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College prof recruits Interior Design students’ help to build house of straw and clay

Bobby Ilg, an Ottawa architect and Interior Design instructor at Algonquin College, is building an eco-friendly straw and clay home in the Carlington neighbourhood, and has provided an opportunity for his final year students to experience this healthy and natural way to build.

In addition to working on-site, Interior Design students helped build the wall panels at another location by stuffing them with the straw and clay mixture and then packing the materials with their feet and tamping tools. Each panel weighs about 500 pounds when completed, and is hoisted into position by a crane.