Low Carbon Strawcrete: Material Testing and Applicability for a Rural Community

Adobe, a traditional material of South Central Chile, has been questioned after the 2010 Chilean earthquake. An alternative material using combinations of straw and concrete in different proportions offer a structural solution and the possibility to manage its thermal properties (insulation or thermal capacity). The concrete allows higher amounts of straw in the mix, with the resulting environmental benefit and revealing its aesthetic without the risk associated with exposure. A rural town hit by the earthquake is the scenario to develop a modular ?Strawcrete? kit for self-built application. The outcome of the ?Strawcrete? kit achieves a fast and easy construction system including local handcraft techniques. The project considers a social housing community that incorporates crops related to local artisanal practices and products as an opportunity to develop and create a new identity for the community.