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<FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>I encourage people to look at the following website regarding a prefab SB system being developed and implemented in the UK:<BR>
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<a href="http://www.modcell.co.uk/page/new-balehaus-at-bath">http://www.modcell.co.uk/page/new-balehaus-at-bath</a><BR>
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Is anyone familiar with this? Also, I include here a brief sequence of comments between Dan Smith (GSBN member), Dietmar Lorenz (of Dan’s office), and myself.<BR>
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Martin Hammer<BR>
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On Jul 29, 2009, at 8:29 AM, Dietmar Lorenz wrote:<BR>
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Very interesting, indeed. I wonder how material (and cost-) effective this system is after all. The frames have to be overly sturdy for transport and handled very carefully to avoid damage to the plaster or the installed doors and windows. Wiring and plumbing could also be a challenge with such small units, rather than full length wall segments or prefab boxes. Dan has probably more insights to share from his experience with our ZETA prototypes.<BR>
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But it's great to see that this is being explored in a serious way, and it certainly architecturally appealing. Maybe I'll see it from the airplane Saturday morning, when we fly over the UK...<BR>
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On 7/29/09 8:35 AM, Dan Smith wrote:<BR>
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Thanks, it's certainly refreshing in concept and looks. But it seems about $25 sf for bare bale panel only, hmm.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>On 7/29/09 9:40 AM, Martin Hammer wrote:<BR>
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I agree with both of your comments. The wood frames are thick, deep, heavy, and consume a lot of wood. Maybe an ‘</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'><FONT FACE="Times, Times New Roman"><B>I</B></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">’ section could be used. And I hadn’t noticed the per sq.ft. price. <BR>
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It’s still good to see. A modern vocabulary with SB (rarely seen), using the bales only in solid panels (no holes poked in them), and at least trying pre-fab, with plaster done in shop conditions (even though it inherently creates bulky, heavy panels that must then be transported). Not sure how dependable the bale to frame interface is in terms of potential water intrusion.<BR>
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