Straw

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Architectural designers natural building
specialists trainers
The application of clay plasters to straw bale
buildings and how the ECVET clay plaster
training course works in the UK and Europe
strawworks_at_gmail.com www.strawworks.co.uk
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A Little History
Strawbale building began in the UK in
1994. Barbara Jones of Amazon Nails began
experimenting with clay plasters on strawbale
buildings in 1997, after seeing clay plasters and
floors used in strawbale buildings in the
USA. The strawbale house above is in Clones,
Ireland and has clay plaster internally, applied
by Kate Mullany, one of the self-build owners, in
1997
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Early plasters on strawbale buildings

• application was DIY
• plasters were experimental
• made from local clay soil
• and lots of fun!

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Some memorable strawbale buildingsusing clay
plasters
The Spiral House, Castlebar, Ireland 2000-2003
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Some memorable strawbale buildingsusing clay
plasters
Grand Designs Eco-Home of the Year Award 2008

• The National Trust Footprint building

DIY clay plasters internally
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LearnWithClay
Partnership programme Leonardo da Vinci Original
Partners Germany (lead Partner), France, UK,
Bulgaria UK involvement Centre for Alternative
Technology Construction Skills amazonails St
raw Works Strawbuild Additional Partners
Slovakia, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic

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Developing Professional finishes

• ,

• as clay plasterers learnt their craft, so
  finishes became more professional

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LearnWithClay
The project developed

• A training course in clay plastering
• Similar to the credit point system now being used
  by Construction Skills
• Trainees can learn at any Partner organisations
  within Europe
• Qualifications are recognised by all
  participating countries

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LearnWithClay
the training course
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LearnWithClay

• Qualification recognised by German Chamber of
  Commerce
• Courses to train Trainers
• Clay plastering recognised as a skill in UK
• Teaching resources available on CD
• Handbook developed containing Units 1 - 6

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LearnWithClay

• the training course

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ECVET Certificate of Achievement
a certificate of Achievement or of Attendance
awarded to all participants
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LearnWithClay
Close of project in July 2012 Addendum to
Handbook containing guidelines for running
courses and exams Constructionskills working
towards including clay plastering and natural
building in National Occupation Standards

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architectural designersnatural building
specialiststrainersHollinroyd
FarmTodmordenOL14 8RJstrawworks_at_gmail.comwww.
strawworks.co.uk