two-day course

straw-bale building

venue: Hackney City Farm, London

This course is run by Amazonails, the top straw-bale building company in the UK.

The course covers the fundamental principles of building with straw bales. Participants will have the opportunity to get involved in building a mobile straw-bale building to be used as a permanent demonstration structure. Straw bales are an excellent non-toxic, breathable construction material with a great insulation value, and they are good fun to work with too. Everyone can be involved and no previous building experience is necessary. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask about your own projects and to get the basics of straw-bale building.

Points covered include:

  • the environmental benefits of building with straw
  • the structural benefits of straw
  • the limits - how curvy, high, straight or low can you go?
  • tools you need and how to use them
  • complementary materials to use with straw in a building
  • case studies in towns and in the country, showing different building methods
  • hands-on practical experience
  • how to customise bales - cutting, curving and tying
  • creating a friendly building site

more on straw-bale building


how to book:
  

if you can't open the booking form, you need Acrobat Reader - it's free
arrive:
  
around 9.30 each day for a 10am prompt start
depart:
  
after the course finishes each day at 5pm
directions:
  
click here for directions to Hackney City Farm
what to bring:
  
work clothes; pen and notebook; packed lunch (if you're not using the cafe)
let us know:
  
if you have any special needs
price:
  
£120
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course
lunch:
  
bring a packed lunch each day, or you can get lunch at the cafe
discounts:
 
car sharing:
  
visit our car sharing forum to offer or request a lift
 

 

 

 


straightening straw-bale walls during the construction of the National Trust building below







course tutors Amazonails were involved in the design and construction of this beautiful National Trust educational centre in Cumbria - with lime-rendered straw-bale wall
photo: Scott Mackie

 

 




you will get to see this finished straw-bale classroom at Hackney City Farm - it incorporates reclaimed beams, several parts of an old teak boat, and the roof beam used to be part of the Norfolk sea defences