Decorative straw bales at the Calgary Stampede. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Why would anyone want to build a house of straw? Who’s Joost? These are normal questions that people would ask. However, Joost (pronounced “Yoast”) is not a normal person. This article is dedicated to this man’s dreams and shows what people can do when they think outside the box. He is leading the way in how we can manage waste.
Joost Bakker – Greenhouse by Joost Exterior (Photo credit: christianocious)
Joost Bakker is a Dutch-born fifth generation tulip farmer. It was his creative spirit as a florist to combine imperfect flowers and waste products that led him to become a sustainable architect. This man decided to use one of the biggest waste products on earth, straw. Now, straw can be used for paper, cardboard or toilet paper. But Joost decided to build a house out of straw bales instead. That’s normal right?
This straw bale house is then clad with china cheap sheets of fire-proof magnesium oxide wallboards. Then under controlled CSIRO conditions it’s set on fire and withstands bushfire conditions. Now, you may not think this is important but in bushfire countries like Australia and the United States, this affordable fire-proof house is a miracle.
Joost has always wanted to inspire people to create different things. He believes that as human beings we have an amazing gift to solve and fix problems. There are a lot of problems in the world, but if we all work together we can come up with plenty of solutions as well.
Joost Bakker – Greenhouse by Joost Interior (Photo credit: christianocious)
With Greenhouses already established in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Joost has been offered invitations to build these Greenhouses around the world. So, next time you enter a Greenhouse with straw bales in London, Copenhagen, New York, Shanghai, Auckland or South America. You can turn to your mate and say “This is the house that Joost built.”
Joost has set a challenge. You can make a difference! What problem in the world would you like to fix? Or What problem would you like to work with other people to solve?
Special thanks to Reporter Greg Hoy and Presenter Chris Uhlmann.
Further Information:
- “Straw House Offers Bushfire Safety” on 7:30 ABC
- By Joost
A Brand Enhancer in Communications. I fit naturally with technology, curious about science and avid consumer of news to gain insights. You can follow me on Google+ , LinkedIn , Twitter .
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