Earthworks

(updated 6/3/08)

The next show at the gallery is called "Earthworks". The show features Natural buildings built in the Bloomington area.

Specifically:

"Fox Haven" - a cordwood Hermitage at the Mt. Gilead Friends Retreat
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Silja Weber's Hobbit type playhouse created with cob construction
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

and the Habitat for Humanity built Strawbale house
(photo showing house in progress)
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________


The show has photos and drawings (in some cases) of the progress of construction.

From the Strawbale House website:

Advantages of Natural Building Techniques

The greatest advantages are affordability for housing construction, followed by energy efficiency, creating a healthy building environment and taking advantage of passive solar design. Passive solar design maximizes solar heating by orienting the house with south-facing windows and mass to absorb the sun's heat. Sunlight enters through low-e (energy efficient) windows extending along a south wall coupled with a pressed concrete slab floor to provide mass absorption of heat.

Overhangs along the south wall will create maximum shading in summer while allowing the sun to shine in during the colder months. R-40 insulation in the ceiling and walls also help retain heat.

Construction uses other natural building materials whenever possible -- materials which are environmentally friendly, require less energy to produce and both use and generate no toxic off-gas or other pollution during use or after disposal. The use of a radiant floor heating system - which is safer, quieter, more comfortable and more efficient than forced air systems and requires less maintenance -- was used in the final design plans.