I bought a small brick built property in Italy.
I thought it would be a good idea to renovate this property (keeping it bricks and therefore simple for the local builder and architect.)That way I would have a base for myself and other visitors.
I thought it would be good to have the local builder extend the roof further over the land and create a covered veranda with the idea that I could fill in the veranda at a later date using strawbale, thus creating more rooms.

This extention would therefore have 3 exterior strawbale walls and one interior brick wall. Would this make sence? Would I still have the insulation benefits of strawbale? Or would the insulation and other benefits be lost and the thick strawbale walls simply take up more space than necessary?

Josephine

Hello Nick,

Thanks for your feedback.

I have made some sketches using google sketchup.I am trying to send then as attachment but am not sure how to do that?

I imagined using wooden posts to hold up the extended roof.
But in my sketches I have also excavated the land beneath the veranda with the idea of creating a cellar. I imagine filling in the walls with local stone and large glass windows/doors at a later date.
My question is, what should I use to support the veranda? I thought perhaps steel reenforced concrete pillars? Or would wood be possible?
I was imagining using concrete for the veranda floor..but perhaps I should consider some other material such as wood? I am concerned about potential fire risks though.

Abruzzo is a seismic region. This land is about 70km south-east from L'Aquila, (as the crow flies) and perhaps 50km north-east from Campobasso where they had an earthquake a few years ago..(A recently renovated school collapsed and killed several children). I think it would be wise to take precautions..should the pillars which will support the veranda be rammed further into the ground/earth beneath?

I have made further sketches depicting the strawbale walls in place. I took into account that they would be 500mm thick. The Veranda space would be aboout 6m x 10m so I think strawbale remains feasable and won't use too much space.
I have been wondering if it is possible to have the strawbales made in different sizes or are combine harvesters only able to churn out the bales in standard sizes?

Half of the original building will need to be demolished and rebuilt. A friend suggested new terracotta bricks would be best for this, being larger and faster to build with, and providing better insulation. The old bricks could then be recycled and used for other purposes. The other half of the building can hopefully be renovated. Any suggestions on additional insulation would be appreciated. (I hope to do as much DIY as possible).

Josephine