This little piggy wanted to build a house of straw

[wiskey]

Grand Designs has featured two straw based houses, neither have been super houses, (quite the opposite.)

everything on grand designs is way over the top. because people who go on telly programmes make that sort of house.

(i have just found an episode broadcast the other day on 4OD that i'm now downloading to see how they built their straw house)

 

[wiskey]

Glad you enjoyed it

tbh although I enjoyed it too, there were bits that irritated me - I didn't much want to hear about her boyfriends - not in that context anyways!

and yeah......she had a right nerve hanging on to the trailer. AND how lucky was she to have parents who could afford to dole out huge chunks of cash to a middle aged daughter?

It is fascinating tho....like the beaten earth floor idea a lot.

i have to admit i stopped without reading the last two pages. once she'd built it i lost interest.

i've just read the Practical Straw house book (thats not what its called, hang on i'll search for it: here ) and its been most helpful in demonstrating lots of things, like foundation types and fixings. I'm more knowledgeable about load bearing/non load bearing now and feel more comfortable about load bearing but i still like the idea of what she calls a hybrid, lightweight, timber frame.

its very hard trying to make this not be a pipe dream, although i've been considering it for many years already.

do you find the land first and fit your house to it, or design a house and find land to accomodate it??

next stop - lego

 

[wiskey]

incidentally i've just discovered a bloke in north bristol has been appealing for help with his straw bale house - but he did it over the summer. i'm looking for others nearby i can investigate too.

eta: like the one in ymu's post which is in st anns - but the walls are up.

bristol is def the place for this

 

[JTG]

I was dead impressed when you told me all about this on the train the other week mate. Hope it bears fruit sometime

 

[wiskey]

This might be of use/interest wiskey.

https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/382863.html

cool

theres a bit in the book i've just read where she describes how to make curved walls and talks about how difficult it is - because you have to try not to laugh too much

this is how you do it:

you put a bale on a log and jump on it

thats my type of building

 

[wiskey]

I was dead impressed when you told me all about this on the train the other week mate. Hope it bears fruit sometime

if it does i suspect you'll be as involved as i am

then we can build your house of twigs

by the way i know SO MUCH more about straw than i did a fortnight ago - i could tell you all about hazel stakes and damp proofing

 

[JTG]

if it does i suspect you'll be as involved as i am

then we can build your house of twigs

by the way i know SO MUCH more about straw than i did a fortnight ago - i could tell you all about hazel stakes and damp proofing

please feel free to do so any time you like

 

[wiskey]

*sigh*

All I want is enough money for a little house and a little bit of land. I don't want anything fancy schmancy - just pretty and something that I can feel secure in....

These days that really is too much to ask isn't it?

i hope not!

*pleeeese world*

 

[crustychick]

i have to admit i stopped without reading the last two pages. once she'd built it i lost interest.

i've just read the Practical Straw house book (thats not what its called, hang on i'll search for it: here ) and its been most helpful in demonstrating lots of things, like foundation types and fixings.

That's the book I have it's written by the lady from Amazon Nails. She is ace... you should email them and find out if they have any projects you can help out on... I'll keep my ears to the ground for ya as well, as I often have friends doing projects like this...

if you do do it, can I come help?

 

[wiskey]

mate i've earmarked you for a top job on my project

i'm now hunting the serious straw bales book.

and then i think we need a year to try and get into a financial situation to actually do this. and then i want to do it.

but i still dunno if land or design come first?

and tbh theres not a lot of info about planning rules or locations of the houses, most seem to start with people already having the land and money sorted.

but theres lotes of blogs and amazon nails do seem very good so i'll keep digging.

 

[pennimania]

You could look for land in areas that you like, and then investigate the town plan.

That way you could see if an outline planning aapplication is likely to be approved. Obviously the land will be far cheaper if you buy it without planning and then apply for it yourself.

Then you apply for full planning and that is when the devil is in the detail. You might find it very helpful to actuaally sound out various plaanning officers first.

We found the one in our area very helpful and willing to advise. I would say always consult them first (and any neighbours) if you really get to putting in an application.

They don't like when stuff falls on them from a great height as it were.

 

[wiskey]

yeah i can understand that - busy people and all that

someone at work suggested buying a decrepit old shack on land with residential planning permission, knocking it down and re-building.

 

[LilMissHissyFit]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7034371.stm

not good news for the eco minded in S wales but might contain something of relevance to you?

 

[wiskey]

that doesnt really say what they objected to

bit of a pity though

i went out to visit a mate who lives in a hugely expensive dockside (newly built) 'townhouse' today, which was really useful (i've not been to her home before) because she has a mezzanine level, and windows that are over a floor high on the south facing walls, it was really nice seeing how the light changes and lit the rooms.

i want one