Bare straw bales?

Hi everybody.

Has anybody tried bare straw bales?

I know of one guy in France, who has done it.

http://www.lamaisondurable.com/2008/11/isolant-paille.html

He has left theses 30 years without changing.

On old stone houses that we have in euroland. This would be the simplest to do a cheap outside insulation.

And I would really like to try on my brick walled workshop/flat.

A local guy, from a strawbale building school, tries to talk me into making it properly, with attached bales, raised from the ground , and to render theses. But I'm not too keen. I'd rather spend the money on my flat, than on insulation, that I had not planned.

What is your opinion?

Thanks a lot.

Max.

Not that impressed looks like multistory rat housing frankly
Thatch is a perfectly good roofing material but having a house like this looks far to much like the first house the three little pigs built with I fear similar results .
As for your friend , if he gives his labour free so you can build a house .... Sounds like a good deal to me he gets the PHd you get the house

David

Without exterior render more chance for:
House Fire, wildfire, toxic mold, decompose, mice/insects/wasps infestation, not nearly as insulative when air blows through or soaked, moisture might blow out your brick, might just fall over, rot may stink, a hobo might live under a bale, your dog would always make the worst yard mess ever, you're gonna hate looking at it especially since you do construction.
Buy some beer and grill out for some buddies to help you render and then it's cheap and fun. And you're adding equity

I couldn't figure out how to translate the page.

Hey guys, thanks a lot for your replies.

Here's another one, in French and English. From Czech repermies.

Seems quite nice so far.

https://thestrawbiketrip.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/mlada-boleslav-czech-republic/

Searching for the name of the latest, I've found this. Still reading it.

http://www.strawcottage.co.uk/pdfs/MPhilESD809Dissertation%20KevenLEDOUJETversion.pdf

A daft idea crossed my mind. Why not wax or varnish the strawbales?

That would be funny.