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Although relatively unknown in South Africa, Strawbale
Construction is a tried and tested building method.
We have chosen strawbale construction primarily because it is an extremely
cost effective building method, can use unskilled labour (Scouts!) and
most of the building materials are locally available, either on the farm
or in the Wellington area.
| Accommodation Plans PDF
21Kb
| Ablution Block Plans
PDF 22Kb
PHOTO JOURNAL
Working with the baling team to optimise the compression of the strawbales.
Loading 550 straw bales from Watervlei Farm.
A number of branches had to be cut to allow the truck to use the back
road onto the farm.
Storing the bales undercover at The Barn.
Leveling the building site.
Constructing the formwork for the foundations.
Compacting the rubble foundation.
Positioning the formwork for the foundations.
Bending the steel reinforcing bars.
Mixing concrete.
Settling the concrete once foundations have been cast.
The finnishing touches to the materials shelter.
Preparing the DPC and base ladder.
 Marcel
does the honors of placing the first bale in position.
 Ablution
block bales going up.
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Two volunteers from Switzerland arrived in mid-November at Hawequas to
lead the construction of a volunteer accommodation facility. Since then
a number of other volunteers and interested parties have offered their
assistance with this project.
The project leaders are also working with learners of the Wellington
Youth Centre, a juvenile correctional facility, who are assisting in the
construction process. Groups of learners volunteer their time in the afternoons
to assist on site, whilst the centre has also made their workshop and
woodwork learners available to manufacture some of the key materials required
for the building.
The facility is going to be built using Strawbale construction methods
and will use alternative energy sources like solar heating for hot water,
a wind generator and solar panels for lighting and a combination of solar
and gas for food preparation.
The Strawbale Volunteer House is designed to house eight volunteers as
well as be a working example of the sustainable use of natural resources
for Hawequas' Environmental Education programmes.
SUPPORT
We would like to thank Haw & Inglis for their generous donation
of building materials to the value of R22,000.
OUR VOLUNTEERS TO DATE:
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CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
Marcel Brulisauer, Switzerland
Nov 2006 - Jun 2007
Marcel is in his fifth year of Civil Engineering at ETH Zurich and
is writing his thesis on Sustainable Construction in South Africa.
ARCHITECT
Rebekka Eiholzer, Switzerland
Nov 2006 - Feb 2007
Rebekka is a fourth year Architect student at ETH Zurich, also with
a special interest in Sustainable construction.
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HAWEQUAS FARM VOLUNTEER
Matthias Rebisch, Germany
Jan - Jun 2007
Whilst assisting a great deal with the construction of the strawbale
house, Matthias' role is to assist with all aspects of running the
Hawequas farm. This includes fixing the roads, alien clearing, creating
an indigenous nursery, maining the farms water supply, maintaining
hiking trails and general maintenance tasks.
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STRAWBALE VOLUNTEER
Martin , Switzerland
Dec 2006 - Jan 2007
Martin, Rebekka's boyfriend, came out on holiday and naturally got
roped in to help with the building preparations. Quite a difference
from his job as a political analyst for an investment bank.
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STRAWBALE VOLUNTEER
Django Jonas, UK
Feb 2006
Django is spending three months in South Africa and is looking for
inspiration for the construction of a house on a piece of land he
has bought in a remote valley in Italy. He has volunteered his services
to assist in the construction project in exchange for the knowledge
he will gain regarding strawbale construction methods.
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HAWEQUAS STRAWBALE & NEIGHBOURING FARM VOLUNTEER
Stephan Hohn, Germany
Aug 2007 - Feb 2008
Having been born in South Africa, Stephan spent his first four years
in Johannesburg before his family returned to Germany.
Stephan has completed his studies and internship in an IT related
field and is now spending six months at Hawequas before traveling
in South/ern Africa for a month. Stephan is a keen mountain biker
and rock climber and has a special interest in alternative construction
methods.
For two days a week Stephan is working on a neighbouring wine farm
to learn more about wine making.
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HOW YOU CAN HELP...
Strawbale construction is a very labour intensive process and we are relying
on participation from the Western Cape ScOuting community and individuals
interested in alternative construction methods to make this project a
success. Please see the work schedule below for the dates when help is
required for the key stages of the building process:
For enquiries, or to register your contact details on our list of volunteers,
please contact Stephan Hohn on 078 183 8839 or by email to stephanhohn@o2online.de.
CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE - updated
21 August 2007
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1 & 2 Sept 2007
Fri - Sun
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20 Adults / Senior Scouts
Construction Weekend
Completion of roof over the veranda of both buildings
Plastering of ablution building - 2nd coat
Earth Plaster
Timber treatment
Window and door box frames
Landscaping
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8-9 Sept 2007
Fri - Sun
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20 Adults Leaders / Senior Scouts
Construction Weekend
Foundations for internal posts of foundations
Window and door box frames
Plastering ablution building - 3rd coat Earth Plaster
Strawbale infills - accommodation building
Landscaping
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22 - 23 Sept 2007
Fri - Sun
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20 Adults Leaders / Senior Scouts
Construction Weekend
Internal drywalls
Plastering ablution building - 1st coat Lime Plaster
Plastering accommodation building - 1st Coat Earth
Plaster
Leveling floors of both buildings
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More dates to follow...
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