Strawbale Building in Poland

Maciej Jagielak
Cracow University of Technology, Wydzia Architektury, ul.Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakw, Poland
E-mail: jagielakmaciej@gmail.com
Abstract: Strawbale, a building technology using baled straw, has been gaining popularity worldwide since the seventies. Key for this success are the
proprieties of straw bales as a building material (natural, renewable, highly insulating, with low embodied energy and low cost) that make it a perfect
choice for the challenges of sustainable design.
Recent development in strawbale building in Poland follows a similar rise of interest in other European countries, but in the same time it shows
some specific features which are noteworthy and distinctive. Research carried by the author, shows that Polish strawbale building is currently
in a stage of rapid development and professionalization of workmanship.
Key Words: strawbale, clay, natural building materials, low-tech, architecture in Poland
Introduction:
One of possible ways towards a more sustainable architecture is a combination of consciously simple building
technologies, raw and naturally grown materials, preference for hands-on human labour and learning from traditional
and vernacular bulding methods. Such set of characteristics can be described as low-tech architecture
(Koakowski,2005).It can be seen as an architectural implementation of an idea of 'apropriate technology' defined by
E.F.Schumacher (Schumacher,1973).
Strawbale is one of building technologies which follows the principles mentioned above. Because of its many
advantages, especially high isolation value, it has a growing number of dedicated enthusiasts in the USA and in many
European countries, including ( in the last decade) Poland.
No longer is strawbale just an experiment, it has developed to be a viable alternative for the conventional construction
technologies. Official tests and following building regulations carried out in many countries are a proof of this
transition.
In the year 2000 construction of a first strawbale house has started in Poland. In 2011 there are more than 30
buildings that are either finished or in construction. Research carried by the author, shows that strawbale building is
currently in a stage of rapid development and professionalization of workmanship. As a result it is likely to play an
important role in the future of sustainable building in Poland.
State of research:
Unlike building with clay or light-clay (clay with addition of straw), which have a long-standing tradition and
well developed literature, strawbale building in Poland has not yet been researched. Information about polish building
with straw-bale is based on authors own research: site visits, interviews or correspondence with builders and architects
and analysis of building descriptions and photographs available online.
Figure 1a, b. House in Piskrka, the biggest finished strawbale house in Poland a)during construction and b)finished.
Photo courtesy of Pawe Sroczyki.
General characteristics of strawbale building
Strawbale is a term that describes a construction method that uses bales of straw, that is, dry stems of crops,
pressed mechanically and bound with wire or twine by a baler (an agricultural baling press). There are many types and
sizes of balers, and a great variation of bales sizes is produced. Bales that are most commonly used for building are
classified as small (Minke and Mahlke, 2005, p.19) and can be about 35cm high, 40-50cm wide, 50-120cm long.
First strawbale houses were built, in absence of more familiar building materials, by settlers in Nebraska
(USA) in the second half of XIXth century, following the invention of horse-drawn baling press. The oldest houses
surviving in that region, are now over 100 years old. The revival of this building technology has started in seventies,
powered by fuel crisis and counter-culture of that time. It has been steadily gaining popularity ever since, first in USA,
than in Europe. For example, in Great Britain number of strawbale structures has changed from one in 1994 to several
hundred in 2010 (Jones, 2009, p.13).
Building methods using bales of straw can be grouped in two main categories (Minke and Mahlke, 2005, p21-
24), depending on the function of straw in a wall (or other part of structure).In the first group, called loadbearing
or nebrasca style bales are used (as the name suggests) as a basic structural, loadbearing element. In the second group
called infill, the loadbearing role is taken over by post and beam construction (usually wooden).Mixed solutions are
also used known (Jones, 2009, p.74-75).
A crucial issue for all types of strawbale construction is a type of finish and protection for straw. A standard
solution is covering the bales with several thick layers of plaster (in Europe typically clay or lime in USA also cement).
Plaster in strawbale construction plays a vital role. Not only does it protect the straw from rain, fire and pests, but also
plays a role in ensuring stability of the wall (King, 1996 p.104-114). In Poland clay is by far the most popular plaster,
because of it's flexibility, availability, breathability, ability to regulate humidity level indoors, low embodied energy and
cost.
Straw can also be used to manufacture specialized building materials: panels under name Stramit, cables -
StrawJet or blocks Oryzatech (Cygankiewicz, 2009). They are, however, different technologies than strawbale,
and therefore are not an issue of this article.
Straw is a yearly renewable material that is widely available as a by-product of crops cultivated for grain.
In some countries like USA or UK there is even a surplus of straw which ends as waste (King, 1996, p.4-6). During its
growth, crops store more CO2 than is used in their cultivation, harvest and baling. Therefore strawbales as a building
material can have a negative carbon footprint (Jones, 2009, p.21-24). After a life cycle of building has been finished,
straw can be easily composted, leaving no waste. The biggest advantage is, however, the isolation value: a wall
constructed of straw bales 50cm thick with 2cm plaster can have an U value of 0,12W/m (Minke, and Mahlke,2005,
p.29). According to tests performed in Austria it also has been awarded a fire rating of 90 minutes (Minke, and
Mahlke,2005, p.34).
Vermin and insects are not a more serious problem than in standard building technologies. A properly finished
strawbale wall should be densely compacted, contain no empty spaces usually used by vermin and be free of grain,
which could attract pests.
The biggest threat is moisture, which in extreme cases can cause straw to rot. Only dry strawbales should be
used for building, and design measures are necessary to keep water away from straw. Research by Jakub Wihan shows,
that straw begins to rot after a relative humidity level stays at a level of 98% for at least two days. It also proves, that the
process stops, while the straw dries. Therefore a selection of plaster, that allows moisture to escape from the inside
of a wall in an unlikely event it gets wet is crucial - clay or lime plasters are therefore recommended (Wihan, 2007).
Another disadvantage of strawbale building is that both straw bales and clay (commonly used for plastering) are not
standardized building materials. Working with them is also quite weather-dependent. It makes designing and time
planning more difficult, requires skill and practice in choosing the right materials.
Strawbale in Poland- a brief history
The first Polish strawbale house was constructed in Przeomka between 2000-2002. This small structure
(usable floor space 55m2) built by Paulina Wojciechowska and her foundation Earth Hands and Houses (EHAH) gained
a lot of publicity from both professional and popular press. Workshops offered on the building site also attracted
attention. Some of participants later became active leaders of strawbale building in Poland. In the following years
EHAH have built two more houses, also organizing workshops and using volunteers' labor. They represent the most
radical and ideological attitude towards building, preferring, 'natural', sculptural, hand shaped forms in their buildings.
After 2005 more people started to build with strawbales. In terms of numbers, the most important builder has
been Janusz widerski and his Biobudownictwo (Bio-building) Association. Since 2005 he has been building 7 houses,
in some cases without success. Biobudownictwo also offered workshops (for free, what is not usual), but essentially
they worked as a regular building team, offering to build regularly sized houses (>100m2) . In later years aproximately
three more companies were founded by former co-workers of Janusz widerski.
Another model of building process organization has been tried in years 2007-09 by Maciej Krlak and Agnieszka Buba
who were the first people to obtain a building permit and build a fully-sized (>100m2) house for themselves.
In this case investors provided knowledge, and employed a building team, which was not specialized in alternative
construction methods.
In 2010 a holiday house designed by Karolina Szkapiak and built by Moritz Reihart deserves a special mention, as it has
been erected in just one day from modules precisely prefabricated in a workshop. Independence from weather and high
precision of manufacturing set a new technological standard.
Somehow less spectacular, but potentially very important was a first attempt to use strawbale for insulation
and extension of an existing (traditional masonry construction) house in Sokolniki-Las done by Janusz widerski.
Another first-of-a-kind project has been started in 2010: a mixed-use building with conference spaces and
guest rooms designed by Jacek Gaska is a first bigger building which is not a house. The same architect has also been
succesfuly selling 'typical projects' of strawbale houses during the last two years. This affordable solution may help
to make strawbale appeal even more to investors with a tight budget.
Year 2011 seems to be even more eventful. In April a TED-formula conference 'Cohabitat Gathering' took
place in d. It was a spectacular success with over 200 people attending and speakers including such leading experts
in the field of strawbale building as prof. G.Minke, B.Kierulf, M.M.Koakowski. It has been organized by Pawe
Sroczyski and Cohabitat team- a group organized around an internet portal under the same name.
Another outstanding achievement of Cohabitat is a cooperation with Polish unit of UNDP. With founding from
UN Cohabitat is developing open-source designs for houses and providing workshops for problem-causing young
people, pioneering the idea of building workshops as a resocialisation tool.
In the field of architectural research and education, strawbale (and other low-tech) building technologies are
still underrepresented. At present 3 master project-thesis from Polish universities are known to the author. A project
of 'Ecological village Wrocaw -Biskupin' examines a the potential of strawbale as a cheap and sustainable material
for building whole eco-communities, suggesting self-building as a way of providing affordable housing (Marcel, 2010).
Figure a,b. Holiday House in Gajwka a) during prefabrication of modules and b)finished.
Photo courtesy of Karolina Szkapiak.
Figure 3a,b. Prototype of open-source house 'Nano-habitat' during a) wall constuction, b) plastering .
Photo courtesy of Pawe Sroczyski
Figure 4. Location and sizes of strawbale buildings.
Characteristic features of strawbale building in Poland
Perhaps the most interesting phenomenon of strawbale building is the building culture which surrounds it.
For many people involved it is not only a building technology but also a passion, hobby or a way towards a more
sustainable lifestyle. Workshops and/or volunteering opportunities have been provided on nearly all building sites.
In case of small structures workshops have also been a successful way of organizing workpower for the whole building
process.
A common factor of almost all strawbale construction in Poland is an outstanding dedication shown by
investors and builders alike. Being a alternative and not case standardized technology, strawbale has been often chosen
as a way of creating a healthy, 'natural', and sustainable home and lifestyle.
Authors research shows that in many cases (especially with bigger structures) building took longer and was more costly
than anticipated, so patience and financial reserves of investors were crucial in completing their buildings.
Well designed, planned and build smaller houses from last two years show that this negative trend does not have to be
a rule in future.
For practical reasons (building regulations, material availability, prices an limited number of builders working
with strawbale) choice of materials and types of strawbale construction seems pretty unified. With remarkably few
exceptions infill technology has been chosen, usually with clay plaster. Wood chip (called 'wir') is the most popular
choice for roofs.
Another local feature is the popularity of small structures measuring up to 35m2 (built up area). This is caused
by Polish building regulations, that allow structures of this size to be build without a full building permit procedure
(although restrictions apply).The preference for infill walls is also partially related to the building regulations, that
require static calculation for every project. In absence of norms for calculating loadbering strawbale, post and beam
is for now the only straightforward option.
Figure 5a,b. House in Radzy during a) wall construction, b) finished, with wood chip roof.
Photo courtesy of Radosaw Grudzie.
Figure 6a,b. Examples of 'erdzie' (small diameter timber) construction.
a) House in Wysoka. Photo courtesy Rohre Maher.
b) Mixed use conference- and guestrooms in Szulin. Photo courtesy of Wiktor Siegel..
As far as aesthetics and architectural design is concerned, there is less consistence. In most cases the designs
for the strawbale houses have not been innovative in terms of form. Their final outcome of building process has been in
many cases more a result of the ability (or lack thereof) of builders than the merits of design itself. Even if build
accordingly to unspectacular designs, strawbale houses do stand out from the typical construction because of natural
finishes and very thick walls, often quite uneven and with rounded corners.
In terms of technical innovation, an interesting low-cost solution has been developed by Janusz widerski and
Biobudownictwo. Small diameter round timber (called in Polish erdzie), which is not normally regarded as a building
material, is nailed together to create simple trusses, which are used as posts, beams and other parts of construction.
This solution uses cheap material, and has an advantage that the trusses width can be made to correspond with the width
of strawbale infill. It is however quite labour-intensive.
Mistakes, were not uncommon on the strawbale building sites The most common problem were too optimistic
calculations of time and cost of building. Closer cooperation of builders with architects, other specialists and research
institutions can probably solve some of the issues. Faster building is going to be possible with an increased level of
mechanization (especially of plastering) and/or bigger building teams. Another common problem is obtaining good
quality bales and clay for building. Usually the only way for builders to ensure good quality bales is to supervise the
baling process, or even do it themselves. This is not an easy issue to solve. One possibility is that some farmers could
specialize in providing building quality bales. However, to keep the ecological footprint of buildings the preference
should always be a local material.
Coclusions
The rise of quantity of new buildings and examples of positive changes of quality in design and workmanship
in the last decade, and, especially, in the last 5 years prove that strawbale building in Poland is quickly changing from
an experiment to a serious solution which might be soon used to address the issues of sustainable building on a wider
scale.
Some achievements, like development of open - source projects, or an unique, cheap construction system (erdzie) are
certainly an important imput on an international level.
In the same time, comparison of strawbale buildings in Poland with UK, Germany or Switzerland shows clearly,
that we still have a lot to learn.
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