Urban Strawbale: Modcell, UK

Inspire Bradford Business Park has been built on a brownfield site close to Eccleshill Community Hospital in Bradford, the main contractor is Stainforth Construction. The buildings are part financed by the European Union.

The business park consists of two buildings, each according to the latest sustainable construction standards to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating, including utilising 260 thermally efficient, 48cm thick, prefabricated ModCell® straw bale wall panels assembled at the nearby Flying Factory™ located in Dewsbury.

The two buildings have total 2,787 sq m and house 14 services offices and 14 managed work spaces, making them one of the largest straw bale developments in Europe.

Other sustainable features of the business park include a ground-source heat pump and a rainwater catchment reservoir which supplies lavatories and water for planting. Photovoltaic cells on the roof generate renewable energy whilst rubber floor tiles and carpets are made from recycled materials. (source: www.modcell.com)

business-park

Written by Herbert Gruber

Herbert is author of the book "Neues Bauen mit Stroh" (New Building with Straw), head of the austrian strawbale network ASBN and partner in the Leonardo-project "Strawbale Training for European Professionals (STEP). As a collector he documents European straw bale buildings since 1999 on his website (database, german), in lectures, workshops and books.

Website: http://www.baubiologie.at