7-storey modular building in St. Die des Vosges

Written by Herbert Gruber

The tallest straw bale building in the world was built in Saint Dié, France in 2011 as a Jules Ferry passive house construction

Key data

City:Saint DiéCompletion:2013Type of Construction:prefab modules, KLH-boxDesign/ArchitectureAntoine PagnauxPossibility to visit:NoPress photos:No
Photocredit:Herbert Gruber
Residential acreage:1350m2Heating demand:15U-Value (Wall):W/m2KU-Value (Roof):W/m2KCategories:Prefab Straw Bale, Projects France, Straw Bale Lighthouse Project,
More about this Straw Bale House

The tallest straw bale building in the world was built in Saint Dié, France in 2011. The Jules Ferry passive house construction consists of an inner timber frame core made of KLH (cross-laminated timber), to which straw bale insulated modules are attached on the outside. It houses 15 residential units of 90 m² each, which will cost no more than 130 euros per year in energy costs. Vincent Pierré of Terranergie : Bureau d’Etude developed the straw-filled modules.

more info (fr)

About the author

Herbert Gruber

Herbert is author of the book "Neues Bauen mit Stroh in Europa" (New Building with Straw in Europe), head of the austrian strawbale network ASBN and partner in the Leonardo-project "STEP" (Strawbale Training for European Professionals) and the Erasmus project "BuildStraw Pro" (a project to get formal national recognition of the training) and "Make your City Smart". As a collector he documents European straw bale buildings since 1999 on his website (database, german), in lectures, workshops and books.