Customer Reviews

Building With Awareness - The Construction of a Hybrid Home

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I've had this DVD for several months and FINALLY got around to watching it. The film is BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED in every aspect and full of great information. I have been very interested in green building and especially in strawbale construction. I agree that it's wonderful to see a house built before your very eyes... but maybe a little overwhelming with the multitude of steps and details that go into a house like that.
I would highly recommend this film to anyone who in interested in architecture and in being environmentally responsible.

Artist builds a really really green home.

He goes on at length on how little concrete he's using. And then puts in a non-monolithic concrete slab instead of an earthen floor. I do appreciate the way they put it in, though.

Straw-bale, to New Mexico codes (watch the plasterers try to get their mix into that code-mandated chicken wire on the outside of the wall--hard to do, easier when the normal method was to shoot two inches of concrete onto the wall in one coat)

The plasterers are both great. Probably worth the price right there.

In fact I learned a lot from most of the sections. Stuff I will use to design and build my own house.

[...]

By the way, and this really is important, production values are excellent. You can see what you want to/are supposed to.

With today's exorbitant house prices, plus the ever-rising costs of heating due to poorly insulated homes as well as draining the earth's resources, we finally get a sane alternative option to this madness.

Ted Owens has built a hybrid house and has documented the entire process on his "Building with Awareness" DVD. The home has been built economically using environmentally friendly materials. Ted explains very clearly the fundamental elements from beginning to end with the accompanying graphic photography so one does not miss a step of the project. . The film shows that the whole family can take part in creating an aesthetically pleasing and energy-saving responsible abode. This is an extremely well designed program, one that you will want to share with your friends.

We found this DVD extremley useful. An excellent source of information despite some of which did not apply to u.k. (i.e "code" not building regulations and climatic fluctuation with extremes not so useful as not applicable. Many ideas already thought about but helpful to have them presented as a stage by stage process. Well presented and professional. Found the "straw-bale" instruction somewhat rushed in the first instance - felt somewhat like a free loader on the instructions but later, more user friendly. Will definately keep refering back.

I have been to Ted Owens' attractive hybrid home which was featured in the "Building with Awareness" DVD. During the tour, I was impressed by the amount of thought and research that went into every element of it, from start to finish. The same can be said for the DVD, which I recommend wholeheartedly. Its purpose is to show the viewer how to make an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally responsible home from materials which would be easy for anyone to obtain and work with.

I especially like that Owens hired a straw bale expert to run a volunteer straw bale workshop, reminiscent of communal barn-raisings, followed by a similar earth-plaster workshop. In addition to the cost savings of free labor, it was nice to see moms, dads, grandparents and kids working together with bales and mud. Clearly, you need an expert to make sure the house is built to code, but much of the work can be done by any able bodied person who can follow a few simple instructions. The interior mud finish coat was applied by a female plaster expert, and as I watched this, I thought, ok, with a little coaching, I could do this, too. The DVD really encourages the non-contractor who wants to have more hands-on involvement in the building of her/his home. An excellent resource.

The DVD is awesome, I could not stop watching it. The way it is put
together, the flow, the beautiful and evocative photography, the
information it contains, the inspiration, all of it truly outstanding.
I look forward to watching it again and again. I learned a lot, it
answered many questions. My dad used to build houses that worked, and
being in a third world country he had to do with what was available
with a good measure of wits and inventiveness. It reminded me of his
style.

Very helpful if you want to build your own eco friendly house.
Everything is explained in full detail. Not only the practicalities of building your "green" house, but also the reasons behind the design. You can start building your house exactly like the one on the dvd, or use it as inspiration for your new house with a different design but the same principles.