Straw Bale Design/Build

Course Description: Have you always wondered about straw bale construction? Heard it is only for hot and dry climates? Think again! With their combination of insulation and thermal mass, plastered straw bale walls can be perfect for cold - and even wet - climates if they are designed and built according to a set of time tested principles. Join Paul Lacinski, author of Serious Straw Bale , for this course that will balance sessions in the classroom and on site so you will learn to think your way through a bale house while gaining a feel for the nature of straw, clay and lime as building materials.

Credits: 35 AIA Learning Units available

Suggested Reading:

Serious Straw Bale by Paul Lacinski

Things to Bring

Sturdy work gloves

Measuring tape, utility knife

Notebook and pens/pencils

Clothes to get dirty in (long sleeved shirts and long pants to protect from the straw)

Eye protection

Work boots

Respirator or dust mask (if you have one)

If you have these tools and want to bring them, we will use:
exacto knife, tin snips, plyers, trowel, hawk

Rough Course Outline

Sunday
5PM Orientation to Yestermorrow, dinner, Introductory slideshow

Monday
AM Introduction to materials and techniques
PM Bale stacking, Q&A period
EVE Free

Tuesday
AM Bale stacking, plaster prep
PM Technical details slideshow 3-5 pm
EVE Review students' projects, plans, etc.

Wednesday
AM Lecture and slides: Design programming for SB buildings
PM House tours, leaving at 12:30 pm
EVE Free

Thursday
AM Clay plaster
PM Lime Plaster, Q & A period
EVE BBQ on campus and Entertainment

Friday
AM Limewash
PM Q and A period
EVE Dinner and graduation 4pm

Schedule subject to change slightly due to inclement weather or the desires, requests or focus of the students.