Comandini Simone (Bellinzona)

CONSTRUCTION

Building with straw Straw is one of the possibilities of ecological architecture to build sustainably.

The story in brief The idea of building something out of straw may sound funny, but examples of houses from different traditional cultures around the world have already demonstrated the efficiency of straw, grass, and reeds as building materials. These materials have been used for thousands of years in combination with earth and wood to create shelters. In the late 1800s, packaging methods were developed so that straw and hay could be compressed into rectangular bales. It was not long before pioneers in the Sand Hills of western Nebraska began using straw bales as large building bricks to run churches and houses. The motivation of these pioneers came from the fact that local building materials such as wood were scarce, so straw bales proved to have equal if not superior properties to the standard materials of the time. Straw buildings until 1940 were built in the traditional way; in 1970 Judy Knox and Matts Myhrman began to refine the method, and soon new techniques were developed. Currently, approx. 1,000 new buildings per year. Straw buildings until 1940 were built in the traditional way, in 1970 Judy Knox and Matts Myhrman began to refine the method and soon new techniques were developed. Currently, approx. 1,000 new buildings per year. Straw buildings until 1940 were built in the traditional way, in 1970 Judy Knox and Matts Myhrman began to refine the method and soon new techniques were developed. Currently, approx. 1,000 new buildings per year.

Three building systems have developed since then:

• Nebraska: In this method, straw bales support the weight of the roof, are placed like large bricks, attached to each other and to the foundation. A wooden platform above the walls is attached to the foundation and the roof is built on it. This method is the easiest and most fun way to build, in fact it requires little previous knowledge of construction.