Rikki Nitzkin is the founder of Taller con Co (‘Co’ Workshop in English). Rikki is a professional builder of straw walls and earthen plasters, presently teaching straw bale building and earthen finishes in both practical workshops and online, for self-builders and professionals alike.
She began as a self-builder, building her own home in 2002, and has given 100+ workshops since 2006. She is also the coordinator of the Red de Construcción con Paja (Spanish Straw Building Network) since its founding in 2005, and participates actively in both the European and Global Straw Building Networks.
Rikki co-authored her first book Casas de Paja: una guía para autoconstructores (Straw Homes: a self-builders guide) with Maren Termens in 2010, with a second edition in 2016. Their latest book, A Complete Guide to Straw Bale Building is an updated and translated version of the Spanish book.
Books by Rikki
A Complete Guide to Straw Bale Building
A comprehensive hands-on guide for builders – both self-builders and professionals – and an essential handbook for designers that includes many construction details.
Straw bale buildings are warm in winter and cool in summer. The natural materials used create beautiful healthy homes that also have a low environmental impact. For self-builders, working with straw is affordable and enjoyable. In professional construction, a positive relationship between quality, price and long-term savings can easily be achieved. Straw bale is also especially suited to community-based projects as it generates curiosity and often needs groups of enthusiastic volunteers.
