Earthquake resistant straw bale buildings

Darcey Donovan founded the Pakistan Straw Bale and Appropriate Building (PAKSBAB) in 2006. They adapt straw bale and other sustainable methods for low cost earthquake and storm resistant buildings in developing nations.

The buildings are typically one story high with walls made of straw bales covered with earth render and a wood framed corrugated steel roof. The straw provides a low cost building material which insulates and will also flex rather than break during an earthquake. The earth render makes the building fire resistant.

In countries such as Australia, straw bale construction is sometimes used, but usually with wooden supporting frame and the straw just used for infill.