
The practical workshops are a massive part of the Big Straw Bale Gathering. A chance for you to learn the hands on skills necessary to build your own home, or brush up on some of the latest techniques.
Workshops are included in the ticket price, and will require signing up on the morning of the workshop (Don’t worry there will be plenty of sessions!).
Tickets are selling fast, so get your tickets here now!
BSBG Workshop – Hawkland – Intro to building with bales
The practical workshops are a massive part of the Big Straw Bale Gathering. A chance for you to learn the hands on skills necessary to build your own home, or brush up on some of the latest techniques.
Workshops are included in the ticket price, and will require signing up on the morning of the workshop (Don’t worry there will be plenty of sessions!).
First workshop up is:
Intro To Bale Building
From resizing a bale to notching a post. Build a complete wall, straighten and prep for plaster. Prefect Beginner session.
Workshop led by: Hawkland Ecological Building
Keynote speakers – Ed & Rowena Waghorn
We are so pleased to add Ed and Rowena Waghorn as keynote speakers for the Big Straw Bale Gathering. Their Episode of Grand Designs, which took over 10 years to complete, is a work of art. We are delighted they are coming to share their views on building a home.
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