Project Name: Navajo Elder Straw Bale Housing
Project Type: (Choose one of the following)
6) architecture
Project Mission/Goal:
1) improve the human spirit
2) increase awareness of the environment and/or address climate change
3) respond to our growing need for clean water, power, shelter, health care, education
Project Description:
The Navajo Elder straw bale housing prototypes and building components grew out of a participatory design process with Navajo communities in the American Southwest. Facilitated by Indigenous Community Enterprises (I.C.E., a Navajo non-profit) and design consultant Nathaniel Corum, this collaboration with Navajo elders and other tribal members produced a range of culturally-appropriate home designs. Each prototype home features a rectangular or octagonal hogan - a traditional form adapted to contemporary circumstances according to the desires and traditions of Dine (Navajo) elders - and materials that are native to place. For example, small diameter timbers stem from tribal forestry restoration. Concrete products and other materials come from Navajo sources, and wheat straw bales are from Navajo Agricultural Products Industry fields.
The barrier-free floor plan, comprised of a concentrated wet core within an insulating straw bale envelope, allows for an efficient layout within a small footprint. This system can scale up or down, orient to solar and wind patterns for passive heating and cooling, and be partitioned flexibly in order to adapt to changing inhabitant needs.
Straw bale construction is amenable to community and volunteer participation. The material is a non-toxic and readily available agricultural by-product, and acts as a super-insulating envelope to give comfort, beauty and efficiency in colder climes. In this load-bearing example the straw bale walls serve as both structure and insulation.
Text from: http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/navajo
Links and Captions: (Links to background information and Image Captions/Photo Credits)
http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/navajo
http://www.design21sdn.com/people/15/posts/145
Project Details: (Per project detail form)
Location: various sites in Arizona and New Mexico
Concept/Lead Architect(s)/Designer(s): Indigenous Community Enterprises and Nathaniel Corum
Project Architect(s):
Year (s): August 2006 - January 2010
Client: Indigenous Community Enterprises
User Client: Tribal members, Elders and Families
Number of beneficiaries/users: 30
Project Phase:
Major Funding: Navajo Housing Authority, USDA
Cost/Cost per unit:
Area (if applicable): 900-1300 sq. ft.
Structural Engineers: Durc Engineering
Electrical/Mechanical Engineers: Energy AD
Contractor/Manufacturer:
Additional Consultants:
Other:
Nominated by Satu Jackson
