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Straw Bale work on eco-building in St.Anns Part 24

Tash [alan lodge] | 04.12.2007 11:48 | Ecology

Work is continuing at EcoWorks with the Straw Bale building. The whole building is very nearly fully enclosed now.






















Straw Bale work on eco-building in St.Anns Part 24

Work is continuing at EcoWorks with the Straw Bale building. The whole building is very nearly fully enclosed now.

The wooden top-plates had been laid on top of the bales and stayed there for a few weeks, so that under their weight, the whole issue settled down.

So, main issue for today, was the finishing of the walls 'structural strength'.

I guess there are various ways of doing this, but this method seemed quite effective. A tool, normally used to put plastic strapping around 'palet-loads' in factories, was hired. Thus strapping was looped around the whole height of the bales and then tightened. This has provided much tension and has resulted in the desired walls strength.

Briefly, to explain the use of the tool: Plastic strapping dropped around the whole wall. Over the sharp edges, rubber hose sections, spread the load. The end of the straps then inserted into the tensioning wheels of the tool and leavers wind until taught. Then, another pair of leavers bring a crimping edge down onto a metal clip to close and seal.

Thought now being given to the roof, over the kitchen area. This is likely to be the next part of the sequence to show you ....... Watch this space.

The last few shots, are of the building taken from about 1 mile away through long lens.

*****

Ecoworks is on the Hungerhills allotment site, reached off Ransom Road, St.Anns .....
If needed, they can provide transport from the city centre by arrangement. Ring Tim on 07719 428187 for more info.
Hot drinks supplied; please bring your lunch.

Ecoworks
 info@ecoworks.org.uk
 http://www.ecoworks.org.uk


>>>>

The story so far:

EcoWorks: Straw Bale work on "eco-building" in St.Anns

Part 1
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/08/321023.html
Part 2
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/08/321341.html
Part 3
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/08/321520.html
Part 4
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/09/323670.html
Part 5
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/09/323739.html
Part 6
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/10/326154.html
Part 7
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348189.html
Part 8
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348210.html
Part 9
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348233.html
Part 10
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348254.html
Part 11
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348275.html
Part 12
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/10/353572.html
Part 13
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/03/364622.html
Part 14
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/03/364643.html
Part 15
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/04/367142.html
Part 16
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/04/367250.html
Part 17
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/05/370333.html
Part 18
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/06/373754.html
Part 19
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/06/373775.html
Part 20
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/07/375507.html
Part 21
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/09/381873.html
Part 22
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/10/382863.html
Part 23
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/12/387066.html
Part 24
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/12/387087.html

More to follow, i guess ........ >



____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Web:  http://tinyurl.com/2gf3mf
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________

Tash [alan lodge]
- e-mail: tash@indymedia.org

Comments

Hide the following comment

Wow, vote Ecoworks for proper ecotowns!

05.12.2007 06:09

Maybe we can we take government plans to build ecotoytowns & use them to build real ecotowns?. Could Necta, Nottingham business ventures & the wildlife trust help us set up a cooperative,then we can build ecohouses & provide our friends & people with good jobs too?.
I dont want to wait until peak oil hits before this happens. Hopefully the council or Land Roots group will hire ecoworks amazing workers one day, I'd buy a share

Anyway this is definetely the best urban community earthship project in the UK & most well documented.
The pallet strap way looks very professional. I guess another method is to use wire or rope tensioned with a tourniquet,garrott technique to strengthen the walls?.

Aren't these dole scroungers lazy heh?

looks like chapter 7,Simon Fairlies"the land is ours levellers" website has gone due to web costs like Tashs excellent site.Thankfully it seems people at universities have made note, here are some links below

 http://www.landroots.co.uk/
 http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/News/newsArchive/2006/wildPeak
 http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/housing.html
 http://www.smallwoods.org.uk/files/9 - Smallwoods Mag merged.pdf
 http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sbe/planbiblios/bibs/country/38.html

Johnny