So there is a movement out there in some residential markets to begin building with what are being called alternative or non-traditional building techniques and materials. The truth of the matter is that many of these techniques are much older and much more traditional than the typical stick built home or masonry structure.

I am speaking of techniques such as straw bale, cobb, thatch, alternative framing, etc... If more building codes allowed for unfettered access to such techniques, it is possible that we would see a rise in these techniques.

I have built only one home from straw bale construction and have not had the opportunity to use cobb. I am currently working on a project using alternative framing. I would just like to start a conversation about these non-traditional building techniques.

I have seen a straw bale house going up in my town. They seem to draw attention. I would worry too much about mold and decay. Is that a problem with these? I know they create the "window" in the house so that you can see that the walls are actually hay bales. Does that window help to vent the moisture out too?

I understand the whole being upset about these techniques being called non-traditional, but really they are. The traditional building methods in use today don't include these older techniques. I am not sure what to call them, but they are alternative in a way.

What exactly is cobb building anyway?

Cob (sorry for the misspelling) is a building material made up of sand, clay and mostly long straw fibers (other fibers are also used). Cob is applied by hand in big globs and when dry is very solid and stable. I have seen it used with limited support and integrated into stick built construction. The lighter versions of cob made with a clay slip material can be molded into formwork and used like infill panels on a house.

Dear all... Thought it might be nice to include Sustainable Shells in this conversation. The guys behind this creation won at the recent Earth Awards and erected a structure on the grounds of Marlborough House as part of HRH Charles, Prince of Wales' START initiative. This suggests that the idea can be incorporated anywhere. http://www.theearthawards.org/winne...vironment/

Lord, thanks for the link. I am curious about the contradiction in the description though. Certainly this approach uses local building materials, but it is nothing close to any traditional building methods, still requires training of locals and so on. I think its a step in the right direction, but its a baby step. IMHO what the less developed countries need more than anything is education and a means to remain financially viable in an environment that is slowly (or someday quickly) destroying agricultural means of living. Teaching them how to build some fancy structure using local materials won't do that in the end.

These techniques are being used by most of builders.