In the world of biobased construction, wood is often the first material that comes to mind. But an innovative perspective highlights straw as a promising alternative. Rob van Nistelrooij, owner of Bouwbedrijf Gebroeders van Herpen, enthusiastically supports this idea of straw as the 'building material of the future'.
“When it comes to bio-based construction, people often only think of wood. But wood is relatively scarce and time-consuming to grow. Straw, on the other hand, is a fast grower that can replace wood in many places.”
Insulation and Construction
Straw, currently a by-product of grain production, has the potential to be grown locally and then processed directly from field to wall. The distances in the production chain are kept as short as possible to minimize nitrogen and CO₂ emissions. Prefab straw parts make it possible to quickly assemble a home on location with few people and equipment. But can this innovation be applied on a large scale?
The Emission-Free Construction project offered an excellent opportunity to investigate this. Various parties worked together on a sustainable house concept under the name ONS Natuurhuis. Architectural firm EN|EN, Strotec and Bouwbedrijf Gebroeders van Herpen developed a biobased terraced house that can be built on a large scale.
A new construction method was developed for the ONS Nature House in which the facade parts made of straw panels are assembled directly in the factory. “We wanted a steeper learning curve and more time to gain knowledge of this construction method,” says Van Nistelrooij. The research focused on scaling up at various levels: from the development of a business case for a new factory to adjustments in working methods and communication.
Read the full article TNO.nl
Photo: via TNO
