UTAH
In the summer of 2000 Jan & Jeremy Sharpe went to the ski resort of Park City, nr. Salt Lake City to train an architect and plastering crew in the mixing and use of lime. The working environment was completely different to Mexico and Arizona, the problems there with lime plastering was protecting the plaster, whilst drying and curing, from the intense heat of the sun. Park City is situated 3000 metres above sea level and has extreme temperatures ranging from about 280 at the height of summer to temperatures well below freezing in the winter. The air is also extremely dry.
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Colour panels on bales |
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Straw bales used as infill, and lime plastered
The house where the training took place was a hi tech timber framed straw bale construction as opposed to the low-tech one room Mexican homes. The bales were used to infill the timber frame. Bales were used because of their great insulating properties. The owners wished to use lime mortar as it is a natural building material and is compatible with straw bales. The house required the utmost protection in terms of water resistance from the heavy winter snowfalls.
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