High/Low Impact Straw Bale Pavilion : WestminsterResearch

Title	High/Low Impact Straw Bale Pavilion
Creators	Kramer, M.
Collaborators	Mark Rowe and Michael Burchert
Description	This experimental pavilion test modular construction as well as covivial construction methods, where building processes are deliberately organised, in the spirit of Ivan Illich's "tools for conviviality," which remain comprehensible and accessible to non-specialists. Through processes that are simultaneously involving direct engagement with places, people and materials, collective (such as involving communal construction and potential future users), comprehensible (organised so that participants can understand what is being done and why), and consequential (producing real, lasting effects that participants can observe and live with). Straw bale construction lends itself to this kind of methodology - the walls of this bio based pavilion are made from straw bales, a net-positive, carbon-sequestering material that is fire-certified, low-cost, rodent- and insect-resistant, and suitable for multi-storey construction. Straw, an agricultural by-product requiring no extraction and minimal processing, regulates humidity, supports healthy indoor environments, and can return safely to the earth at the end of its life. The modules of this pavilion meet Passive House standards and can be disassembled and reused. We demonstrate how low-carbon construction methods can support circular design principles and more sustainable forms of building practice. The pavilion was conceived as an experimental demonstration of straw bale construction and its potential as a sustainable building method. Collaborators: LiveProjectsPractice, Steve Webb, Nicholas Alexander, The Stone Masonry Company, Margent Form, the Harrow Estate Team; Part of London Festival of Architecture
Keywords	Live Project, Action Research, Embodied Knowledge
Year	22 May 2026
	2026
Files	final.jpg IMG_4999.jpeg IMG_5162.jpeg IMG_4862.JPG 963ed0ce-076c-4a37-9bda-15508a020553.jpg IMG_4826.JPG IMG_5124.jpeg Image credit Maria Kramer Measurements 5mx3.6mx2.5m File Access Level Open (open metadata and files)
Place of publication	Harrow Campus
Funder	Centre for Education Teaching Innovation (CETI), University of Westminster
Web address (URL)	http://www.openstudiowestminster.org/beyond-studio/live-design-practice/high-low-impact-straw-bale-pavilion/
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.34737/x7v54

Related outputs

High Low Impact Straw Bale Pavilion
Kramer, M. 2025. High Low Impact Straw Bale Pavilion. Centre for Education Teaching Innovation (CETI), University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/x8vw5

Co-Creating Just Streets Library Parklet as a Site of Transformative Pedagogy and Participatory Practice
Papa, E., Cioboata, S. and Kramer, M. 2025. Co-Creating Just Streets Library Parklet as a Site of Transformative Pedagogy and Participatory Practice. in: Kramer, M. (ed.) Live Projects-Live Practice London Department of Architecture, University of Westminster. pp. 70-73

Live Projects-Live Practice
Kramer, M., Charrington, H., Papa, E., Cioboata, S., Dean, C., Saleem, S., Williams, J., Pivaro, A., Sharif, Y., Golzari-dodaran, N., Clarke, C. and Kamvasinou, K. Kramer, M. (ed.) 2025. Live Projects-Live Practice. University of Westminster Department of Architecture, University of Westminster.

DPRG Posters
Watson, V.A., McLean, W., Ayuso, A., Batty, S., Boulanger, A., Clarke, C., Durelle, K., Girardin, F., Kingston, J., Kramer, M., Cascone, P., Silver, P. and Zhang, J. 2025. DPRG Posters. DPRG Publications.

Live Design Practice - Projects Platform
Kramer, M. 2025. Live Design Practice - Projects Platform.

My Canopy at Clitterhouse Farm
Kramer, M. 2024. My Canopy at Clitterhouse Farm. University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/x8qz2

The Floating Hide - Live Project
Kramer, M. 2024. The Floating Hide - Live Project. Cody Dock

Fluid Freedom: An Empathetic Pool Design Empowering a Client with Multiple Sclerosis
Kramer, M. 2024. Fluid Freedom: An Empathetic Pool Design Empowering a Client with Multiple Sclerosis. Architectural Research Quarterly. 28 (3), pp. 232-242. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1359135525101000

Design Practices
Mr Wilfred Achille, Ayuso, A., Batty, S., Boulanger, A., Cascone, P., Durelle, K., Dr Ana Gatóo, Girardin, F., Golzari, N., Guibert, E., Kramer, M., Maragiannis, A., McLean, W., Nieva Mesas, G., Pollock, B., Zaide, P., Zhang, J., Sharif, Y., Silver, P., Urna Sodnomjamts, Tankard, J., Thwaites, A., Watson, V.A. and Wilkinson, C. Watson, V.A., McLean, W. and Urna Sodnomjamts (ed.) 2024. Design Practices. University of Westminster DPRG Publications.

Floating Forum
Kramer, M. 2023. Floating Forum. University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/x8qz6

Floating Forum
Kramer, M. 2023. Floating Forum. University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/x8qz5

The Growing Space
Kramer, M. 2023. The Growing Space.

The Growing Space at Cody Dock
Kramer, M. 2023. The Growing Space at Cody Dock.

Public Engagement Event at Cody Dock as part of the Therapeutic Horticultural Live Project
Kramer, M. 2023. Public Engagement Event at Cody Dock as part of the Therapeutic Horticultural Live Project.

Sensory Bench
Kramer, M. 2022. Sensory Bench.

Mini Meadow Harrow Campus
Kramer, M. 2022. Mini Meadow Harrow Campus.

Pavilion Prototype
Kramer, M. 2019. Pavilion Prototype. University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/x8qz1

Woven Pavilion
Kramer, M. 2019. Woven Pavilion. University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/x8qz0

Oculus Pavilion
Kramer, M. 2017. Oculus Pavilion. University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/x8qyy

My Home is not my Castle
Kramer, M. 2013. My Home is not my Castle.

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High/Low Impact Straw Bale Pavilion

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