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TE HŌTAKA MO TE HUICONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Natural Building in the 21st CenturyInternational Straw Building Conference3-9 March 2016 Methven, New Zealand

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CONTENTS

Welcome 3

Keynotes 5

Schedules

Thursday 7

Friday 8

Saturday 9

Sunday 10

Monday 11

Tuesday 12

Wednesday 13

Presentations 14

Workshops 25

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NAU MAI, HAERE MAI WELCOMEOn behalf of the Earth Building Association of New Zealand (EBANZ), the

organising committee welcomes you to Methven, Aotearoa New Zealand

and to the fourth International Straw Building Conference, ISBC 2016:

Natural Building in the 21st Century. We acknowledge with thanks the

iwi of the Methven area, Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and are honoured that kaumātua

Charles Crofts has agreed to open the conference.

Methven was chosen as the conference location for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it lies in the heart of Canterbury, the grain bowl of New Zealand; it

grows a lot of straw! Secondly it is an hour’s drive from Christchurch, a city

with a serious housing shortage and a serious need for natural building to

be included in conversations about solving that. And thirdly Methven has

a fantastic venue. In 2011 the old Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, originally built in

1957, was transformed into a multi-purpose building that houses the Hall,

the Information Centre, the Museum, an 80 seat cinema and associated

facilities. For us, it is perfect.

We are delighted to be hosting this important event which follows on

from the hugely successful ISBC 2012, organised by the Colorado Straw

Bale Association (COSBA). Our aim is to foster development, education,

and awareness of the positive impacts of natural building, and related

sustainable building approaches, by providing a rare face-to face forum

for networking with others, from all over the globe, who share the same

passion. We also intend to have a lot of fun! You can expect some uniquely

New Zealand entertainment, as well as the all-important Straw Bale

Olympics.

We are extremely grateful to our six Keynote speakers, whose contributions

provide a framework for the whole event. All have made a considerable

commitment of time and resources to be here. Thank you to Bruce King

and David Eisenberg from the USA, Rachel Bevan from Northern Ireland,

Craig White and Barbara Jones from England and Graeme North from

New Zealand. We are also grateful to our sponsors for their generous

support, without which we would not have been able to assist our

Keynotes to get here.

Attending this five-day conference is a serious commitment for the more

than 180 delegates: builders, home owners, engineers, architects and

NGA KAITAUTOKO MO TE HUICONFERENCE SPONSORS

Primary Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

General Sponsors

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designers, building officials, housing providers, building suppliers, farmers,

academics, students and others who defy a label, who are coming from all

over New Zealand and all over the world. You will be well rewarded: over the

five days we will hear from 46 presenters during a rich programme of talks,

workshops and demonstrations designed to inform, inspire and stimulate

discussion. Our heartfelt thanks are due to all our presenters, who have

devoted considerable time, energy and resources to their contributions to

the conference.

We would also like to acknowledge the Australasian Straw Bale Association

(AUSBALE), the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ), and

Tourism New Zealand, who have provided much-needed support to get us

up and running. The YIMFY Trust is supporting us at the conference itself, as

are 24 willing volunteers. Thank you one and all.

Our aim is that at the end of the conference everyone will leave stimulated,

informed and inspired, with a whole host of new friends. Please enjoy!

Kerry Mulligan, Min Hall, Sarah Johnston, Tim Bishop, Verena Maeder

Hosted by

In conjunction with

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has made this special event possible!

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THE FUTURE OF NATURAL BUILDING: PEOPLE AND TRAININGBARBARA JONESIn response to the need to increase the numbers of natural builders in the UK,

Straw Works has established The School of Natural Building (SNaB). The aim

of SNaB is to provide quality training in the use of natural materials, both in

design and in practice, and to increase the pool of natural builders who are

recognised as having professional levels of skill, knowledge and experience.

NATURAL BUILDING IN THE 21ST CENTURY: THE MAGICAL

DISAPPEARING CARBON TRICKBRUCE KINGThree or four billion new people will arrive on Earth in the next fifteen years,

and they will need homes, schools, offices and more. We don’t have enough

cement and steel to provide for them using today’s architecture, nor the fossil

fuel reserves to keep up building as usual. What part might straw, clay and

human ingenuity play in providing decent shelter for all?

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K2

K3

NATURAL BUILDING IN NEW ZEALANDGRAEME NORTHMigrants to New Zealand sailed as far as the waterways would carry them, and took root. They built using what skills they had and with such materials as were at hand or could be brought with them. Graeme will sketch a brief history of around 200 years of natural building in New Zealand, going backwards, sideways, and then forwards, throwing out a few challenges along the way.

Bruce King has been a practising structural engineer for 35 years, designing buildings of every size and type around the world, and has 20 years of leadership in the global green building movement. He is an advisor to Foundation Capital, CalStar Products, and BuildingGreen, and is the author of three books and international standards for earthen and straw bale construction.

Bruce is also the Founder and Director of the Ecological Building Network (EBNet), a non-profit information resource based in San Rafael, California. EBNet has: • organized the BuildWell conferences on green building materials 1999-2016;

• conducted hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of research into alternative building systems including a much-needed fire test of straw bale walls that has opened the gates for that system of building to become more mainstream; • helped write improved building codes from California to Mongolia that have facilitated more ecologically-sound methods of building previously hampered by the codes.

www.ecobuildnetwork.org

Graeme North is a registered architect who has been pivotally involved with the Natural Building renaissance in New Zealand for over 40 years. He was the founding Chair of the Earth Building Association of New Zealand, (EBANZ), a position he recently resumed, and also chairs the SNZ Technical Committee responsible for the New Zealand Earth Building Standards. He holds life membership of the Permaculture Association of New Zealand and is a founding Trustee of the YIMFY (Yes! In My Front Yard) Trust.

Graeme has designed and consulted on numerous buildings and uses a wide range of natural building materials in his work. He also promotes the integration of productive plants and restorative

buildings to create permaculture-based designs he calls “livingscapes”.

Graeme has received a number of awards for his work, including the NZ 1990 Commemoration Medal for Services to New Zealand, an NZIA Award for the Earth Building Standards, and the 2010 Winston Churchill Fellowship.

www.ecodesign.co.nz

Barbara Jones is a pioneer designer of straw bale buildings and of innovative and cement-free foundations, with over 20 years’ experience. Her work includes the world’s first loadbearing straw council houses, Europe’s first two storey loadbearing straw houses, the world’s first terrace of loadbearing straw houses, and hundreds of other straw bale buildings.

She has a keen interest in affordable homes for ordinary people, and has developed a uniquely empowering method of practical training on building sites, setting up the School of Natural Building in 2014. With a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, and a Woman of Outstanding Achievement Award in 2009, she runs her own company, Straw Works, designing natural buildings and supporting

self-builders and architects. Her definitive book, Building with Straw Bales, a manual for self-builders and architects, was completely updated in 2015.

www.strawworks.co.uk

KEYNOTES

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BUILDING WITH HEMP IN THE NORTHERN IRISH CONTEXTRACHEL BEVANThis paper will illustrate the design and processes involved in building a

low impact dwelling with hempcrete walls. It will also review the results and

advantages of this form of construction.

RESILIENT SCALEABLE USE OF RENEWABLE MATERIALSCRAIG WHITEThe use of straw bale construction can be brought into mainstream construction at scale. The ModCell System of construction uses Modern Methods of Construction (MMC or Prefabrication) to deliver a new model of housing. Using Lean and Just in Time forms of manufacture, through a system called Flying Factories, the ModCell system is being used to deliver 200 homes a year through the UK’s new Custom Build Programme.

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ENABLING THE BEST, NOT JUST PREVENTING THE WORST: RETHINKING CODESDAVID EISENBERGThis presentation will explore some history, problematic patterns in regulatory thinking, progress that has been made, and some potential pathways to creating a more integrated regulatory system. For natural building to significantly contribute to addressing emergent issues like climate change, toxicity of materials, embodied energy and energy demand of buildings, a more comprehensive understanding of risks and a commitment to enabling the best building, not just preventing the worst, is required.

Craig White is an architectural practitioner and renewable building material entrepreneur, and a founding Director of White Design and ModCell. He has over 25 years’ experience in architectural practice in the UK and Europe and has been involved in low energy and sustainable design since the 1980s. He also teaches Integrated Environmental Design at the University of the West of England.

Craig is a Design Advice consultant with the Carbon Trust and has worked on the UK Government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme. He is a board member of the Timber Research and Development Association, Re-thinking, Spike Island, Chair of Wood for Good, past Chair of Wood for Gold to

champion the use of timber at the 2012 Olympics, and also a Technology Strategy Board (TSB) steering group member. He is engaged in numerous research projects involving renewable and bio-based materials and prefabrication.

www.white-design.co.uk www.modcell.com

David Eisenberg co-founded and has led the non-profit Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT) since 1992. DCAT launched their program Building Sustainability into the Codes in 1995 to create a sustainable context for building codes. David served two terms on the U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors, founded and chaired the USGBC Code Committee for ten years, served on the International Code Council (ICC) committee that created the first draft of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), and served as vice chair of an ASTM subcommittee where he led the task group that developed the ASTM Standard Guide for Design of Earthen Wall Building Systems.

David co-wrote The Straw Bale House, and helped write the first loadbearing straw bale building code as well as working on the Strawbale Appendix for the 2015 International Building Code. DCAT and David received the ICC’s 2007 Affiliate of the Year Award and a 2007 USGBC national leadership award.

www.dcat.net

Rachel Bevan was born in England and is now settled in Northern Ireland, living and working from a converted watermill in rural County Down. Rachel Bevan Architects’ work includes one-off houses, conversions and renovations to listed buildings, community and hospitality projects, public housing, and master-planning. Her projects have received awards and have been published in the UK.

Rachel is a member of MAG, the Ministerial Advisory Group for Architecture, carrying out Design Reviews of significant projects, and aiming to influence policy and quality of design in Northern Ireland. She also contributes to the Part 2 Architecture course at CAT, the Centre for Alternative

Technology, in Wales.

Rachel has authored and co-authored several publications in the field of bio-based materials for construction and is currently exploring the building science that architects use. Recently she built a hemp-lime cottage in her garden, which has been used to more fully understand and appreciate this material.

www.bevanarchitects.com

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Memorial Hall

5.30

8.00-9.00

REGISTRATIONS

Mihi Whakatau and Official Welcome with Kaumatua Charles Crofts of Ngāi Tūāhuriri and EBANZ

KEYNOTE: Bruce King (USA) – Natural Building in the 21st Century: The Magical Disappearing Carbon Trick

Midday to 4.30

6.30-7.30 DINNER

THURSDAY 3 MARCH

K1 p.5

LEGEND Keynote addresses

Presentations

Workshops

Information about each keynote, presentation and workshop can be found on the page indicated

The conference committee reserves the right to alter the programme.

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SCHEDULES

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FRIDAY 4 MARCH Memorial Hall Theatre Workshops in Carpark

DINNER

LIVE MUSIC with Matiu and Erica

8.15

8.30

9.30

10.30

11.15

12.00

1.45

2.45

3.45

4.30

5.15

7.00-8.15

12.45-1.45

3.30-3.45

6.30-7.30

8.00-10.00

HOUSEKEEPING/ANNOUNCEMENTS

KEYNOTE: Graeme North (NZ) – Natural Building in New Zealand

Rau Hoskins (NZ) – Whare Māori: Traditional and Hybrid Māori Building Technologies

Paul Jaquin (UK and NZ) – The History of Innovation in Earth Building

Bob Cameron (Aus) – Natural Finishes for the 21st Century

Consuelo Miranda (Chile) – Earth Murals: Traditional Crafts with Citizen Involvement

KEYNOTE: Barbara Jones (UK) – The Future of Natural Building: People and Training

Emily Niehaus (USA) – Community Rebuilds: Building Affordable Straw Bale Homes AND Builders

Peter Olorenshaw (NZ) – Lightweight Loadbearing Adobe Bricks for Improved Insulation

Bruce King (USA) – Engineering with Natural Buildings DAILY WRAP UP AND CLOSE

Andrew Alcorn (NZ) – Embodied Energy and CO2 of Straw Houses

Matthieu Pedergnana (Turkey) – Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Straw Bale Buildings in Turkey

(running concurrently)

Kerry Mulligan and Rosa Henderson – Cob Pizza Oven 1

Sven Johnston and Scott Goldie – Straw Bale Wall Systems

Catherine Wanek (USA) – Straw Bale Home Design Essentials

Cappie Capp (USA) – Building with Straw Bale in a Natural Building Desert

Richard Walker and Verena Maeder – Adobe Wall Construction

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K3

P1

P2 P5

P3 P6

P10

P11

P4

P7

P8

P9

W1

W2

W3

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p.25

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p.15

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Morning 1 Sessions: 8.15-10.15


Afternoon 1 Sessions: 1.45-3.30


BREAKFAST

LUNCH

AFTERNOON TEA

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SATURDAY 5 MARCH Memorial Hall Theatre Workshops in Carpark

DINNER

ENTERTAINMENT – 5 x 5 Delegate presentations and music

8.15

8.30

9.30

10.30

11.15

12.00

1.45

2.45

3.45

4.15

5.15

7.00-8.15

12.45-1.45

6.30-7.30

8.00-10.00


KEYNOTE: Craig White (UK) – Resilient Scaleable Use of Renewable Materials

Robin Allison (NZ) – Community-Scale Construction: Issues and Challenges for Natural Building

Paul Jaquin (UK and NZ) – Proposal for an International Earth Building Guidance Document

Richard Walker and Hugh Morris (NZ) – Performance of Earth Buildings Following the 2010 Canterbury and 2011 Christchurch Earthquakes

Andrew Alcorn (NZ) – Moisture Pene- tration in Plastered Straw Bale Walls

KEYNOTE: David Eisenberg (USA) – Enabling the Best, Not Just Preventing the Worst: Rethinking Codes

Steve Richards (NZ) – Straw Clay Building: Appropriate Techniques for a Temperate Climate

Lance Kairl (Aus) – Straw Bale Walls After the Flood

Peter Olorenshaw (NZ) – A Risk Matrix for Straw Bale Construction in NZ


Steve Richards – Straw Clay Demonstration

Rachel Bevan – Hempcrete Demonstration

Frank Thomas (Aus) – The Benefits of Straw Bale Ceilings

Kurt Piccardi (Aus)– An Architects Reflection on Designing and Building a Straw Bale House


Pat Mawson and Sven Johnston – Surface Preparation for Exterior Earth Plasters on Straw Bale Walls

Kerry Mulligan and Rosa Henderson – Cob Pizza Oven 2

Verena Maeder and Sven Johnston – Surface Preparation for Interior Natural Plasters

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K5

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P13 P16

P14 P17

P15

P18

P19

P20

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W5

W6

W7

W8

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p.25

p.25

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p.14 p.17

p.17 p.18

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PANEL DISCUSSION: Quality, Consensus and Codes

LUNCH

BREAKFAST

3.30-3.45 AFTERNOON TEA

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p.25

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SUNDAY 6 MARCH Memorial Hall Workshops in Carpark (running concurrently)

DINNER

MOVIE – EVER THE LAND: A People. Their Place. Their Building.

8.15

8.30

9.30

10.30

11.00

11.30

12.00

2.00

2.45

3.15

4.00

7.00-8.15

6.30-7.30

8.00-10.00


KEYNOTE: Rachel Bevan (UK) – Building with Hemp in the Northern Irish Context

Giovanna Nardini (Italy) – Contemporary Straw Bale Townhouses in Fano, Italy

James Gallagher (NZ) – More than Mere R Value: High Performance Thermodynamic Sheep’s Wool Insulation

Blue Forsyth (NZ) – Repair and Maintenance of Historic Earth Buildings

Jeni Kardinal (Indonesia) – A New Pigs Tale Chronicling the Bali Straw Bale Project

Alex Greig (NZ) – Straw: A building Block for the New World Order

Catherine Wanek (USA) – A World of Natural Building

Tim Bishop (NZ) – SHAC

SHAC Competition entries on display and student presentation

Consuelo Miranda – Clay Murals 1

Barbara Jones – Understanding and Application of Exterior Finishes

Jimmy Cotter – Rammed Earth Demonstration

Verena Maeder and Sven Johnston – Interior Plastering on a Variety of Substrates

Pat Mawson – Earth Plastering on Straw Bale Walls

Liam Flannery – Finishing Plasters and Trowelling Skills

Richard Walker and Verena Maeder – Adobe Veneer construction

Consuelo Miranda – Clay Murals 2

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P24

P25

P26

P27

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W15

W9

W13

W10

W14

W12

W16

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p.23

p.14

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Afternoon Sessions: 2.00-5.00

PANEL DISCUSSION: Self Building – Tribulations and Trials

12.45-1.45 LUNCH

BREAKFAST

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MONDAY 7 MARCH Memorial Hall Theatre Workshops in Carpark

DINNER

AWARDS AND MUSIC

8.15

8.30

9.15

9.45

10.30

10.55

11.35

12.15

7.00-8.15

6.30-7.30

8.00-10.00


David Arkin (USA) – California update: CASBA, carbon and codes

Jade Kake (NZ) – Pehiāweri Marae Papakāinga: Building Community Resilience from the Grassroots

Rosa Henderson (NZ) – Earthen Structures as Grounding for Experiential Education

STRAW BALE OLYMPICS

Thijs Drupsteen (NZ) – Engineering for Straw Bale Construction


Frank Thomas – Lime Plastering on Straw Bale

Liam Flannery – Tadelakt Finishes

Sven Johnston – Tilt-Bale: Prefabricated Straw Bale Wall Systems

Richard Walker – Earthen Material Testing

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P29

P30

P34

P36

P31

P32

P33

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W18

W19

W20

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p.28

p.25

p.17

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p.22



Afternoon 2 Session: 2.45-5.00

1.45

12.45-1.45

Phillip Kennedy (NZ) – New Zealand Architect’s New Straw Bale Home

Bob Cameron – Plastering Tool Selection and Maintenance

Barbara Jones (UK) – Cement-Free FoundationsP35 W21 p.14p.22Afternoon 1

Session: 1.45-2.30

LUNCH

BREAKFAST

PANEL DISCUSSION: Training Natural Builders, Designers and Engineers

Kara Rosemeier (NZ) – Passive Houses: The Base for Positive Energy Living

Craig White (UK) – Build with Carbon: Photosynthetic Materials and the Road to PassivHaus Certification

Ben and Jessica Eyers (NZ and UK) – Creating a “Thermal Bridge Free” Window Installation Detail in a Straw Bale Wall

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TUESDAY 8 MARCH Memorial Hall Workshops in Carpark (running concurrently)

Conference Closing: Poroporoaki with Charles Crofts of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, followed by DINNER

WIND UP PARTY with Boru

8.15

8.30

9.15

9.45

10.30

11.15

12.00

1.45

2.15

2.45

3.15

4.00

7.00-8.15

12.45-1.45

6.30-7.30

8.00-10.00


Verena Maeder (NZ) – Natural, Healthy and Sensual: Earthen components in timber-framed construction

Rikki Nitzkin (Spain) – Straw bale Building in South America and Spain

Barbara Jones (UK) – European Update: Recent Develpments in Straw Building in Europe

PANEL DISCUSSION: How Fab is PreFAB?

Rachel Bevan (UK) – Raising Questions about whether the Building Science we use to meet energy saving targets suits Natural Building

Crispin Caldicott (NZ) – Victor Schauberger: A Scientist for the Future

Peter Olorenshaw (NZ) – Trombe Thermal Walls for Solar Heat Storage

Min Hall and Robin Allison (NZ) – YIMFY: A Centre for Appropriate Building Technology

Graeme North (NZ) – Some questions for the next 84 years

Catherine Wanek – Photography Workshop: How to Take the Perfect Shot

Barbara Jones, Graeme North and Bruce King – ‘The devil is in the detail’ Whiteboard Session

Verena Maeder – Natural Paints and Finishes

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P40

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P41

P42

P43

P44

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W24

W23

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Afternoon Sessions: 1.45-3.45

PANEL DISCUSSION: Where to from here for Natural Building?

CONFERENCE WRAP UP

LUNCH

BREAKFAST

3.30-3.45 AFTERNOON TEA

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All day Optional activities: Choice of Two House Tours or a Site Visit to see a Hemp Crop and Processor

WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH7.00-8.15 BREAKFAST

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NATURAL FINISHES FOR THE 21ST CENTURYBOB CAMERONThe internal and external finishing of a straw-built construction is a critical and often

misunderstood aspect. This presentation covers the basic types of plastering systems

available; site-mix materials, premixed products and machine application; and different

finishes and how to achieve them.

EARTH MURALS: TRADITIONAL CRAFTS WITH CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT

CONSUELO MIRANDAConsuelo will talk about her work in Chile in areas damaged by earthquakes. Participatory

processes, seismic strengthening to historic earth buildings, and earth mural projects will

be discussed.

WHARE MĀORI: TRADITIONAL AND HYBRID MĀORI BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES

RAU HOSKINS From the mid-1800s Māori began to adapt their building technologies to respond

to both the availability of western materials and the loss of traditional resources. Rau

Hoskins discusses a range of restoration and rebuilding projects undertaken through Te

Hononga, at the Unitec Department of Architecture.

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THE HISTORY OF INNOVATION IN EARTH BUILDING

PAUL JAQUINThis paper describes the innovations in earth building, and the development of earth

building techniques in different parts of the world through history. The development of

adobe, rammed earth and cob is discussed, and innovations are outlined.

Rau Hoskins (Iwi: Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Wai Hapu: Ngāti Hau) is a part-time lecturer at the Unitec Department of Architecture and co-ordinates Te Hononga, The Centre for Māori Architecture and Appropriate Technologies, leading investigations into a range of traditional and contemporary Māori building technologies. He is also a Director of design TRIBE architects, specialising in the field of Māori architecture, particularly within cultural, urban design, educational and papakāinga environments. Rau is the Chairperson of Te Matapihi National Māori Housing Network, a board member of Community Housing Aotearoa, and an Auckland Council urban design panel member.

Paul Jaquin is a Geotechnical and Structural Engineer at the forefront of sustainable construction. He runs the structural engineering team for LDE in Warkworth, New Zealand. Paul has six years’ design and site experience in the UK, Sweden and New Zealand. Paul worked as a structural engineer for ModCell, project-managing the gaining of European certification for the ModCell Core prefabricated straw bale panel. He holds a PhD in the conservation of historic rammed earth buildings, and was a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Bath and the Chairman of Earth Building UK.

Bob Cameron is the Managing Director and Founder of ROCKCOTE. As an entrepreneur and visionary, he is nationally and internationally acclaimed for his innovative approach to developing people and planet-friendly construction systems, and his commitment to sustainable business practices.

Consuelo Miranda is an architect who has played a key role in the rebuilding of a diverse range of buildings affected by the 2010 earthquake, through the Corporación del Patrimonio Cultural de Chile and the private sector. Nowadays, she is the project and technical manager of the Tierra Mural Collective, working on the restoration of murals on heritage sites with the aim of revitalising crafts that might otherwise be lost. Consuelo teaches architecture and construction systems based on earth at Escuela de Construcción en Tierra (Earth Construction School – ECOT www.ecot.cl) and practises as an independent consultant.

PRESENTERS

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COMMUNITY REBUILDS: BUILDING AFFORDABLE STRAW BALE HOMES AND BUILDERS

EMILY NIEHAUSCommunity Rebuilds is a non-profit organization that builds affordable, passive solar

straw bale homes for low-income families in the United States by utilizing the build site as

a classroom. This talk is an exploration of the program.

LIGHTWEIGHT LOADBEARING ADOBE BRICKS FOR IMPROVED INSULATION

PETER OLORENSHAWUsing a special combination of lightweight aggregates, adobe (mud) bricks can be made

that insulate much better than normal heavyweight ones, but are still strong enough to be

loadbearing enabling simple construction with no separate loadbearing structure.

STRAW BALE HOME DESIGN ESSENTIALSCATHERINE WANEKBuilding with bales can create healthy, beautiful homes that save energy. Yet how will

they stand up against nature? Learn the key elements for building a durable straw bale

home, cost factors, and be inspired by finished homes across North America.

P5

BUILDING WITH STRAW IN A NATURAL BUILDING DESERT

CAPPIE CAPPWhen I proposed to construct a straw bale home, my neighbors and the city building

inspector were skeptical. It’s not enough to be passionate about natural building, you

must also learn the technical aspects of building codes and processes, and nurture

relationships.

Catherine Wanek is the author and photographer of The New Strawbale Home and The Hybrid House: Designing with Sun, Wind, Water and Earth. She also co-authored The Art of Natural Building: Design, Construction, Resources, now in its second edition. Catherine has published and edited The Last Straw, and is a founding member of the non-profit organization Builders Without Borders. She produced and directed the Building with Straw video series, and the videos Urban Permaculture and The Straw Bale Solution. She owns and operates the Black Range Lodge, an ecological Bed and Breakfast in southwestern New Mexico.

‘Cappie’ Capp owns Pangea Design, a natural building company in Spearfish, South Dakota, USA. He lived in his first off-grid home in 2004 – it was a 1993 International school bus that he modified with PV solar and a composting toilet. Last year, Cappie completed his code-approved off-grid straw bale home. He also works as a ‘conventional’ builder focusing on re-used, natural, and locally-sourced materials. In 2016, Cappie has contracts to build residential and commercial straw bale structures, and he will continue to offer instruction in natural building with workshops during the North American summer season.

Emily S. Niehaus is the Founder and Executive Director of Community Rebuilds, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to build energy-efficient housing, provide education on sustainability, and improve the housing conditions of the workforce through an affordable program. Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Sociology and has worked as a social worker, a loan officer, and a bookkeeper. Emily furthers her passion for building affordable and energy-efficient housing through savvy networking, successful fundraising, and fostering emerging professionals. She lives with her husband and son in Moab, Utah.

Peter Olorenshaw is a registered architect specialising in eco-architecture. He lives in an adobe house he built largely himself from earth on site, and has been living off-grid, with an independent power system, a composting toilet, grey water system and rainwater water supply, since 1996. He has been on the executive of EBANZ since 2000, is part of the subcommittee updating the NZ Earth Building Standards and is one of the group writing the Straw Bale Building Guidelines for New Zealand.

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POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION OF STRAW BALE BUILDINGS IN TURKEY

MATTHIEU PEDERGNANAThe different usages of straw bale buildings all over Turkey, and their occupants’

behaviour, are researched and summarized in order to understand the obstacles to the

promotion of such buildings around the country.

COMMUNITY-SCALE CONSTRUCTION: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FOR NATURAL BUILDING

ROBIN ALLISONThe use of natural building systems by contractors building medium density multi-unit

developments raises different issues than use by owner-builders. The experience and

learnings of Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood are offered, to encourage wider application

of natural building.

ENGINEERING WITH NATURAL MATERIALS: SOME PHYSICS, SOME COMMON SENSE, AND SOME MYTHS DISPELLED

BRUCE KINGEngineering schools the world over teach us about reinforced concrete, steel, wood and

maybe masonry design – that’s it. It’s time to take a cue from Nature and learn to build

safe, effective structures with whatever the area offers.

P9

EMBODIED ENERGY AND CO2 OF STRAW HOUSES

ANDREW ALCORNLifetime embodied energy and embodied CO2 of straw used in houses is compared to all

other materials and energy inputs. Results show where straw is ranked in reducing CO2

emissions.

Bruce King – See K1 on page 5.

Dr Andrew Alcorn has researched and published on sustainability, and embodied energy and embodied CO2 of building materials, for 20 years. He has developed scientific definitions, limits, and measurements for sustainability, and for its assessment in any field. He has served on UN missions at sustainable adobe heritage sites, and as secretary of the Earth Building Association of New Zealand. He was instrumental in establishing the Life Cycle Association of New Zealand. Andrew consults in the field of sustainability, and earth and straw bale building.

Matthieu Pedergnana is a PhD candidate in the METU architecture faculty. He graduated from the Department of Sustainable Architecture at ENSA, Lyon (France). After experimenting with alternative building construction in different places in Europe, he started his PhD research on earthquake-resistant straw bale construction using local and natural building materials. At the same time, he is involved in the Kerkenes Eco-center as a researcher, and is teaching alternative building methods in different workshops. He also designs and advises on some of the latest straw bale houses in Turkey.

Robin Allison is the initiator and project co-ordinator of Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood, the award-winning 32-home cohousing neighbourhood in Auckland. With her background in architecture, Robin guided the entire development and construction phase of this innovative project, which demonstrates leading-edge sustainable design with intensive community involvement. Robin now writes, teaches and consults around New Zealand to inspire and support thriving connected communities. She travelled on a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2008 to study sustainable community projects. She is also co-founder of YIMFY (Yes! In My Front Yard), supporting and promoting the use of environmentally restorative building materials and systems.

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MOISTURE PENETRATION IN PLASTERED STRAW BALE WALLS

ANDREW ALCORNIn rain with wind, straw bale walls without separate claddings are especially vulnerable.

Plaster resists air infiltration, but can’t ensure safe moisture levels in straw walls. Cracked

plaster allows moisture to completely penetrate a straw bale wall in a single weather event.

THE BENEFITS OF STRAW BALE CEILINGSFRANK THOMASFrank Thomas from Strawtec Australia presents a straw bale loadbearing build completed

in 2009 on the south coast of Australia. This energy-efficient two-bedroom home requires

no heating or cooling – a standing testament to the incredible insulation that is straw!

PROPOSAL FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EARTH BUILDING GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

PAUL JAQUINThere is a recognised need for design guidance in earth building, which falls behind those

for other materials. While individual countries have a requirement for their own building

codes, this paper proposes a worldwide document which covers earth building design.

P13

PERFORMANCE OF EARTH BUILDINGS FOLLOWING THE 2010 CANTERBURY AND 2011 CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKES

RICHARD WALKER AND HUGH MORRISThe performance of earth buildings following the 2010 Canterbury and 2011

Christchurch earthquakes is reviewed and recommendations are made for future

earth buildings.

Paul Jaquin – See P2 on page 14.

Richard Walker is a consulting civil and structural engineer with 42 years’ experience in engineering design and supervision of civil and structural engineering projects in New Zealand, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, including some 100 earth walled houses in New Zealand. He is the IPENZ representative for the Technical Committee for the NZ Earth Building Standards and prepared the draft for NZS 4299:1998 Earth Buildings not Requiring Specific Design. Richard has published several papers on the design and performance of earth buildings, constructed his own adobe houses in Nelson and Golden Bay, and taught courses on earth building.

Hugh Morris began his career at Gisborne City Council and had a short spell consulting before joining the University of Auckland, where he is now a senior lecturer, teaching structural engineering and design. He has researched earth and timber housing and large timber construction, and is a past president of the NZ Timber Design Society and past Chair of the World Conference on Timber Engineering. Hugh has contributed to the NZ Earth Building Standards, and has been involved in a number of post-earthquake house damage evaluations in earth and timber, undertaking five full scale house tests.

Andrew Alcorn – See P10 on page 16.

Frank Thomas was born and educated in Germany, and brought his knowledge of natural building to Australia in 1997. He is passionate about creating a world where environmentally-friendly buildings provide healthy and energy-efficient surroundings for everyone to enjoy. He works all over Australia with the ground-breaking yet traditionally-proven concepts of building with straw bales.

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STRAW BALE WALLS AFTER THE FLOODLANCE KAIRLActive and passive drying options are considered, and the process adopted for the repair

of the saturated straw bale walls at the Emerald Tourist Information Centre in Queensland,

Australia, is described.

A RISK MATRIX FOR STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND

PETER OLORENSHAWA group of architects and builders has been developing a risk matrix for straw bale

walls as part of a set of guidelines for straw bale construction in New Zealand. The draft

proposal will be discussed.

AN ARCHITECT’S REFLECTION ON DESIGNING AND BUILDING A STRAW BALE HOUSE

KURT PICCARDIAfter years of studying straw bale and alternative building construction and with help

from a supportive wife, I embarked on the wonderful journey to design and build our

own straw bale house in Brisbane. The project took seven years to design and nearly as

long to build.

P17

STRAW CLAY BUILDING: APPROPRIATE TECHNIQUES FOR A TEMPERATE CLIMATE

STEVE RICHARDSThis presentation draws upon my experience building large (commercial café) and small

(autonomous studio) structures to consider why I believe the straw/clay building method

is a more appropriate technique for building in a temperate climate than any solid mass

earth building

Kurt Piccard is an architect, based in Brisbane, Australia: “I have had an interest in building since my father used to drag me around his building sites. This led to me becoming a hands-on architect. I get as much enjoyment building as I do designing and have almost finished building my own house. I am a firm believer in the integration of internal and external areas and empowering people to personalise their surroundings. I am especially interested in alternate building materials and Permaculture Design.”

Steve Richards is co-founder and owner of the famous Jester House Café in Tasman, New Zealand. He is a well-known advocate of natural building and sustainable living. His design philosophy is based on the McGillicuddy Serious Party maxims of the “500-year plan,” using local materials and repairable techniques for long-term living, and “if it is worth doing, it’s worth doing humourously,” which is evident in the sense of art and fun throughout all of his design and building.

Lance Kairl is South Australia’s most experienced straw bale builder. He set up House of Bales in 1997 to promote and facilitate the construction of straw bale buildings in South Australia, and to be a resource for owners and builders. Lance has been working in the building industry and with owner-builders for nearly 30 years. He is the current President of the Australasian Straw Bale Building Association (AUSBALE).

Peter Olorenshaw – See P8 on page 15.

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REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF HISTORIC EARTH BUILDINGS

BLUE FORSYTHBlue will discuss restoration work on various projects: St Bathans Hall, Hayes Homestead

at Oturehua, Arrowtown Masonic Lodge and, most recently, Coton’s Cottage at Hororata.

This 1864 cob cottage was significantly damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake.

A NEW PIGS’ TALE CHRONICLING THE BALI STRAW BALE PROJECT

JENI KARDINALThis new version of the classic Three Little Pigs Story, A New Pigs’ Tale, chronicles the

construction of the first (registered) straw bale building in Indonesia. Featuring the “Bali

Baler, ” a manual press designed by Dual Dimension Architects, this tale sets the record

straight, depicting the strengths and benefits of building with straw.

CONTEMPORARY STRAW BALE TOWNHOUSES IN FANO, ITALY

GIOVANNA NARDINI This paper presents a contemporary architectural design using a traditional GREB

technique, made by a diverse team with shared aims: Natural – Healthy – Energy –

efficient and Low-budget townhouses.

P21

MORE THAN MERE R VALUE: HIGH PERFORMANCE THERMODYNAMIC SHEEP’S WOOL INSULATION

JAMES GALLAGHERDid you know that R-value is determined in bone-dry laboratory conditions as per

NZS4859? But houses are not bone-dry, moisture’s everywhere. Learn how wool

insulation complements other breathable building materials to improve real life thermal

performance well beyond mere R-value.

Archética is an architecture studio headed by architect Michele Ricci and engineer Giovanna Nardini, which aims to explore concepts of energy efficiency, natural comfort and environmental consequences using natural materials. Both principals have been practically trained and are working to spread their knowledge of straw construction via their blog, conferences, workshops and training on construction sites. They are members of Edilpaglia (Italian National association for straw building) and A.R.I.A. Familiare (Italian National association for volunteers in self-construction).

James Gallagher has been the General Manager of Terra Lana and its trading entity EnergySmart for the past five years. Prior to Terra Lana James worked for Latitude Insulation. With a physics degree from Canterbury University, James has sixteen years’ experience manufacturing in the fields of pharmaceuticals, food and insulation. He has a deep care for environmental, economic and social issues that impact on New Zealanders.

Blue Forsyth is a passionate advocate for affordable, healthy and sustainable housing, especially through the use of natural materials. He has been learning and teaching the art and craft of earth and natural building for over 25 years. He ran the Certificate in Natural Building programme at Aoraki Polytechnic, and has worked extensively with the Historic Places Trust to help preserve our earth building heritage, as well as working on many modern projects.

Jeni Kardinal, a California-licensed architect, started Kardinal Architectural Services in Sausalito 1990, remodelling and designing residences in Marin County. She was a member of the Sausalito Planning Commission for four years and volunteered for The Audubon Society, teaching San Francisco Bay ecology to school children for thirteen years. In 2003, Jeni, husband, and daughter set out on a four year sailing adventure that led to New Zealand. In 2007 they moved to Bali to design and build a mega-yacht for a private owner. Still living in Bali, Jeni’s work focuses on sustainable building, using waste straw and bamboo.

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SHAC – SUSTAINABLE HABITAT CONSTRUCTION, HISTORY AND FUTURE

TIM BISHOPSHAC’s collaborative challenges have produced examples of more sustainable ways of

living in affordable spaces. Designs include flexible, smaller spaces that can be used by

makers, musicians, artists, athletes, children, or anyone. Join in!

CALIFORNIA UPDATE: CASBA, CARBON AND CODES

DAVID ARKINCalifornia Straw Building Association (CASBA) Director, David Arkin, will share an update

on the latest CASBA initiatives and also present projects by CASBA members unable to

attend the conference, including recent work from his own firm, Arkin Tilt Architects.

STRAW: A BUILDING BLOCK FOR THE NEW WORLD ORDER

ALEX GREIGThe burgeoning vast and transparent resource of open-source everything is powering

our new world order. Straw bale, earth building, hemp and other more public domain

building materials are the building blocks.

P25

A WORLD OF NATURAL BUILDINGCATHERINE WANEKA visual overview of buildings constructed with natural materials, and how they have

been used in traditional, vernacular and contemporary natural buildings in a variety of

climates, including North America, Europe, China, Africa, and New Zealand.

Alex Greig co-chairs New Zealand’s Building Biology and Ecology Institute. His goal is to live in a “Garden of Eden” where the gardens, homes and neighbourhoods are all as happy and healthy as the people living in them! Based in Wellington, he is New Zealand-born and has also lived in Canada and Peru. He has taught eco-architecture workshops for fifteen years in New Zealand, and more recently in India. Alex is a practising architect, annually contributing to the design of around 30 or so happy and healthier homes around New Zealand.

Catherine Wanek – See P5 on page 15.

Tim Bishop runs SHAC | Sustainable Habitat Construction, which designs and builds small houses and buildings. They prototype sustainable buildings using natural and locally-sourced materials and release their designs via open-source. SHAC runs national competitions for students and their mentors, finding good ideas and good people. Tim has a background in engineering, energy, computer and building sciences, and has been a member of the ISBC 2016 organising committee for the better part of the last two years.

David Arkin, AIA and LEED AP(USA), is a Principal at Arkin Tilt Architects (ATA), and has taught and lectured on the subject of ecological design for over twenty years. He is a co-founder and current Director of the California Straw Building Association (CASBA). ATA has worked extensively with green construction systems such as straw bale and rammed earth, renewable energy systems, and salvaged and recycled materials.

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PASSIVE HOUSES: THE BASE FOR POSITIVE ENERGY LIVING

KARA ROSEMEIERBuildings designed and built to Certified Passive House standard are an important

stepping stone towards a fossil-free future. This talk will introduce the methods for

assuring highly comfortable and very healthy buildings that leave enough positive

energy to go around.

BUILD WITH CARBON: PHOTOSYNTHETIC MATERIALS AND THE ROAD TO PASSIVHAUS CERTIFICATION

CRAIG WHITEThe need to reduce CO2 emissions is pressing, and as we do so the ratio of embodied

emissions in materials, compared to operational ones, increases. The ModCell System

recently secured PassivHaus Component Certification. Using renewable, photosynthetic

materials, the amount of CO2 banked into the system is more than that emitted through its

manufacture and transportation.

PEHIĀWERI MARAE PAPAKĀINGA: BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE FROM THE GRASSROOTS

JADE KAKEThis paper presents a design proposal for an 8-unit papakāinga in Te Tai Tokerau using

pressed earth brick as the primary construction material. Conceived as a final year

architectural thesis project, the design is now being developed as a built project.

P29

EARTHEN STRUCTURES AS GROUNDING FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

ROSA HENDERSONHow do we find training and experience in alternative construction in a world bent on

profit? How do we find and connect with others on this same journey? This session will

explore options for experiential education, workshops, and networking in earthen building.

Of Māori (Ngāpuhi, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Whakaue) and Dutch descent, Jade Kake was raised on an eco-community in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Australia. She received a Bachelor of Architectural Design from the University of Queensland in 2009, and has recently completed a Master of Architecture (Professional) degree at Unitec Institute of Technology. Jade is interested in using design to address social issues in indigenous communities, and has a particular interest in papakāinga housing. She is a committed advocate for grassroots approaches, with a focus on ecologically and culturally sustainable practices utilising passive solar design, local resources and low-cost building technologies.

Rosa Henderson is a teacher, facilitator and natural builder working toward an integrated picture of land, sustainability and community. With five years’ experience in different climates and countries, including building in Guatemala, the USA, Thailand, Philippines, Nepal, Australia and Malawi, she is now home bringing workshops to New Zealand. The social aspect is a big part of her work, bringing people together, focusing on blending earth building and temporary community. She has her own business, Sculpted Earth.

Dr Kara Rosemeier is the Chair of the Passive House Institute New Zealand, and Director of Passive House Academy New Zealand. She teaches part-time in the architecture department at Unitec in Auckland. Before she moved to New Zealand, Kara was the director of an engineering consultancy. She advised the federal state government in Germany on matters of energy efficiency in the building sector, and private clients on the building physics of Passive Houses, as well as supervising hundreds of retrofit projects. Additionally, she managed an up-skilling initiative for building professionals.

Craig White – See K4 on page 6.

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NEW ZEALAND ARCHITECT’S NEW STRAW BALE HOME

PHILIP KENNEDYAn informal presentation of the process to completion of our straw bale home near

Motueka, including a description of the site, the ideals for the design and the pitfalls,

advantages and disadvantages of straw bale construction in our experience.

CEMENT-FREE FOUNDATIONS BARBARA JONESCement–free foundations: How we can design legal and robust foundations for most soil

types and conditions that do not need cement?

CREATING A ‘THERMAL BRIDGE-FREE’ WINDOW INSTALLATION DETAIL IN A STRAW BALE WALL

BEN AND JESSICA EYERSIn Passive House design and construction, one of the challenges is to achieve a thermal

bridge-free window-wall connection. This paper discusses a thermal bridge-free

window installation in a straw bale wall using insulating plasters, thus making Passive

House achievable using straw bale construction.

P33

ENGINEERING FOR STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION

THIJS DRUPSTEENA discussion of the principles involved and design possibilities when providing a structural

design for straw bale projects.

Ben and Jessica Eyers operate their design, build and consultancy company Hiberna Ltd from Wanaka. They work with diverse clients to produce truly ecological, healthy and beautiful housing, providing real comfort at less cost to the environment, with the added benefit of minimal running costs. Hiberna provides a full service, from concept and planning, through design and analysis, to building and finishing. Ben is a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) in carpentry and holds a National Certificate in Natural Building. Jessica is an LBP in design, has an MSc in Environmental Architecture, and is a Certified Passive House Designer.

Thijs Drupsteen, NZ Chartered Professional engineer, began his involvement in earth building in 1983 and is a Life Member of EBANZ. He was a member of the team that wrote the 1998 NZ Earth Building Standards. After the September 2010 and February 2011 Canterbury earthquakes he was a member of the EBANZ teams who investigated the seismic performance of earth buildings. He has recently travelled to Nepal to assist with culturally–appropriate, seismic earth building techniques. For the last 20 years he has also been involved with the structural design of straw bale buildings.

Architect Philip Kennedy recently moved from a Christchurch practice of 37 years to Motueka. He has always stood firm for sustainable, efficient and non-toxic design. Philip has tried always to reconcile the hard machine-made modern building materials with the innate sense of comfort that most of us soft warm inhabitants gain from hand-crafted natural materials, which, like a much loved garment, grow old gracefully. He is responsible for the rebuilding over the years of the Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School and many buildings for Hohepa Trust for the Intellectually Handicapped, these being the most rewarding of his accomplishments.

Barbara Jones – See K3 on page 5.

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EUROPEAN UPDATE: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN STRAW BUILDING IN EUROPE

BARBARA JONESThe European straw bale scene is developing on many levels – several multi-storey buildings

are now complete and Ecococon’s prefabricated panel system is gaining traction.

RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE BUILDING SCIENCE WE USE TO MEET ENERGY-SAVING TARGETS SUITS NATURAL BUILDING

RACHEL BEVANUK Building Regulation standards are being used as the main method to meet energy-

saving targets, but there appears to be a performance gap. Do we sufficiently understand

building science, and are we using the right method of measurement, especially when

building with natural materials?

NATURAL, HEALTHY AND SENSUAL: EARTHEN COMPONENTS IN TIMBER-FRAMED CONSTRUCTION

VERENA MAEDERBuilding or renovating? There are many advantages to bringing earth and natural

materials right into your living space. Incorporating earthen components such as mud

brick feature walls, earthen plasters and cob furniture is easily achieved.

P37

STRAW BALE BUILDING IN SOUTH AMERICA AND SPAIN

RIKKI NITZKINThis paper gives an account of Rikki’s involvement with straw building networks, building

projects and educational programmes in Spain, Chile and Argentina. Presented by a

mystery substitute.

Verena Maeder is an earth building artisan with 23 years’ experience in Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand. Her company, Solid Earth Ltd, specialises in the construction of adobe buildings, earthen plasters and the restoration of historic earth buildings in New Zealand. For the past ten years, she has been sharing her knowledge through workshops and community projects. Verena trained in Architecture and Building Biology and Ecology in Switzerland. She was the Chairwoman of EBANZ from 2007-2014, is part of the committee reviewing the NZ Earth Building Standards and is on the organising committee of ISBC 2016.

Rikki Nitzkin lives in Catalunya, Spain. She started building with straw in 2002, with her own self-built home. She is one of the founders of the Red De Construcción con Paja (Spanish-speaking straw bale network, founded in 2005), and has been teaching straw bale building and clay plastering since 2006. In 2010, with architect Maren Termens, she co-authored the book Construcción con Paja: una guía para autoconstructores (Straw Building: a self-builders guide; second edition 2015). Her passion is empowering and encouraging self-builders to dare to build with straw and clay and getting their hands dirty!


Rachel Bevan – See K6 on page 6.

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YIMFY: A CENTRE FOR APPROPRIATE BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

MIN HALL AND ROBIN ALLISONNew Zealand is in dire need of a co-ordinated hub for Appropriate Building Technology,

both virtual and real. YIMFY (Yes! In My Front Yard) is a charitable trust set up to do

exactly that.

SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT 84 YEARSGRAEME NORTHWith 84 years left to run in the 21st Century, it is time to focus attention on the immediate

and long-term future of Natural Building in a fast-paced world.

VICTOR SCHAUBERGER: A SCIENTIST FOR THE FUTURE

CRISPIN CALDICOTTViktor Schauberger was an Austrian forester whose motto became “comprehend and

copy nature”. His acute observations of nature led him to some startling discoveries and

inventions, some of which have important implications for the planet today.

P41

TROMBE THERMAL WALLS FOR SOLAR HEAT STORAGE

PETER OLORENSHAWMasonry trombe walls act as solar heat stores, absorbing low winter sun and

transferring it inside with a beneficial time lag. Interior spaces are heated by early heat

through windows and delayed night time heat via the trombe walls.

Crispin Caldicott was born in Scotland, and lived there and in Dorset and London before settling in New Zealand in 2001. He is an editor, journalist and author, with broad interests encompassing forestry, advanced technology, Viktor Schauberger, solar power, water, democracy and the revival of ancient or forgotten practices and tools. He has a love of music and the English language, and includes Gerald Durrell, Winston Churchill and St Barbe-Baker among his heroes. Crispin lives on a small farm in the “winterless” north, nurturing many trees, and fending off the attentions of the horses belonging to his wife and step-daughter.

Peter Olorenshaw – See P8 on page 15.

After 30 years of architectural practice in Nelson, Min Hall moved to Auckland in 2010 to combine practice with research and teaching at the Unitec Department of Architecture. She is on the committee that drafted the 1998 NZ Earth Building Standards, and is one of the group writing the Straw Bale Building Guidelines for New Zealand. In 2012 Min completed a Master of Architecture thesis, Earth and Straw Bale: their performance and potential as building materials in New Zealand. She is a founding trustee of The YIMFY Trust and carries out architectural projects throughout New Zealand.

Robin Allison – See P12 on page 16.

Graeme North – See K2 on page 5.

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STRAW BALE WALL SYSTEMSSCOTT GOLDIE AND SVEN JOHNSTONThis workshop will outline how the selection of a structural system affects the way bales

are stacked, walls are prepared, and plaster is applied. All these factors affect the overall

efficiencies of a build.

ADOBE WALL CONSTRUCTIONRICHARD WALKER AND VERENA MAEDERLearn the basic design and construction of loadbearing adobe brick walls. To cover all

aspects of this versatile technique, the session is co-facilitated by a structural engineer

and a builder/mud brick manufacturer. Perfect for owner-builders or anyone interested

in earth building.

W1

COB PIZZA OVEN 1KERRY MULLIGAN AND ROSA HENDERSONLearn the basics of how to identify the materials and ratios required to make cob, and the

essentials of pizza oven design, including how to determine the size, placement and overall

construction. The oven built during the workshop will be auctioned at the Open Day.

Richard Walker – See P14 on page 17.

Verena Maeder – See P37 on page 23.

Dr Kerry Mulligan holds a PhD in engineering and teaches building science at CPIT. Working in post-earthquake Christchurch, she has taken up multiple opportunities to engage with the local community and demonstrate the huge potential of alternative building techniques. Partnerships with Gap Filler and the Festival of Transitional Architecture have resulted in several projects showcasing methods of earth construction. She recently spent six months in South America, undertaking a Permaculture Design Certificate and a variety of other courses exploring local natural building solutions. Her latest challenge is the design and building of her own portable Tiny House.

Rosa Henderson – See P30 on page 21.

Scott Goldie has been involved in straw bale building since 2006 and has been involved in over 70 straw bale builds, along with other alternative builds. He has worked closely with Lance Kairl from House of Bales as a project manager, working with owner builders and builders. He enjoys the flexibility and endless possibilities of straw bale and earth renders in the construction of homes and feature walls, creating a unique place for customers to call home. He is the South Australian representative for AUSBALE.

Sven Johnston is an outdoor instructor turned builder. He has a broad interest in alternatives to high-energy, conventional lifestyles. His creative approach to building concepts and ideas produces outcomes that are both beautiful and efficient. Sven has built in diverse climates from Alaska to Hawaii, and now enjoys building his family life and creative business, Sol Design Ltd, in South Canterbury, New Zealand. He has developed a prefabricated straw bale panel system, and is part of the team working on the Straw Bale Building Guidelines for New Zealand.

WORKSHOPS

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Kerry Mulligan – See W2 on page 25.

Rosa Henderson – See W2 on page 21.

SURFACE PREPARATION FOR EXTERIOR EARTH PLASTERS ON STRAW BALE WALLS

PAT MAWSON AND SVEN JOHNSTONThe success of any plaster system requires good preparation and detailing. This

workshop will look at all the areas of a wall system, including an opening, that requires

preparation before plaster, what materials to use, and how to apply them.

COB PIZZA OVEN 2KERRY MULLIGAN AND ROSA HENDERSONSecond part to the Cob Pizza Oven workshop held on Friday 4 March.

SURFACE PREPARATION FOR INTERIOR NATURAL PLASTERS

VERENA MAEDER AND SVEN JOHNSTONTransform existing living spaces by applying natural plasters. This demonstration covers

the necessary preparation of a variety of surfaces such as plywood, plaster board, fibre

cement sheets, and even recycled carpet. Don’t miss the plaster demo the following day!

STRAW CLAY DEMONSTRATIONSTEVE RICHARDSStraw clay, a combination of clay slip and straw, is a highly insulative infill wall system.

This workshop will demonstrate how the materials are mixed, installed in formwork,

allowed to dry and then plastered.

Pat Mawson is an LBP based in Hawkes Bay. With Nils Rock he runs a building company, R M Strawbale Ltd, which specialises in straw bale houses with a focus on natural and non-toxic materials throughout the building. Pat has been plastering houses with clay plasters and lime plasters for the last six years, and is passionate about continually learning and experimenting with both materials.

Sven Johnston – See W3 on page [??]


Sven Johnston – See W3 on page 25.

Steve Richards – See P18 on page 18.

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Consuelo Miranda – See P4 on page 14.

HEMPCRETE DEMONSTRATIONRACHEL BEVANHempcrete, a mixture of lime, hemp, and other binders, is used as a wall system. This

workshop will demonstrate how the materials are mixed and installed in formwork to

make walls, and how these walls are prepared for finishing.

CLAY MURALS 1CONSUELO MIRANDAThis workshop will involve using clay as an art form. Learn how to create a beautiful

visual piece that utilises a variety of naturally coloured clays.

UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF EXTERIOR FINISHES

BARBARA JONESThere are a number of options to consider for exterior finishes on plastered straw bale

walls. During this workshop, you will learn what options there are, what finishes are

appropriate for different situations and how to apply them to external plasters.

RAMMED EARTH DEMONSTRATIONJIMMY COTTERSee a demonstration of the rammed earth technique by one of New Zealand’s most

experienced professionals. A panel is formed from soil just damp enough to hold

together, tamped between shutters with manual or pneumatic rammers. The shuttering

is removed immediately.

Rachel Bevan – See K6 on page 6.


Jimmy Cotter and his company, Down to Earth Building, have been building in rammed earth since 1994. Based in Central Otago, Jimmy has built over 60 rammed earth buildings all over the South Island.

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Pat Mawson – See W4 on page 26.

INTERIOR PLASTERING ON A VARIETY OF SUBSTRATES

VERENA MAEDER AND SVEN JOHNSTON Transform existing living spaces by applying natural plasters. We will be making two

different earthen plaster base coats from scratch, and applying them to a variety of

surfaces such as plywood, plaster board, fibre cement sheets and even recycled carpet.

EARTH PLASTERING ON STRAW BALE WALLSPAT MAWSONVarious materials available to create a good earthen base plaster will be discussed.

Application techniques, including mechanical and hand applications, will be

demonstrated or discussed, as will the preparation of the wall for finish plasters.

FINISHING PLASTERS AND TROWELLING SKILLS

LIAM FLANNERYThe process of selecting and preparing materials for both lime and earthen plasters, the

mixing process, and application techniques will be demonstrated. This is an opportunity

to learn some tricks of the trade from a seasoned professional plasterer.

ADOBE VENEER CONSTRUCTIONRICHARD WALKER AND VERENA MAEDERLearn how to easily and safely incorporate interior adobe brick feature walls in timber-

framed buildings, for added thermal mass and visual impact. This technique is becoming

increasingly popular, but it is essential to get the fundamentals of seismic design right.

Liam Flannery has been plastering for 20 years, learning his first hawk and trowel skills in the UK. Now back in New Zealand, he has obtained trade certificates in solid and proprietary plastering systems with BCITO. Liam moved to more natural plastering to express his creativity, and has worked on numerous straw bale and conventional projects, using various clay and lime plaster finishes. In 2012 he attended ISBC in Colorado and subsequently completed a two week Japanese plastering course under the tutelage of Kobayashi san. He has since developed a keen interest in Tadelakt and has completed a course with Ryan Chivers in Geraldine.



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Frank Thomas – See P16 on page 17. LIME PLASTERING ON STRAW BALE

FRANK THOMASIn this workshop the various materials available to create a lime plaster system for straw

bale walls will be discussed. Mixing of plasters, application techniques, timing and curing

will be demonstrated.

TADELAKT FINISHESLIAM FLANNERYSee and experience the process of taking lime plaster and olive oil soap to create the

beautiful, waterproof surface that is Tadelakt: a centuries-old technique with origins in

Morocco.

TILT-BALE: PREFABRICATED STRAW BALE WALL SYSTEMS

SVEN JOHNSTONTilt-bale has all the benefits of prefabricated straw bale, without the transport costs and

logistics. This workshop will demonstrate a way of applying plasters, including earthen, to

a horizontal straw bale wall in order to dramatically reduce labour requirements.

EARTHEN MATERIAL TESTINGRICHARD WALKERLearn simple hand tests to assess a variety of soils for their suitability for building, and

see a demonstration of some of the material tests prescribed by the New Zealand Earth

Building Standards for building consent approval.

Liam Flannery – See W14 on page 28.


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Consuelo Miranda – See P4 on page 14. CLAY MURALS 2

CONSUELO MIRANDASecond part to the Clay Murals workshop held in the morning session.

30


Graeme North – See K2 on page 5.

Bruce King – See K1 on page 5.

.

Catherine Wanek – See P5 on page 15.

PLASTERING TOOL SELECTION AND MAINTENANCE

BOB CAMERONWith any trade, particular tools are best for particular jobs. Well maintained, these tools

can last a long time. During this workshop, you will see what plaster tools suit specific

tasks, as well as learning how to repair damaged trowels.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: HOW TO TAKE THE PERFECT SHOT

CATHERINE WANEKBring your camera and a keen eye, and learn how to capture that perfect shot with a

seasoned architectural photographer. This workshop will involve a short walk to some

local Methven buildings.

‘THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL’ – WHITEBOARD SESSION

BARBARA JONES, GRAEME NORTH AND BRUCE KINGWith straw bale construction, there are many ideas about how buildings can be put

together. Here, an architect, a structural engineer and a builder come together to lead a

discussion on details. Come ready for a dynamic discussion!

NATURAL PAINTS AND FINISHESVERENA MAEDERIndulge in the beauty of natural colours! Learn how to make paints using simple

ingredients such as clay, lime, milk, flour and oils. It is like cooking: there are many recipes

and some have been handed down for generations.


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Bob Cameron – See P3 on page 14.

Natural Building in the 21st Century · Natural Building in the 21st Century. We acknowledge with...

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