RAMMED EARTH!

RAMMED EARTH!
Biotexture completed an interesting rammed earth project this fall in Colorado. All the material came from a mine within 20 miles of the building site, which is reflected in the "local" feel of the color and strata lines of the wall. We were able to work with Randy Fox, an expert from Rammed Earth Development out of Tuscon who headed up the first phase of the project, while we took over and completed the rest. The project is now under construction so all we have are some unfinished pics, but we will post the finished pics in a couple months!

Enjoy a slideshow of Biotexture projects

Colorado Strawbale Association (COSBA)

Looking for an architect, engineer, insurance or builder for a strawbale project?

A great place to find it is at the Colorado Strawbale Association website- http://www.coloradostrawbale.org/

BIOTEXTURE Straw bale builders: Reed mat wall systems

I have had some questions concerning the aforesaid interior wall system lately.

Reed mats are small diameter bamboo which are wired together and come in rolls which are stapled to framing members and plastered for interior wall systems.


The overall benefits of using bamboo reed mats center around the low embodied energy, environmentally benign aspects, and the interior air quality benefits.
Prices are comparable to drywall.

BIOTEXTURE Colorado Strawbale builders

2009 is a challenging season for construction but we are holding strong!

The Biotexture train full steam ahead

What in tarnation is going on?!




Building strawbale homes in the high country of Colorado we have been working to get everyone stacked and sealed before the snow flies-which is not that far away- with projects as high as 10,200 ft this year we have had a short weather window....

California Strawbale Association Conference

The annual CASBA(California Strawbale Association) conference was held in Cambria, California this year. A great time was had by all, located 30 min North of San Luis Obispo overlooking the ocean with a great conference schedule, music, food, and strawbale structures.

California has the most strawbale structures of any state and San Luis Obispo county(where the conference was held) is holding 53+ !!!

So we had to roadtrip out and see this well oiled machine from the belly of the beast.


What we learned: Seismic issues render strawbale more labor and cost intensive in California. But no problem, strawbale builders report that many of their clients have an abundance of FUNDS-!

Slightly different than Colorado Strawbale building....

Wine country has really embraced strawbale building and the house tour was a testament to that.