2009-10-27

Light Straw Clay Blocks

October 22 and 23 made sample light straw clay blocks with Noda-san and Jinnouchi-san in Higashikawa, Hokkaido. Noda-san is a professional plasterer from Urakawa, Hokkaido. Jinnouchi-san built and lives in a straw bale home and directs a forestry NPO call MoriNet Hokkaido. Last spring, the three of us renovated Cafe Bura Bura in Urakawa, Hokkaido using straw bales and earthen plasters. We're trying to develop a natural insulation consisting of local materials for a model ecological home planned to be built next year. Hanamoto Construction Company supplied the materials and space to produce and dry the blocks.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just wondering if you have the dimensions of these blocks. Thanks.

Kyle Holzhueter said...

The blocks can be any dimension. In this case, they're designed to be combined with a conventional Japanese timber frame (455mm on center).