The Strawtegi CO2ttage broke ground in October, 2021, as the first permitted structure in the U.S. insulated with dense-packed chopped straw. This net-zero carbon, modular, straw panel Accessory Dwelling Unit in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the first demonstration project … Continue reading →
Diane Ferguson, a former environmental health professor, has always dreamed of building a house made of natural materials. Her ideal home has about 650 straw bales stacked together with bamboo stakes driven through them. The straw is then plastered on … Continue reading →
This straw bale roundhouse in Benbow, Northern California, provides a comfortable living temperature that adjusts to the summer and winter months. It has a central post and large beams on the ceiling. There is a large kitchen, living and dining … Continue reading →
For over 25 years, The Last Straw journal was dedicated to natural building and ecological design. It was started as a collective effort by straw bale builders Matts Myrhman and Judy Knox in Tuscon, Arizona in 1993. Since then twenty … Continue reading →
Overall, straw is a sustainable material that has plenty of redeemable features when it comes to construction, though it may not be suited for everyone or every situation. Take time to look at the risks and rewards (and limitations) while … Continue reading →
Tightly packed straw in prefabricated rectangular wooden wall frames are being assembled for housing in various places in Europe and Russia. Once the frames are assembled the walls can be lime-rendered. These houses perform well under resistance tests. Straw is … Continue reading →