My plans for a straw bale construction studio

These are my initial plans for a project studio constructed using straw bale techniques, see http://www.users.bigpond.com/brookman/s ... %20project, for details of this technique. Basically, the studio will be constructed using a steel structure to support the roof and form a frame within which the straw bales will be placed to create the walls. The walls will then be rendered (stuccoed) with a lime render about 75 millimetres thick on both sides. The foundations are concrete strip footings and the interior floors will be made of 600 x600 millimetre concrete pavers laid onto 100 millimetres of sand with a 10 millimetre sand filled gap around each one. This is to create isolated floor sections of each paver. The ceiling will be suspended and made from a straw product called Solomit. All measurements are in metric, my apologies to those still using feet and inches. The studio design is based on my reading and various sites, including this one. Since this is only the initial plan I would welcome any, comments, critisism, advise, etc. Thanks for looking anyway.

I have a drummer friend that lives in New Mexico. He plays for Junior Brown. His name is Pete Amarol. He is into this kind of thing along with solar power, organic foods, etc. He tells me that there is a studio like that in NM, and that the isolation is great and the construction cost vs. traditional means was VERY low. I would do it in a heart beat.

Seems like a great idea! What are you planning as far as windows between the studios and control room? Also, how are you going to access the storage spaces? Thomas

He would use traditional windows, doors, etc. The hay does get a framed, etc. What is normally done here is they cake the outside like adobe, etc.

stosostu wrote:

The walls will then be rendered (stuccoed) with a lime render about 75 millimetres thick on both sides. .

That's a thick coat of render man...infact TWO :shock: :D :D ...nah serious...would that stick properly and not crack due to being that thick??Or is that some special type of render? The idea is cool.WHEN DO YOU START!!?? :D

lowdbrent wrote:

He would use traditional windows, doors, etc. The hay does get a framed, etc. What is normally done here is they cake the outside like adobe, etc.

So, you will have a window between the Control Room and Studio A? How about between the Control Room and the Live Room? And these will be traditional type single pane windows? Thomas

OK, the windows......the doors from the small studio to the control room are a timber frame with full length glass, and since all the doors in the studio are doubles, this forms a double glazed window. There are standard double glazed windows between the control room and both of the other rooms. Because the walls are so thick, I will insert a large timber frame and set the windows into that. The frame actually goes in before the straw bales and they are then packed all around it. The render........I will use a lime based render because it remains a little flexible and doesn't crack as easily as cement based render. There are actually three coats of render, the first is pushed into a layer of chicken wire that is stitched to the straw bales, then the second and third coats are applied. The final thickness varies between 50 and 75 mm due to the uneven surface of the straw. It can be made very flat but I intend to leave some of the surfaces with a rough texture to disperse the sound. The land has been cleared and building will start in 2005. I intend to do it myself and it may take a year or more to complete. If you are interested I will post updates as things take shape.