Comments on: Help Make Bale Construction in South Africa a Reality http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa The World's Leader in Straw Bale Education Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:26:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Andy Horn http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-2#comment-22982 Andy Horn Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:55:51 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-22982 Hi I am an architect working in Cape Town and have been designing and building straw bale structures for more than 11 years now. My first was a house for Sandra Prinsloo in Veloerenvlei and was completed in 1998. My most recent project was in Barrydale and we did the baling in April. I have developed my own system that involves a dipping / pre-coating method that greatly sppeds overall construction and makes for a very solid construction.See under projects on our web site www.ecodesignarchitects.co.za I have verified over 40 Straw bale structures in nearly 30 different municipalities South Africa. I have written 2 manuals on the subject (available through our web site). Habitat for humanity know about Straw Bale and earth building but are unable to build any in South Africa due to the NHBRC (National Housing Building Regulatory Council, which all of their houses must be registered through. There is a real need for government attitudes to change towards natural building materials. If someone could fund the certification of Straw bale construction through the Agreement Board or specifically in the Natiuonal Building Regulations then the NHBRC would be forced to accept such alternate construction methods. National building regulations currently only cater for natural building methiods through its "Deemed to Satisfy" clause. The truth of it is not in the interests of big buisness like the brick and cement inductries to free up the market for people to build as we used to - with locally available natural materials. thoughts for now. -Andy Horn Hi
I am an architect working in Cape Town and have been designing and building straw bale structures for more than 11 years now. My first was a house for Sandra Prinsloo in Veloerenvlei and was completed in 1998. My most recent project was in Barrydale and we did the baling in April. I have developed my own system that involves a dipping / pre-coating method that greatly sppeds overall construction and makes for a very solid construction.See under projects on our web site http://www.ecodesignarchitects.co.za I have verified over 40 Straw bale structures in nearly 30 different municipalities South Africa. I have written 2 manuals on the subject (available through our web site). Habitat for humanity know about Straw Bale and earth building but are unable to build any in South Africa due to the NHBRC (National Housing Building Regulatory Council, which all of their houses must be registered through. There is a real need for government attitudes to change towards natural building materials. If someone could fund the certification of Straw bale construction through the Agreement Board or specifically in the Natiuonal Building Regulations then the NHBRC would be forced to accept such alternate construction methods. National building regulations currently only cater for natural building methiods through its “Deemed to Satisfy” clause. The truth of it is not in the interests of big buisness like the brick and cement inductries to free up the market for people to build as we used to – with locally available natural materials.
thoughts for now.
-Andy Horn

]]> By: Eunete and Simon from Going Green http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-2#comment-22972 Eunete and Simon from Going Green Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:36:47 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-22972 Hi there! Wow what an epic marathon discussion we have stumbled upon - how have things developed since the last posting on 5 August? We are situated in the Eastern Cape in South Africa and have been working on plans for an Eco-Centre for some years now. We have just recently moved from Port Elizabeth to East London and are in the process of trying to find a site to locate the centre. The plans have essentially been completed, but we need to find a new site. You can read about it on our website: http://www.goinggreen.co.za/gg-eco-centre.html. The team of architects we worked with (including Andy Horn from Eco-Design and Edwin from Dumani Architects re: the Didimala Lodge mentioned above - and others) will be very interested in this discussion - we will send a link to them as well. We agree with many of the sentiments in this dialogue and also feel that these buildings must first be seen as "enviable" before they will be accepted. This has definitely been the case e.g. with the uptake of solar photovoltaic panels in the rural areas where this high-end item is seen as something you get when you can't have "real" electricity. We actually see this as the main idea behind the Eco-Centre - to link the 1st and 3rd worlds - tourism, skills transfer, job creation etc. East London, being right on the edge of the developed and developing world is the ideal spot for such a centre. Karen, we like the spirit there! :) Please feel free to contact us! You are also very welcome to list the workshop on our website - no costs involved - there is an Upcoming Green Events section as Henry has already mentioned. Hi there!

Wow what an epic marathon discussion we have stumbled upon – how have things developed since the last posting on 5 August?

We are situated in the Eastern Cape in South Africa and have been working on plans for an Eco-Centre for some years now. We have just recently moved from Port Elizabeth to East London and are in the process of trying to find a site to locate the centre. The plans have essentially been completed, but we need to find a new site. You can read about it on our website: http://www.goinggreen.co.za/gg-eco-centre.html. The team of architects we worked with (including Andy Horn from Eco-Design and Edwin from Dumani Architects re: the Didimala Lodge mentioned above – and others) will be very interested in this discussion – we will send a link to them as well.

We agree with many of the sentiments in this dialogue and also feel that these buildings must first be seen as “enviable” before they will be accepted. This has definitely been the case e.g. with the uptake of solar photovoltaic panels in the rural areas where this high-end item is seen as something you get when you can’t have “real” electricity. We actually see this as the main idea behind the Eco-Centre – to link the 1st and 3rd worlds – tourism, skills transfer, job creation etc. East London, being right on the edge of the developed and developing world is the ideal spot for such a centre.

Karen, we like the spirit there! :)

Please feel free to contact us! You are also very welcome to list the workshop on our website – no costs involved – there is an Upcoming Green Events section as Henry has already mentioned.

]]> By: BARNIE Says: http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-2#comment-22219 BARNIE Says: Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:40:52 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-22219 KAREN, It is clear, there are people that is more then willing to help. Keep us posted. KAREN,

It is clear, there are people that is more then willing to help. Keep us posted.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-2#comment-21840 Andrew Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:23:25 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-21840 Barnie, The sand needs to be clean of debris, so washed is a good idea. It should be sharp sand if possible and of several different grades. Here in the States, I use concrete sand rather than mortar sand as it is more graded and sharp. Play sand works as well as long as there are several grades within it. Good luck. Barnie,
The sand needs to be clean of debris, so washed is a good idea. It should be sharp sand if possible and of several different grades. Here in the States, I use concrete sand rather than mortar sand as it is more graded and sharp. Play sand works as well as long as there are several grades within it. Good luck.

]]> By: Martin Eweg http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-2#comment-21829 Martin Eweg Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:53:03 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-21829 I have remained in contact with some people on this site and the suggestion is now that Karen begin preparing this as a project with a little help from some friends. It is proposed taht the church/chapple be built in early 2010, and that we considder signing GREEN celebrities up for a fee to cover the cost of getting Andrew out to SA. I have not had suitable response from H for H but will continue with the request. Please notify Karen if you wish to be a part of the building team so she can put a contact list together. I have another friend in CapeTown Lisa who is keen to get involved and maybe she and Karen can talk. I have remained in contact with some people on this site and the suggestion is now that Karen begin preparing this as a project with a little help from some friends. It is proposed taht the church/chapple be built in early 2010, and that we considder signing GREEN celebrities up for a fee to cover the cost of getting Andrew out to SA. I have not had suitable response from H for H but will continue with the request.
Please notify Karen if you wish to be a part of the building team so she can put a contact list together.
I have another friend in CapeTown Lisa who is keen to get involved and maybe she and Karen can talk.

]]> By: BARNIE Says: http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-2#comment-21824 BARNIE Says: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:22:40 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-21824 Andrew. Along the line somewhere you spoke about mixing the sand with NHL. I cannot remember whether you said the playground sand must be a washed sand and clear of particles and whether you said it must be natural sand and not be washed. All Playground sand is not neccesarily washed and clean. Karen. You can also contact Allister and Sonja at 0835657384 INSYNCH. SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLIGIES in Muldersdrift Johannesburg. They do Straw Bale building and other techniques.See there Web. Greetings.Greetings. Andrew. Along the line somewhere you spoke about mixing the sand with NHL. I cannot remember whether you said the playground sand must be a washed sand and clear of particles and whether you said it must be natural sand and not be washed. All Playground sand is not neccesarily washed and clean.
Karen. You can also contact Allister and Sonja at 0835657384 INSYNCH. SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLIGIES in Muldersdrift Johannesburg. They do Straw Bale building and other techniques.See there Web. Greetings.Greetings.

]]> By: Karen Basson http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-2#comment-21723 Karen Basson Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:25:38 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-21723 Hi Henry Thank you so much for the info. Yea that is our problem too, the daily grind to earn a living, which I do from Landscaping and my very new little restaurant that i run from my renovated barnhouse. I have been in contact with Martin Eweg and Lanie Olivier (who lives quite close) and she has made contact with somebody in Gauteng who is prepared to come down to the Cape to do a course here for us, we spoke about it yesterday and hopfully we will have something going soon and the church will stand in all its glory at the end of the year or Jan 2010. Martin is also quite keen to assist and has contacted Habitat for Humanity, so the ball is rolling... Hope to meet you someday. Kind regards K Hi Henry

Thank you so much for the info. Yea that is our problem too, the daily grind to earn a living, which I do from Landscaping and my very new little restaurant that i run from my renovated barnhouse.
I have been in contact with Martin Eweg and Lanie Olivier (who lives quite close) and she has made contact with somebody in Gauteng who is prepared to come down to the Cape to do a course here for us, we spoke about it yesterday and hopfully we will have something going soon and the church will stand in all its glory at the end of the year or Jan 2010. Martin is also quite keen to assist and has contacted Habitat for Humanity, so the ball is rolling…
Hope to meet you someday.
Kind regards
K

]]> By: Henry Scott http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-1#comment-20107 Henry Scott Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:54:47 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-20107 Hi Karen It has been a while since I contributed to this discussion. Have been busy with my day job of earning and income :-) but I have been following discussions. I have found a strawbale building course being conducted in JHB on the 25th July if you are interested. See this link: http://www.goinggreen.co.za/upcoming-green-events/african-notice-board/details/175-strawbalenatural-building-course-cpd-reg.html Regards Henry Hi Karen

It has been a while since I contributed to this discussion. Have been busy with my day job of earning and income :-) but I have been following discussions.

I have found a strawbale building course being conducted in JHB on the 25th July if you are interested. See this link:

http://www.goinggreen.co.za/upcoming-green-events/african-notice-board/details/175-strawbalenatural-building-course-cpd-reg.html

Regards
Henry

]]> By: Karen Basson http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-1#comment-19396 Karen Basson Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:57:05 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-19396 Hi Andrew Sounds great and right to me. Now we must just get started and a date I need to get the info on what and how much of it I will need (Materials) to build this little church. Stay in touch. Kind regards Karen Hi Andrew

Sounds great and right to me. Now we must just get started and a date I need to get the info on what and how much of it I will need (Materials) to build this little church.

Stay in touch.

Kind regards

Karen

]]> By: Andrew http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-construction-south-africa/comment-page-1#comment-19346 Andrew Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:57:01 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=693#comment-19346 That's great Karen. Thank you. This all sounds good to me. Here's what I would like to suggest. It's something I am doing in Guatemala as well. We offer the workshop to a group of say 20-25 people. Half of those spots are held open for local folks whom I would teach to build their own, sustainable housing. The other half are held for paying participants who want to travel to SA and learn from me in that setting. I use the money raised through the paying participants to get myself there and support my other costs (I'd love to bring my family so my kids could have this experience as well). If, for whatever reason, I don;t get any paying participants, then the "held" spots would be given to more local people who would attend for free and then my travel expense would need to be paid by a fund raiser or some other idea. What do you think? That’s great Karen. Thank you. This all sounds good to me. Here’s what I would like to suggest. It’s something I am doing in Guatemala as well. We offer the workshop to a group of say 20-25 people. Half of those spots are held open for local folks whom I would teach to build their own, sustainable housing. The other half are held for paying participants who want to travel to SA and learn from me in that setting. I use the money raised through the paying participants to get myself there and support my other costs (I’d love to bring my family so my kids could have this experience as well). If, for whatever reason, I don;t get any paying participants, then the “held” spots would be given to more local people who would attend for free and then my travel expense would need to be paid by a fund raiser or some other idea. What do you think?

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