building the future studio 3 arts community centre

August 18, 2021

The School of Natural Building are working with Studio 3 Arts to build an extension on their community centre.

Designed by architects company, Citizens Design Bureau and built by GPF Lewis and Wellspring Architecture , this is a transformation in London’s Barking and Dagenham . Read more here

Not only is the work carried out using low carbon materials including strawbales but a course next week with the School of Natural Building – 23rd to 27th August – will cover practical aspects of strawbale building: how to dress and customise bales, notching, loadbearing and infill techniques, compression of the wall, and much more. See here to enrol on the course

This project demonstrates the power of public sector partnering: in making change for the local community through Government; local statutory bodies and interdepartmental support and resources – in essence, everything we worked with UPSTRAW to deliver

Yesterday the bales were delivered – the work and fun now begins!

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SBUK Webinar: Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction – 25th March

By Cypren Edmunds • March 11, 2025

Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction with Chris Hawker and Ben Nother 📅 **25 March 2025** 📍 **Online Event** Timber framing plays a crucial role in straw bale construction, influencing durability, efficiency, and design. In this session, Hawkland’s Chris Hawker and Ben Nother will share their expertise, using their latest build near Ross-on-Wye as a case study. They will explore: ✔️ The specific approach they have taken to constructing the timber frame ✔️ How their designs have evolved over the years ✔️ The reasoning behind their current method ✔️ A broader discussion on timber-frame vs load-bearing straw bale construction The session will conclude with a Q&A, offering the opportunity to gain insights from two of the UK’s leading practitioners in timber and straw construction.