Bulletproof Strawbale Police Stations for California
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 03.28.06
In response to our post on strawbale in Europe comes this fascinating story about a Californian city, Visalia, who has approved plans to build 2 police stations from the material. The design is for concrete block construction, surrounded by a shell of cement rendered strawbales. It is anticipated that with the region’s Mediterranean-like climate that the insulation provided by the strawbales will reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 50%. When completed later this year, it’s thought these will be the first strawbale police stations in California. A quick ‘google’ certainly didn’t highlight any elsewhere, though we did find one with a green roof over in Maryland. More >
In an article on the plans, we were informed that of the roughly million pounds (453,600 kg) of waste rice straw that California produces each year, only 5% is currently used for construction. And in a weird twist of fate, one of the architects responsible for the whole resurgence in buildings of strawbales, just happens to head the firm that submitted the plans for the Visalia police stations. Jon Hammond of Indigo Architecture had his strawbale cottage reviewed in a 1983 issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine. Indigo has as part of their mission statement the phrase, “We practice architecture that puts people in touch with their environment and with each other.” How very appropriate for a police station. But just in case this 'in-touch' approach falters, the stations with strawbales walls will “provide ballistics and blast resistance.” ::Visalia Police Stations Thanks to Tipster Jen P.
I live near there. I am glad to see Visalia doing something good for the environment. That's a huge step for them...
I was suprised to see my little (little for California: 100,000 people) town featured in treehugger. I am anxious to see the plan move forward and hopefully serve as a great motivator for others in the area. This has historically been a very traditional and conservative town (not simply speaking politics). There are several strawbale homes in the area, but I am excited to see an alternative construction method being accepted by a wider audience. Hopefully this will pave the way to make it easier for those in the city looking to build homes in a manner other than the ubiquitous stick built box covered in beige stucco.
some one needs to tell them that concrete rendering won't work in the long term, straw bales need to breathe, you need to plaster them with lime rendering instead.
Strawbale
bullet proof police stations
Oh my gosh Visalia! I've been there! It's so sunny there. Quiant little town, I'm sure those thick walls would be pretty bullet proof.