Straw frame houses

House idea:

The house should be pleasing to the eye, from an aesthetic point of view;

The house should serve as a generator of positive energy;

Each point of space lives its own life, so it is necessary to coordinate the energy of the dwelling and its environment *

The basis for creating a home and living arrangement should be based on the principle of reasonable minimization of resource consumption, prudent, kind attitude towards nature.

This means:

A person needs to think: what, in a given area, it is rational to use materials and technologies in order to cut down forests as little as possible, pollute the air and water sources;

A person must equip the space of a plot of land and a dwelling with the concept of a significant reduction in the ecological "pressure" on the Earth: with the cultivation of plant foods, the complete processing of organic waste and filling the dwelling itself with objects that will serve it constantly and for a very long time, without causing, in the process their manufacture and operation, no harm;

It is extremely important for a person today to abandon the thesis: "... after us, even a flood ..." and predict the consequences of their current affairs for future generations.

The most modern "house building" systems:

An energy-efficient house is a house in which all energy processes are optimized, and for heating and hot water supply of which there are enough individual, renewable energy sources: solar panels, wind turbines, etc.**.

For Russia, such houses are still rare.

Currently for middle lane Russia's energy consumption for heating is 400-600 kWh/m? total area. A house that consumes no more than 150 kWh/m? will be considered energy efficient.

A passive or zero energy house is a house that does not need a heating system.

Such houses have already appeared in the world.

In Russia, at present, it is practically possible to build such houses on the basis of, for example, a frame-straw system. In the Novosibirsk Academgorodok, a calculation was made showing that with an external wall thickness of 80 cm, made of pressed straw, in Siberia and the Urals, houses can not be heated, of course, provided that heat loss through windows and entrance doors, will be minimized!

An ecological house, by definition, must fit into a harmonious natural structure, and during operation, not only not disturb the natural balance, but also contribute to the restoration of the ecological situation on Earth.

What's new in the world in the field of building straw houses?

In recent years, hundreds of straw houses have been built around the world. In America, Canada, Australia, France, Chile, Mexico, Russia, Belarus, Mongolia and other countries.

A number of countries have certified the construction of such houses, including fire certification.

According to the US media, straw houses in the 19th century were built by poor Americans, and in the 21st century straw-frame houses are being built in America for the smart and rich.

And in order to surprise the whole world in the USA, the world's first 40-story frame-straw skyscraper is being designed.

In the world, recently, it is believed what pressed straw is the best insulation and one of the best building materials.

Coefficient of thermal conductivity: A pressed block (with a density of 80-100 kg / m?) 0.05-0.06 is 4 times better than wood. With an outer wall thickness of 0.4-0.5 m, the heat transfer resistance of the wall is 7-9, which is 3 times higher than the Russian norm for the middle lane and the Urals and, as a rule, is sufficient to create an energy-passive (unheated) house.

Durability: Wooden buildings can stand for 500 and more than 1000 years, examples: Churches of the 15th century Russia, 7th century Japan. Straw (due to the increased 2-3 times the content of silica in it) more resistant material than a tree.

Ability to "breathe":

Straw "breathes", i.e. regulates indoor humidity, is much better than wood and has excellent vapor barrier properties, the mechanism of which is not completely clear.

Moisture resistance:

According to one of the hypotheses, ice in straw is formed in the form of porous fractal structures, which does not impair its heat-shielding properties.

Moisture resistance:

Due to the increased ability to evaporate non-equilibrium moisture, straw structures endure even short floods without damage to themselves.

(Baths and pools made of straw without vapor barrier films).

Fire resistance:

Blocks covered with plaster can withstand 2 hours of exposure to open fire;

The straw block open only on one side does not support combustion;

Straw burns much worse than wood, and densely compressed bales (density 200-300 kg / m?) Do not burn!

Properly built thatched houses are not damaged by fires.

Environmental friendliness:

Straw houses are more favorable for living than wooden ones, which is confirmed by health studies of the Chernobyl settlers in Belarus;

Straw has been used since ancient times to protect against geopathic influences, the expression “lay straws” probably comes from the ancient builders of the Egyptian pyramids. The opinion was expressed that straw was laid under the base of the pyramids;

resistance to biodamage:

The equilibrium moisture content of the straw in the wall is no more than 8%, while the processes of decay in the straw and wood begin at a moisture content of more than 20%, therefore, in the absence of leaks, the straw does not rot;

There are special straw building techniques that prevent the settlement of rodents, however, even without them, with proper construction, rodents do not pose a problem in thatched houses.

Construction labor intensity:

Construction all year round. With a qualified manager, the requirements for the qualification of workers are minimal.***

And what is being done in Russia?

In Russia, 800 million tons of rye and wheat straw are produced annually in the fields. It is possible to build 2,600,000 houses of 150 sq.m. from straw every year.

In 2009, experimental construction of a frame-straw house is being carried out near Moscow, a house is being built in Volgograd, in 2008 a house was built in Altai, in 2006, 2007, 2007 4 houses were built in the Urals. It is planned to expand the construction of frame-straw houses on the lands of the Kirov region, Chelyabinsk region and Tatarstan.

The main advantages of frame-straw houses:

- low operating costs houses, straw-frame houses, properly built, have energy consumption below 12 kWh/m?·year, which is several times less than the existing regulatory requirements;

- environmental friendliness frame-thatched houses;

- d construction accessibility, at present, turnkey frame-straw houses can be built at a price of 16-18 thousand rubles / m?, with further development of technology and the inclusion of an increasing amount of natural materials in the process of building a house, the cost will be significantly reduced;

Experience in the construction of frame-straw houses in the Urals.

In 2006, a 2-storey house was built in Yekaterinburg with an area of ​​150 sq.m.

In 2007, a 2-storey house with an area of ​​220 sq.m. was built near Chelyabinsk.

In 2008 in Perm region built a house with an area of ​​50 sq.m.

In 2009, a house with an area of ​​240 sq.m. is being built in the Sverdlovsk region, excluding an outbuilding and a winter garden.

For several years of construction of frame-straw houses, a certain method of construction has been developed.

Construction method: with the motto "living houses" in harmony with nature for a beneficial effect on human health.

The construction method includes the following steps:

Study of the site and study of the surrounding space;

Design according to old Russian measures, taking into account modern methods;

Procurement, extraction of natural materials;

Manufacturing of structures and materials;

Bookmark at home;

Home construction;

Transfer of the house to operation.

Study of a plot of land, surrounding space, diagnosing the state of health, participants in the construction process and people living in the house:

The purpose of this stage is: the first is to identify the place where it is better to build a house, the second is to determine what materials and what method to build a house from, the third is to establish the shape effect, i.e. beneficial influence, the response of the space (form) of the house to a piece of land and, of course, to people who are in the field of influence of such a house.

The "shape effect" was discovered during the study of the Egyptian pyramids. Later it was found that other geometric shapes also have a less striking shape effect than pyramids. In other words, any form has a certain impact on the surrounding space. Much, in the mechanism of such influence, is not yet clear to mankind;

The bioclimatic, soil, geopathogenic and other characteristics of the site are being studied;

Certain characteristics of the site are removed and recorded before the start of construction;

In the study of the site and the study of the area, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe design of the house is born;

The state of health of construction participants is diagnosed before the start of the process of building an object;

The dynamics of changes in the state of health of people living in the house is diagnosed, before the start of construction, during the construction of the house, at the time of housewarming and further after 3, 6 months, 1, 2 years.

The proposed method of construction will make it possible to establish the fact of the harmonious influence of properly built houses on the space of a plot of land and the fact of beneficial changes in the state of health of people living in the house.

Designing according to old Russian measures, taking into account modern methods:

The ancient Roman architect P. Vitruvius said: "... no temple (house) without proportionality and proportion can have the correct composition if it does not have the same exact division as a well-built person."

Academician of the International Academy of Information at the UN A.F. Chernyaev believes that in church construction until 1918 the ancient system of measures (sazhen) was preserved, which was used in the construction of the pyramids. Ancient design rules are being reborn. A.F. Chernyaev substantiates the multiplicity of all sazhens to the golden number 1.618 (F).

Science has determined that all spirals known to mankind from cosmic galaxies to DNA molecules correspond to the golden section formula 1:1.618. Determined that " golden ratio» is a universal constant solar system, which characterizes the relationship, for example, of sunlight with the processes of photosynthesis on our planet and harmonious relationships in the gas exchange of living organisms.

The laws of the golden ratio are everywhere found in the structure of organic and inorganic nature.

The design is based on a certain matrix. Currently, 15 Russian sazhens are known, which are connected with nature in golden proportions, and among themselves, in addition, form 11 pairs of square sazhens.

The first design rule is to determine which of the 11 pairs of fathoms is most suitable for determining the width and length of the building in a particular situation.

The second design rule: a measure (sazhens) is calculated to establish the height of the building. Calculations are made using the golden wurf law. The proportions of a person are described by the "golden wurf".

Third design rule: When defined dimensions, the shape of the object is proportionally divided using 1, 1, 1, 1 and 1 parts of fathoms, respectively: half a fathom, elbows, spans, pasterns and tops for a beautiful, proportional design of the facade and interior of the building.

Design rules using Russian sazhens are in their infancy. The author began to acquaint architects and designers with such rules in order to identify their actual effectiveness.

Thus, the design is carried out according to the old Russian measures, using modern design techniques and taking into account certain recommendations of Feng Shui and Vastu.

As a result, we, with a certain confidence, affirm that we design and build "living houses" that contribute to the harmonization of space and a beneficial effect on improving the well-being of people living in the house and being in the "field of influence" of such a house.

Advice to families thinking about building their own home. Do not spare the time to search, the birth of the image of the house. If it is not possible to pay for the services of an architect, then find an opportunity to get professional advice.

The house that you build for centuries is worth it!

We will not disclose the issues of harvesting natural materials, laying the house and putting the house into operation in this article, we believe that it is more important for the reader today to learn how to build a frame-thatched house.

Construction of a frame-straw house:

The idea of ​​building a house. Fast installation of a framework with a roof. Filling walls and ceilings with pressed straw blocks. Finishing the facade and interior of the house with clay mortars. Surface treatment of external and internal walls houses with silicate compounds.

Foundation design:

Structures of frame-straw type are several times lighter than structures of traditional (stone, wooden) types of houses. Therefore, the applied foundation design differs significantly from the traditionally established foundation structures.

Foundation idea:

Minimization of labor costs, primarily earthworks;

Dramatic reduction (virtual elimination) of the use of expensive building materials such as cement;

Extension of foundation design properties;

The design of the foundation is developed taking into account the properties of the soil and groundwater deposited at the construction site;

In general, the design of the foundation has the following device:

Wooden poles, the surface of which is subjected to special processing, rest on "concrete" stones with a sand cushion.

Foundation device:

Holes are dug 60 cm deep and covered in layers with sand, watering and tamping;

Sand-filled pits are “closed” with concrete stone;

Waterproofing is carried out;

A wooden stump, a pole is installed.

The applied design of the foundation meets the necessary requirements in terms of bearing capacity, and in terms of labor costs and cost, it is several times simpler and, accordingly, cheaper than traditional structures. In addition, such a design can be performed on fine winter days.

House strapping device.

Experience in the construction of frame-straw houses has shown that the design of the foundation at all erected objects is different, and is always determined by local features.

Frame construction:

There are a lot of frame designs, each has its own characteristics, and craftsmen prefer the type of structure that seems to them the most suitable for a particular purpose.

The main, shaping elements of the developed frame are set with a modular step of 2 to 3 meters.

The second elements of the frame, ties and girders, give the frame the necessary mounting stability, strength and allow the installation of roof elements already.

Thus, the design of the developed frame is a frame with truss-type elements and is made of lumber. This design allows for quick installation of the frame, without the use of heavy equipment. Installation of one floor, the main elements of the frame, can be done in one day.

The main elements of the frame create the core of the rigidity of the building being erected.

Structures are prepared in advance, on a site prepared for the manufacture of structures. For the manufacture of structures, lumber and connection elements are used as materials, and professional hand-held power tools are used as tools.

Frame idea:

Increasing the strength and stability of the frame structure, while reducing the consumption of lumber for its manufacture, by improving the shape of the frame structure;

Increasing the fire resistance and biostability of the wood material due to special processing;

Minimization of the use of expensive connecting elements (metal), while at the same time switching to non-wood and adhesive joints.

Frame structures prepared for installation are treated with bio- and flame retardants.

Before assembling the ground floor frame: foundation, framing and floor beams must be completed. A working floor is laid on the floor beams. The elements of the frame frame are laid out along the working floor, and an enlarged assembly is carried out. Mounting assembled frame carried out by 3-4 workers, using a mounting rope. To facilitate the accuracy of frame installation, stops are used.

External wall construction:

Idea for exterior walls:

Increasing the thermal resistance of the outer walls to a level that allows you to create energy-passive houses, i.e. unheated;

Creating a wall from local, affordable, ecological and renewable materials, while mining, which does not disturb the natural balance.

On the this stage development of a constructive system, blocks of pressed straw are used to fill the walls. They are made, on well-known in agriculture, balers.

The conditions for making blocks are simple:

Straw can be used fresh and last year, but it must be dry and beautiful, golden in appearance;

Withered-looking and previously moldy straw should not be used.

Blocks can be made directly in the field, where a baler can pick up straw swaths. If the straw is collected in stacks, then the baler can be placed at the stack and fed with forks to the receiving unit of the baler. A third option is also possible: to deliver straw in rolls to a convenient place, for example, under a canopy, and to produce blocks, even all year round.

Some features to consider when filling walls with straw blocks:

It is necessary to provide for structural restrictions on the “movement” of blocks, in horizontal and vertical directions;

Each row of blocks should be limited to external and internal runs, which will not allow the blocks to fall out of the building or, on the contrary, fall into the room;

After laying the first row of blocks, you should carefully caulk the vertical seams between the blocks,

After laying out the second row of blocks, two rows of blocks are pierced with rods, then, again, the vertical seams between the blocks are caulked (we will start caulking the horizontal seams a little later);

We proceed to the horizontal caulking between the rows of blocks, when the rows of blocks, on top, rest against a constructive restriction;

A well-pressed block, when cutting the fastening thread, does not immediately disintegrate, this circumstance allows you to take only the part required in size from the whole block, and put it between the blocks into the wall, without a fastening thread (the rest of the block can be re-tied with a thread).

After filling the walls with blocks, we proceed to the "shingling" of the outer side of the wall. Currently, it is easier to make and use sawn shingles, (previously chipped shingles were used). We make shingles 5 mm thick from scraps of boards 20-25 mm. We attach the first row of shingles to the girders with a stapler at an angle of 45?, and in increments of 12 cm, so that the hand of a person with adobe (straw with clay) can easily pass between the shingles.

The first row of shingles is attached, you can prepare the adobe and proceed to the outer "clay mantling".

Briefly about the preparation of saman:

We soak the clay, mix it in a day, then carefully mix the clay in small portions, for example, with a mixer;

In the resulting clay dough, in portions, add bundles of straw and mix until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

About "clay bastard":

With a prepared homogeneous mass of adobe, we fill, with little effort, the cavity between the straw blocks and shingles;

The resulting layer of clay with straw, 5-7 cm thick, is a good protection against various negative influences;

The applied "clay namet" can not be smoothed over.

On the second row of shingles we apply a layer of clay, and let the clay dry well and become covered with multiple cracks. With this preparation, the plaster layer of lime mortar will adhere well.

The facade can be painted with very durable silicate paints, for the manufacture of which the main required components are available in the Urals.

Cover design:

Overlay idea:

Increasing the heat-insulating properties, to cover the 1st floor and the attic floor;

Increased soundproofing properties;

Reducing the weight of the floor structure, through the use of void formers.

At this stage, a simple, beam construction of the floor is used. A feature of the used ceilings is a large sectional height, at least 50 cm. This is done in order to achieve very good heat-insulating properties. To the beams, for example, with a section of 150x50 and a step of 500 on hangers, a reel is attached. Used cardboard processed on both sides is placed on the plank reel, which can be fixed with brackets to the reel. Insulation is laid on cardboard - straw blocks. On top of the insulation, a screed made of clay dough with silicate curing is arranged. Another option for the flooring device, instead of straw blocks, can be laid on cardboard, a layer of void formers, closed with one or two rows of reed fascines.

Construction of internal walls and partitions

The idea of ​​interior walls: walls made of natural materials have the following properties:

The indoor humidity is effectively regulated, i.e. comfortable parameters for human habitation are quickly restored, with a sharp increase in humidity in wet weather or, with a decrease in humidity on hot days;

Does not emit substances harmful to human health into the indoor air;

Absorbed from indoor air unpleasant and harmful odors for humans;

They do not take away heat from a person upon contact;

Do not attract dust-like particles, have high hygienic properties.

Internal walls and partitions are rammed on one side with slats with a diagonal orientation. On the other hand, walls and partitions, slats are nailed horizontally and gradually, as the body of the wall or partition is filled with adobe.

Thus, the basis of healthy, ecological walls and partitions is created.

About the timing of the construction of houses:

In 2008, a 50 sq.m. frame-thatched house was built on a turnkey basis in 5 weeks.

A house with an area of ​​150-200 sq.m without finishing, is built in 3-4 months.

Frame-straw houses have increased fire resistance. The tested fire resistance of a plastered straw wall is 120 minutes, while that of an exposed steel structure is 15 minutes.

The range of possible construction using the frame-straw technology is unusually wide: in many countries, schools and other public and industrial buildings are built using this technology.

Building a house using straw bales may seem at first glance crazy idea. And, by the way, for some, this alone is a serious limitation - the risk of being branded as a "black sheep" is not too tough for many :) But still, this is not the only and not the main drawback and risk in the construction of a thatched house.

Straw and pressed straw blocks have three real "enemies" - this is increased humidity, fire and rodents. Let's call them "obvious" shortcomings.

Disadvantages are obvious

1 Risk of rotting in high humidity

Straw with a moisture content of more than 20% begins to mold, rot and collapse the stems, so it is important to keep the straw blocks dry before construction begins, lay them dry and quickly close up with plaster.

It also follows from this that thatched walls cannot be left open. At the same time, the choice of coatings is also limited:

• cement-sand plaster
• clay-sand plaster
• gypsum plaster
• gypsum sheets
• wooden panels

There is a risk of mold growth for both unplastered and poorly made walls.
In areas with a constant humid climate, you will need high-quality vapor barrier on the inner surfaces of the outer walls.
Wide roof overhangs protect the house from heavy rain.

2 fire

Plastered pressed straw blocks have high fire resistance, they are officially awarded very. A properly protected thatched wall is superior in fire safety to a wooden one. But straw scattered on the construction site can easily cause a fire. You need to be especially careful with straw in attics, attics, near fireplaces.

In confirmation - the story of a woman whose house burned down during the construction phase.

"Building a house for permanent residence(Autumn 2005). The plot was bought with a finished basement. The frame was attached to the foundation with anchors 14x220. The blocks were tied with two simple strings, they were not compressed in good conscience, because during laying, a lot was gutted ... The outer wall was covered with DSP, and the inner ones were sewn up with a board with a gap.

In the photo you can see to what stage the house was built until it burned down (on the second floor, they managed to make a draft floor and interior partitions). At this stage, the builders began to lay glass insulation on the foundation on the 1st floor, heating it with a blowtorch (April 2006). According to them, windows were open on the second floor. After a while, it began to smoke under the skin and floor. They began to blow up, flood, but could not, the fire spread very quickly and burned the whole house. There are many versions, but I think there was a draft of hot air and, most importantly, a violation of fire safety…”

Prevention measures:

• no smoking on the construction site
• quickly clean up scattered straw
• always have a fire extinguisher handy
• do not use open flames until the walls are plastered
• use tightly packed straw blocks
• after laying the blocks, plaster them outside, and then inside the house, before proceeding with the interior decoration.

3 Rodents

“So the mice will eat it” is a very common statement about thatched houses. Why is it so widespread? Because mice can really settle in the straw in search of food and warmth. True, not in any straw, and not quite in straw :) It is inconvenient for mice to settle directly in straw blocks - they are prickly, but in the voids between the block and, for example, a drywall slab, they may well.

By the way, rodents are not the only small pests that can help you tear your house apart :) There are also birds and insects that can also choose straw as their habitat.

Prevention measures: use rye or rice straw for insulation (mice do not eat it and do not settle in it), isolate all possible ways of access to the straw.

Disadvantages little mentioned, but real

4 Design limitations

When using a load-bearing frame, design restrictions are small, but they exist, and they primarily concern the number, location, width and height of openings.

5 Thick walls

Makes walls quite thick. One of the difficulties with walls of this thickness is the need to expand the foundation and increase the roof area. In houses with thinner walls, creating exactly the same useful inner space requires fewer resources.

6 Few typical projects

Unlike houses built using other technologies, there is a clear shortage typical schemes straw block construction. This means that the development of a straw house construction project will most likely have to be ordered individually, and understanding architects-designers-builders will have to be looked for.

In some countries, there are still no building codes(in Belarus it is regulated by SNIP, in the Russian Federation and Ukraine it also seems to be).

7 Timing and money

You need to immediately have a certain amount on hand in order to quickly solve the “must-have problems”. I will give one dialogue from the forum, which illustrates this point well.

- ... one BUT: if I put up a log house and I run out of money, I can live in it unfinished, but a straw house requires both external and interior decoration, and right away.
- The cost of a minimum finish for living in a house is so insignificant that it does not deserve a separate discussion. If there was money for the frame, roof and windows, then there would be crumbs for plastering.
- Something tells me that it will cost at least $5 per square, and there are a lot of squares in the house!
- Necessarily! At least 5! If you don’t put your hands on yourself, but walk and poke your finger, it’s uneven here, grease it there ...

8 Timing and money - 2

We have suitable straw closer to August, and if there is not enough money, then you may not have time to do everything before winter. And in winter external walls plastering is not possible. Therefore, there is a prospect under the roof of an unfinished house or outbuildings on the site, and after it - risk No. 1.

9 "Finger pointing"

Due to the fact that the technology of building from straw blocks is not yet very widespread, it will be necessary to monitor the progress of work much more and more carefully compared to building from "traditional" materials: so that the builders do not smoke, do not work with the burner, and that fertilizers are nearby with straw did not turn out (for example, ammonium nitrate- upon contact with sawdust or straw, spontaneous combustion is possible), and so that children with matches do not appear nearby ...

P.S. Disadvantages of thatched houses with a load-bearing frame

You may have already heard that a straw house can be built framed and frameless. To be honest, I still have little idea of ​​a process with this, however, people call the disadvantages of thatched construction with a supporting frame, so we’ll just mark them “for show”. So, this is an additional expenditure of time, money, labor, materials for the creation of a supporting system, when the blocks themselves could support the weight of the roof, as well as the need to create a foundation that carries the weight of the blocks and concentrated loads from vertical racks.

Do not know global!
Do you know more about the disadvantages and risks? Please share!

Read soon:

• Myths about the straw house
• "Straw" superstitions

media concept How to improve health and refuse utility bills?

Most of the population in Belarus, Russia and other countries is very cautious about the use of chemicals in food and drink - preservatives, emulsifiers, dyes, antioxidants, other food additives, although they buy food, as a rule, without reading its composition on the packaging. People are very active in protesting against the use of chemicals in agriculture - herbicides, pesticides and even fertilizers. Everyone unanimously stands up for environmentally friendly products, constantly talks about it, but almost no one really knows what it really is and how to distinguish it from polluted. People are already accustomed to the mass introduction of artificial, i.e., chemically obtained, substances into the category of things and do not protest, apparently relying on what they will be able to implement. right choice themselves. Therefore, a much smaller number of people control the quality of their "second skin" - clothes, shoes, accessories and other wearable items, meticulously finding out the proportion of synthetics in them and trying to choose items with a predominance of natural components.

It may seem incredible, but the same people who strive not to use "synthetics" in their everyday life do not think about the fact that their home is largely the same "synthetics", that is, the product of the chemical revolution.

If, when buying a suit or boots, we try to choose those models in which there is generally less of any "synthetics" without going into the differences between the types of synthetic substances, then when building or updating our home, most often we do not even ask ourselves about the composition and origin of certain building materials.

Having chosen a suit according to the criterion of the naturalness of the fabric, we usually do not think about the naturalness of the lining, not to mention the material of the threads, buttons and other things. In the case of housing, such a lightweight approach is unacceptable, if only because there are much more arrays and surfaces of building elements, which means that the flow of influences on a person is many times more powerful.

Those who ask such questions usually reassure themselves that everything will be all right if the main building material of the house is brick or wood, which does not arouse suspicion due to its centuries-old experience. But they forget that even 60–70 years ago a log thinner than 40 cm in diameter was not used in housing construction due to large heat losses (and now finding such a log is a problem) and that in such a complex system as a house, there are other materials, the effect of which cannot be compensated by brick or wood walls.

To an even lesser extent, designers and builders care about the environmental friendliness of the materials that make up buildings. The reason is clear - not for myself. Even today, when it is possible to choose and buy materials of different levels of environmental friendliness, one often has to observe the picture of the construction of an “elite” house, during which the walls are lined with bricks on the outside, and thermal insulation from phenol-resol foam or other harmful polymer is laid inside.

natural alternative

Have you seen swallows or wasps near the nest? It is perfectly adapted to environment, weather conditions, the rhythm of life and the natural cycle of dwellings, which are in close connection with Nature and Space. Is it possible to use some methods of building bird and wasp dwellings in human habitation?

Building a home out of straw bales may seem like a crazy idea at first glance. But it is well known that straw bales combine all the properties of an excellent building material: they are cheap, durable, easily accessible, environmentally friendly and have good thermal insulation. Straw bales are durable as long as they are protected from penetrating and rising damp. Their insulating properties are much better than those of wood or brick. A straw block with a typical thickness of 50 cm has excellent thermal insulation properties, which improve after plastering. Moreover, the wall remains "breathing" an order of magnitude higher than a wall made of natural logs. Thick walls with structural surface have special benefits. "Living" and "breathing" structures create an extraordinary indoor climate, allow you to feel confident and secure. Strict rectangular surfaces and smooth walls of straw blocks can also be created, but this will require more skill and effort. They are not characteristic of this natural material. Houses made of straw cubes, on the contrary, will please the eye, delight with soft lines. Thanks to the easy processing of the straw blocks, round shapes are also possible. Niches or round arched windows and doors are made using an ordinary electric saw, cutting the desired shape in the straw. Although if the owner gravitates toward even planes and right angles, there are no problems either ...

Warm straw nest

The eco-house project is based on the principle of compliance with the theory of sustainable development - development, in which the satisfaction of the needs of the current generation does not jeopardize the ability to meet the needs of future generations. The environmental imperative is included in the concept of the project as a component of the dominant.

The project, apart from general requirements to the construction of the building, drawn up on the basis of the following provisions:

Planning and volume decisions should take into account the peculiarities of the landscape and construction technologies and ensure the maximum ecological quality of the habitat - internal and external - at minimal cost;

The house and the plot make up a single artificial ecosystem that does not harm the environment and the health of current and future generations;

The total energy consumption (especially fossil fuel energy) both in the construction process and in the operation of buildings should be kept to a minimum;

Maximum use environmentally clean materials, careful attitude to the local flora and fauna;

Socialization of the environment.

Territory planning was carried out taking into account the use of the principles of passive "solar" architecture and was aimed at the socialization of the territory, the development of a human-friendly environment, which should become " small homeland» for current and future generations of residents of the eco-house.

This dictated the planning decisions for the development of the territory and the "sunny" architecture of the buildings: a small pool and a sauna (at the request of the residents), a fireplace can be provided in a straw house. The eco-house can be equipped with local low-cost permaculture systems for the disposal of domestic wastewater, which improve the fertility of household plots and have been worked out in the climatic conditions of Belarus.

A straw eco-house is usually made energy-passive: building envelopes have a heat transfer resistance coefficient of at least 8 (modern SNiPs require 2.5), only local environmentally friendly natural materials are used (straw blocks are delivered directly from the field during cereal harvesting), which has a good effect on value terms. Earthmoving and lifting mechanisms are not used during the construction of the eco-house, since the walls are light and do not require a large amount of reinforced concrete in the foundation, which allows you to save the grass cover and not injure the land, which our ancestors considered (and not without reason) to be “alive”.

The eco-house was built using the already well-established eco-technology in Belarus for the construction of enclosing structures (a plastered or plasterboard-covered wall made of straw blocks) in a frame version (the load is carried by a wooden half-timbered frame).

This technology provides the following parameters:

Energy indicators. It provides a reduction in energy consumption during construction by at least 300 times compared to brick and gas silicate building envelopes with modern insulation per 1 m2 of the total area.

Thermal conductivity coefficients of enclosing structures. The thermal conductivity index of the floor without heating is 0.23 W/m2K, thatch walls - 0.12 W/m2K, roofs - 0.19 W/m2K.

The need for energy for heating.

Is less than 40 kWh/m2 per year.

High Fire safety(after plastering).

Confirmed by official tests. The structure of the plastered straw wall has been officially tested in the USA and Germany and classified as fire class F119 (a metal truss, for example, is class F15, i.e. bearing capacity 15 minutes after exposure to open flame).

Construction time. It takes about 14 weeks from the start of earthworks (foundation) to the moment of settlement, if the construction is carried out rhythmically.

Construction cost. The cost per 1 m2 of the total area with the finish "under the wallpaper" in the basic version is about 260 USD. e. (in 2006).

Implementation experience.

In Belarus, the first rural eco-houses made of straw blocks were built in 1996. In 1999, after official testing, the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of the Republic of Belarus recommended the projects of these eco-houses for reuse.

Their construction continues in increasing volumes, and, having begun as the construction of "housing for the poor", has turned into "housing for the middle class and smart rich." It is this part of the population that today is concerned about the environmental quality of their homes (problems of the impact on the health of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, phenol formaldehyde, etc.) and heating costs, as well as the environmental problem of global climate change. It is already clear to everyone that gas prices are unlikely to fall in the future, but will only increase many times over. The requirements for joining the WTO are to raise energy prices to the world (European) level. By 2011, in Russia, the domestic gas price will reach the European one (230 USD per thousand m³ in 2006). Heating of 1 m3 of thatched eco-houses consumes 3–4 times less energy, which has been proven by practice…

All necessary regulatory and technical documentation is available. Developers for the first time in the history of the CIS were awarded the International Prize for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy in the category "Housing" (Austria, 2000), nominated for the UN Habitat Prize and a number of other prestigious international awards. In 2003–2004 a number of foreign experts, including German, Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, Ukrainian, learned this eco-technology during the seminars of the Belarusian branch of the International Academy of Ecology (MAE BO). Note: we are not with them, but they are with us.

From the Bible it is known that the wise Solomon for the craftsmen who "knew how to cut wood" gave values ​​equivalent to the cost of several cities. Why? Esotericists know that if a person interrupts someone else's life (for example, a tree) to create items that satisfy his basic needs, then he bears karmic responsibility for this. Therefore, the skill of cutting a tree in ancient times consisted in the ability to reduce or remove this responsibility, preserve the purity of the energy of the tree and increase its service life, which contributed to the formation of a favorable energy environment in the built dwelling. Bits of this knowledge have been preserved by the Eastern Feng Shui teaching, but still today we know practically nothing about it.

At best, they will tell you that the forest must be prepared in winter and at a certain phase of the moon ... Straw is another matter: the plant has gone through a full development cycle, the energy of the stem is powerful and positive, no special skills are required when harvesting, and the energy of the home is excellent. This is emphasized by everyone who lives in eco-houses made of straw. For example, residents of the Druzhnaya eco-village call straw houses “alive” and note that they “sleep well” in them. This is probably why the sites for the foundations of ancient religious and defensive structures, for example, the pyramids in Giza or the Great Chinese wall lined with a thin layer of straw. Previously, Belarusians also used the energy of straw: when creating straw "spiders" that were attached above the cradles and protected children from "evil spirits" (and practically blocked the effects of geo- and anthropogenic zones), thatched roofs, mattresses (still considered to be curative), utensils, etc.

We all remember the famous tale of the three little pigs, which ridicules the poor Nif-nif and Nuf-nuf, who preferred flimsy structures made of straw and branches to a solid brick structure. Meanwhile, in the homeland of these same three piglets, in good old England, as well as in Germany, the USA and dozens of other countries, straw houses are being actively built. Today - one of the most economical, environmentally friendly and reliable building materials. So what was the matter, why are we still building from concrete, brick and timber? Let's try to debunk some of the most common myths and fears regarding the construction of straw blocks...

Myth #1: Lack of strength

The best proof of reliability is the durability of existing straw block buildings. The oldest of these, in Nebraska, are about a hundred years old and still in excellent condition. But in order to dispel the doubts of the incredulous, one should probably turn to the results of experiments. The Canadian Finance and Construction Corporation specifically conducted a series of tests to find out the reliability of thatched houses. For the demonstration experiment, a wall of straw blocks 2.44 m high and 3.66 m long, covered with plaster, was built. This wall withstood, without visible signs of destruction, a vertical pressure of 8 thousand kg and a lateral pressure of 325 kg, which fully meets all construction requirements.

The experts assessed that these figures correspond to the following loads:
Payload - 220 kg/m2. Snow loads - 293 kg/m2. Wind loads - 78 kg/m2. Permanent loads - 234 kg/m2. The results of the experiments show that this construction technique is fully trustworthy. Thatched houses could do a good job in seismically active regions. An example of this is a house in Wyoming, which was completely unaffected by the aftershocks, while neighboring buildings were damaged.

Myth #2: What if there's a fire?

The question of the safety of structures made of straw blocks in relation to fire usually always arises among those who first hear about such a construction technique. And this is a completely natural question, because everyone knows perfectly well how straw burns. Paper also burns wonderfully, but try setting fire to a thick book. This is a rather laborious task. A straw block, provided the straw is sufficiently compacted, resembles such a book in many respects. Moreover, we should not forget that thatched buildings are always covered with a thick layer of plaster, which greatly reduces the risk of fire. If you rely on comparative characteristics, thatched houses are far superior in terms of fire protection wooden structures(log cabins, frame houses etc.).

High fire safety is confirmed by official tests. The stucco thatched wall design has been officially tested in the US and Germany and rated F119 fire rated. A metal truss, for example, belongs to the fire resistance class F15, i.e. it loses its bearing capacity after 15 minutes under the influence of fire. The Canadian National Research Council has carried out special tests on stucco straw blocks. The results of the experiments showed that they, in terms of their fire-fighting characteristics, are superior to other generally accepted Construction Materials. A plastered straw block was heated for 4 hours. During all this time, its temperature has only risen to 43 ° C twice, which fully meets all the requirements. The plastered surface withstood heating up to 100 °C for 2 hours without any trace of cracks.

Here is an excerpt from a report on the results of these experiments: “The wall, made of plastered straw blocks, is unusually resistant to fire. Straw bales contain enough air inside to provide good insulating qualities, but at the same time, due to the pressing, they do not contain enough air to ignite. ” However, thatched houses can burn like any other, and special attention, first of all, must be paid to the electrical wiring. The best strategy is to lay down enough thick wiring, and use metal or plastic tubular insulators. Fire usually spreads from top to bottom from the roof or attic, so a fire barrier must be included in the design of the house, laid on the top plane of the wall. Such a barrier can be a layer of clay plaster.

Myth #3: Straw will rot, spider bugs, rat mice will start...

People who had to dismantle old buildings, where ordinary rye straw served as a heater, were surprised at its excellent preservation for 100-150 years. Very often, people worry that straw houses can become a haven for all sorts of pests. Stacks swarming with mice and other chilling examples are given as an example. Experience shows that such fears are unfounded. Straw in blocks is subjected to pressing, which does not leave rodents much chance for housewarming. In addition, a thick layer of plaster is enough good protection from all types of pests, including the smallest - insects. If we compare thatched houses with other conventional buildings, then sheathed frame houses are of greater interest to unwanted guests, due to the space between the walls. A clear confirmation of the above can serve as a thatched house in Massachusetts, which stood without plaster for several years, showing no signs that rodents were wound up there. However, in order to be completely calm, one must bear in mind the following. The straw must be sufficiently compacted, which can be verified by the ratio of block size to weight.

Myth #4: Heat will dissipate

Straw has a thermal conductivity 7 times lower than brick and 4 times lower than wood. Accordingly, the amount of fuel required to heat the room is reduced by the same amount. The straw house is energy-passive; building envelopes have a heat transfer resistance coefficient of at least 8 (modern SNiPs require 2.5).

Energy performance: energy consumption during construction is reduced by at least 300 times compared to brick and gas silicate building envelopes with modern insulation per 1 m2 of the total area.

The coefficients of thermal conductivity of enclosing structures: the thermal conductivity of a straw wall is 0.12 W / m2K, which is comparable to such indicators as: wood 0.5 W / m2K, brick 0.5–1.5 W / m2K. The energy requirement for heating is less than 40 kWh/m2 per year.

Straw blocks are an excellent heat insulator. Even the first settlers in Nebraska, who first applied this construction technique, noted that in winter it was unusually warm in such a house. They specially measured the temperature inside the house when it hit 20-degree frosts. The thermometer showed 18 degrees Celsius, and the stove was not working at that time. In addition, in summer time a straw house is always cooler than outside, no matter how hot it is. All these qualities make them unusually pleasant for the inhabitants. At the same time, the direct benefit must also be taken into account. Many of those who live in thatched houses note that their heating costs are always half that of their neighbors who live in ordinary houses.

Consumption ecology. Manor: Straw roofing has a number of advantages. It, thanks to a special laying technology, will keep warm in the winter cold, and cool in the summer heat.

Despite the fact that in the past only poor owners covered their own with straw, today, this type of roofing has begun to occupy one of the leading positions among the elite types of coatings. On the this moment There are a fairly large number of architectural types of straw roofs, but the most common are American, English, Dutch and Danish types of roofs.

Their main advantage, first of all, lies in a rather original appearance and excellent technical performance. A thatched roof can become a wonderful decoration for almost any home, giving it its own unique and special flavor. Its distinctive feature is its naturalness and attractiveness. This type of roof can be used not only for the arrangement of small cottages, but also for covering roofs of more spacious structures. A straw roof can give a special originality even to very expensive and elite houses.

Although this type of roof is called straw, in their arrangement, in addition to long-stalk straw, reeds, heather and reeds are also used. The material for covering houses is most often reed, since it is he who is the most durable. In addition, the increased flexibility of reeds allows you to create roofing coverings of various shapes and designs.

Straw and reeds, at present, belong to the category of elite materials used for the manufacture of roofing. In reality, the exclusivity of such a roof lies in the quality of the material used, the complexity of manufacturing and, of course, its originality. When laying a thatched roof, they use only environmentally friendly safe materials with unique performance characteristics.

Thatch roofing has a number of advantages. It, thanks to a special laying technology, will keep warm in the winter cold, and cool in the summer heat. Materials of natural origin allow the house to breathe and create a favorable microclimate in the room.

Such roofs are quite reliable and are characterized by increased resistance even to the most extreme weather conditions. Due to the use of special impregnation, they do not absorb water, do not swell, and do not change their shape due to moisture.

Despite the fact that straw itself is considered a fire hazard, the possibility of its ignition, due to the very dense laying and the use of flame retardants, is reduced to a minimum.

This type of coverage, unlike other types of roofs, does not require the arrangement of additional ventilation systems. The thatched roof fully complies with all norms of heat and sound insulation. Its thermal conductivity is no worse than even that of modern species heaters.

Among the disadvantages of a thatched roof, one should highlight the impossibility of installing gutters and pipes, which is caused by the significant thickness of the coating itself. The solution to this problem in each case is carried out individually.

Another disadvantage of straw covering is its high cost. The use of straw as a roofing material will cost much more than the use of tiles or other materials. True, in this case there is a certain plus. When installing a thatched roof, you will not have to spend extra money on arranging steam and waterproofing, which means that the difference in the total cost will not be so noticeable. published