A LIVERPOOL architect has designed the first straw bale building in the city which will take pride of place in a primary school.

Rudston Infant School in Childwall has been granted permission for an outdoor classroom which will be made of straw, green oak, cedar shingles and tyres.

Thought to be the only building of its kind in the North West, there are only 40 other straw bale buildings across the UK.

Work has started this week on the classroom which will see 100 straw bales based around an exposed timber frame made of green oak.

The oak will come from fallen trees that once stood in Liverpool’s parks supplied by a tree surgeon in Woolton.

The straw will be sourced from a farm in Yorkshire and the cedar shingles, which are not produced in Merseyside, will come from Cornwall.

Architect Alison Jardine, working for Liverpool’s Michael Cunningham Architects, said: “I studied sustainable architecture at university so I’m very keen on this type of eco-designed building.

“The school came to us with an idea of the layout and when we suggested a straw bale building, they came on board.

“As an eco-school, being sustainable and environmentally friendly was important to them and the children are very excited about the new classroom and play area.

“The benefits of this design is that the materials are fast growing and renewable. Straw bale structures can last 100 years and in this case the bales will be rendered with lime and clay.

“People tend to think it’s a fire risk or will let in water but the building will be fireproof and waterproof.

“The only negative is that you need more space, these walls will be 450mm thick, but in this case space wasn’t a problem.”

The structure with timber sliding doors will be built on rammed tyre foundations.

Funded through eco-building allowances, the new classroom will be ready in time for the start of the school year in September.

Melissa Jennings, business manager at the school, said: “We wanted to design a shelter that would be an influential and respected our ethos as an eco-school.

“The fact the oak is local, the straw from Yorkshire and most of the material is coming from the North West just shows what you can do.

“We held assemblies for the children about straw and clay and they loved it and they will understand how the classroom was built when they come back.”

laurasharpe