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Straw bale houses

Master
thesis

Mentor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Sanela Klari


Sarajevo, 2016

Candidate: Almedin
Curi

Aims and significance of the


research
Support and encourage the commencement of
building with straw bales in sector of the energy
efficiency and sustainable development.
Provide a clear and open information on benefits
and methods of straw bale construction.
Suggest that future investigations in Bosnia and
Herzegovina be focused on the opportunities of
exploitations of straw and its advantages of
combining with other natural materials.

Research hypothesis
Straw represents the waste that is not used as
construction material in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
By building with straw the socio-economic
development and progress will be improved
open new workplaces, connection of other
domestic
industries
and
local
materials,
economical development of rural areas, reduced
bad influence of construction sector on the
enviroment and rised awarness of the citizens
about health and better comfort.

Research hypothesis
Straw possesses excelent chemical, mechanical,
healthy and aesthetic properties. Besides, it also has
good thermal insulation, construction and decorative
qualities as well as the all necessary characteristics
of healthy, ecological and sustainable material.
Straw doesnt shackle the creativity and allows
flexibility and reassemblage. Particular advantage of
this material is its simple assemblage which doesnt
demand special equipment or special skills.
Case study is necessary to raise awareness of
sustainability and energy efficiency

Research question
How much annually is straw being produced in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which can be as a waste
on the fields used like construction material?
Are there the opportunities and potentials for the
development of innovative technologies in Bosnia
and Herzegovina?

Methodology
Research study carry out several methodologies and
explains a straw and straw bale houses through
different approach of analyisis:
-

Historical analysis
Comparison analysis
Functional analysis
Economic analysis
Desk research
Practical work

Brief history of straw bale


houses
Straw is used in construction industry since
ancient times
The first recorded building of straw bales was
built in Nebraska, USA, in 1886.
Nebraska technique or "load-bearing
The oldest straw bale house in Europe is "Maison
Feuillette, built in 1921, in Montargis, France
In 1993. the journal The Last Straw significantly
contributed to the popularization of straw bale
houses.

What is a straw?
Straw is a dry stalk (part from the top of the root to
the fruit) of cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet)
or fiber plants (rice, hemp, flax)
Straw is renewable material that is being developed
by photosynthesis using solar energy, water and
minerals from the soil. It consists of cellulose, lignin
and silicon
Straw is biodegradable and locally available for its
production and transportation consumes far less
energy than is the case with other building
materials

Properties of straw bales


Thermal properties
Fire resistance properties
Resistance to moisture and water vapor
permeability features
Acoustics and sound insulation
Health properties
Durability
Resistance to earthquakes

Technical properties of straw applied in


the construction of Student Pavilion
Table 7 - The test results of five (5) samples of straw bales
STRAW BALE

Sample 1

Sample 2

Sample 3

Sample 4

Sample 5

Lenght (cm)

95

87

90

78

80

Width (cm)

50

49

49

48,7

49

Height (cm)

37

36

36,5

35,5

36,5

Weight (kg)

13,16

11,65

13,11

13,01

12,39

RH (%)

9,4; 9,3; 9,4

9,3; 9,3; 9,3

9,3; 9,3; 9,3

9,4; 9,4; 9,4

9,4; 9,4; 9,4

Potentials of straw bales


Modcells prefab technology with straw
Straw buildings can be carbon negative as straw
absorbs CO when it grows
The potential of straw-bale construction extends
beyond residential buildings and is already proving to
have a positive impact in local communities in th UK.
B&H has about 200,000 tons of straw per year as
waste on the fields, which can be used in the
construction industry.
Straw as a material has potential to be competetive
on B&H market

Methods of construction with


straw bales
The method of bearing straw bale walls
Nebraska method
The method of lightweight constructional
frameworks with bearing wall of baled straw
The method of filling, method of wooden frame,
method of columns
The method of building with straw bales

The method of bearing straw bale walls Nebraska method

The method of lightweight constructional frameworks with


bearing wall of baled straw

The method of filling, method of wooden frame, method of columns

The method of building with straw bales

Process of construction of straw


bale houses
Step 1 Foundations
Step 2 Wooden or other type of skeleton
structure
Step 3 Roof structure
Step 4 Straw bale walls
Step 5 - Plastering

Urban and construction


regulations for straw bale houses
First known building permission for the straw bale
house was released in 1989. in the United States,
New York
Article 4., Law on Construction Products, FBIH
defines the construction product:
- construction product is any product produced for
permanent installation in buildings
- use of the construction product is its storage on
the site, its installation and use after it is
embedded in the structure

Urban and construction


regulations for straw bale houses
Article 5., Law on Construction Products, FBIH
defines the technical characteristics of
construction product:
-Technical characteristics of the construction product
should be such that in addition to the prescribed
installation in accordance with the purpose of a
building or designed maintenance to withstand all
impacts of normal use and environmental impacts, so
that the building in which it is installed during the
project schedule meets the essential requirements for
the building.

Urban and construction


regulations for straw bale houses
Article 11., Law on Construction Products, FBIH defines
the usability of construction product:
- Construction product is usable if its technical
characteristics are in accordance with the technical
specifications.
- Usability construction product is proved, depending on its
type and technical specifications, by the document of
compliance which is issued after implementation or
insurance of the procedure for the conformity
assessment of the technical characteristics of the
construction product with the technical specification and
label compliance prescribed by this Law.

Urban and construction


regulations for straw bale houses
Article 13., Law on Construction Products, FBIH
defines the technical approval of construction
product:
- By the technical approval, the technical
characteristics
of
construction
products
are
determined and manner of proving its usefulness is
determined, the actions carried out in the conformity
assessment of its technical characteristics and
document on the compliance of the construction
product which proves its usefulness.

Case studies
S-house, Austria

Case studies
Strohpolis, Germany

Case studies
Multi-storey residential building, Netherlands

Case studies
Auditorium of high school Brenderup Folk,
Denmark

Case studies
Family house in Ivankovo, Croatia

Case studies
Family house in Poljanica Bistranska, Croatia

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


The location of Burch Student Pavilion is in
Municipality Ilida, Sarajevo. The pavilion is placed
on the surface are of cca 170m 2 within the complex
of IBU Campus.
Pavilions orientatiation is north-east direction
Investor of the project - International Burch
University
In the implementation of this project participated
students,
professors,
domestic
and
foreign
universities, and institutions, organizations and
donators.

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Background and justification of the project
- The building sector is responsible for 40% of the
current CO2 emissions as well as energy consumption
- Therefore, in order to make building as sustainable as
possible, it is crucial to maximize the use of
ecological materials
- This project explores alternative usage of straw,
recycled wood, recycled elements of the building
such as windows and doors as well as alternative
foundation elements made from recycled materials

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Project goals and objectives
- The main objective of this project is ethnic
reconciliation through joint practical work of the
students from architecture, landscape architecture,
forestry, civil engineering and agriculture faculties.
- The scope of exploring, getting familiar and building
(learning by doing) with alternative materials such
as straw, recycled wood, recycled elements of the
building (windows and doors) as well as alternative
foundation elements made from recycled materials
which will made biobase and law cost ECO building

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion

GROUND FLOOR
cca 45m2

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion

SECTION A-A

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion

SECTION B-B

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion

FACADES

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion

FACADES

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


3D RENDERS

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site:
Day 1
- Stone foundations vs reinforced concrete
foundations

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site:
Day 1
- Connection and anchorage between wooden
column and RC foundatations

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 2
- cleaning the doors and windows

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 3
- Tour at the mountain
- Collecting of sedum (plants) for the green roof

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 4
- Straw bales storaging at the construction site
- Making of skeletal structure of the Pavilion

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 5
- Mixing the mortar of clay and sand

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 6
- Cutting and shaping the straw bales

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 7
- Mechanical preparation and mixing of mortar
using various recipes

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 8
- Introduction to the methods of making the walls
of straw and installation of mortars and their
application

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 9
- The construction and study of the flat extensive
roof with sedums

Proposal Burch Student Pavilion


Process of activities at construction site: Day 10
- Studying the various recipes of mortar mixture
and applications of plastering

Conclusion
By implementing the theory knowledge and setting-up
the same into practice we will raise awareness about
sustainability and energy efficiency demands.
Bosnia and Herzegovina produces more and more
cereals each year which let to the development, good
opportunity and potentials for using the waste on the
fields for construction of eco-houses.
Strategic approach to this constructions and materials
is necessary in the future for sustainable socialeconomic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

THANK YOU!

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