18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
NOT what I expected but still worthwhile, June 3, 2006
This review is from: Building With Awareness - The Construction of a Hybrid Home (DVD)
Over the years I've managed to collect most of the straw bale building books that Amazon has, when I saw this DVD I thought it might be a good addition to my collection of related materials.
I first watched the DVD by skipping around various chapters and now I'm at least half way through watching it as presented. It looks very well done, nice production work, but is more of a documentary than a "watch this and you can build a house" production.
Most of the books have a tendency to have small b/w photographs of whatever detail is being discussed, here you actually get to see someone doing it (I liked that part and usually it is well presented), in most cases I don't think you'll actually get enough information to go out and do it on your own. My thought is that this DVD is meant to give you some idea of what is involved and then get you to take a course somewhere (probably theirs, a class somewhere would be a good idea), there's just not enough information presented to allow the total novice to build a home. I did learn some things I don't think I knew, I just wish the program had more to it.
There's no bibliography or information source list like you'd expect to find in a good book, the 8 page mini book slipped inside the DVD case is possibly more valuable than the DVD itself, do read it!
There are two commentary soundtracks to choose from, sometimes- but not always- they duplicate themselves, it's a little irritating that in order to get the most out of them you'll have to watch the program twice because I think both have useful information.
That rubble foundation might work in New Mexico but I'd be afraid of it in a wetter, colder climate. For a "green" home why is this thing heated with natural gas?
If you're hard of hearing, tough luck, there's no closed captioning or subtitling although some details during the program do have little info boxes telling what they are.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very entertaining "how to " dvd, May 7, 2005
This review is from: Building With Awareness - The Construction of a Hybrid Home (DVD)
I found this dvd extremely insightful. After years of looking through straw bale books to finally see a bale house go up in front of your eyes was very rewarding and has fueled my search for property. I especially enjoyed how the author/builder used a limited amount of concrete for both structural integrity and as a heating/flooring surface. I would advise this for anybody interested in building and or ecology.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Darned near perfect.., January 25, 2006
This review is from: Building With Awareness - The Construction of a Hybrid Home (DVD)
This look at building the author/architect/DVD producers' straw bale residence in New Mexico is darned near perfect. He did a few things that contradicted his 'green' mission, like using OSB for his sub-roof (nasty stuff ecologically)/other. But those distractions aside, this is a very thorough glimpse into what another builder considering a hybrid method might expect.
There are two audio options, combined they cover darned near everything. And the menu offers a slide show, with commentary that, when combined with the other two means of listening/watching, collectively deliver the full meal deal.
Truly a wonderful production, beautiful footage, original music, and a step-by-step compilation of the author's journey.
I would buy this DVD (had I not already), and "Building a Straw Bale House - The Red Feather Construction Handbook", then sti down with a sketch pad, some graph paper, a big eraser, and run it all by a civil engineer (architecturally blessed by most building departments, good to two stories, & cheaper than a structural engineer's stamp).
Good luck.
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