In this modern-day we primarily construct buildings with materials that retain a single life use, meaning at the end of its course the material remains unusable and/or un-recycled. Examples of said materials are concrete, various metals and asphalt. If you look back far enough before the industrial revolution, you would find houses with walls built out from straw bales. Though straw today is used as a biofuel, animal feed and confectioning various objects, it can also be used as a very ecological and effective construction material.
While straw has been used to create housing in Africa since the Paleolithic Era, it’s seeing a modern renaissance with the rise in the popularity of straw bale construction. This affordable and sustainable means of the building is being discovered by modern builders and homeowners across the globe, with some standout landmarks assisting its rise to prominence.
But what exactly is straw bale construction and do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this age-old building method?
Author: Johnson, Chad, 2017
Link: https://buildabroad.org/2017/02/07/straw-bale-construction/
