Classic German architecture: Fachwerk und Enxaimel — Timber-frame straw/clay houses with hazel stick reinforcing lasts for centuries. (None of these buildings had building permits and so maybe they should all be pulled down?)
straw bale
Zen Ranch: A Colorado Straw Bale Home
After living in a tipi on his 42 acres for a year, Thedo Remmelink wanted an east-facing entrance and rounded corners on the home he built. Builder John Randolph used local wood and stone and straw bales from the nearby San Luis Valley to implement architect Todd Young’s design.
Natural Buildings for Urban Living (part 2)
“The Craftsman-style bungalow looks normal on the outside, but the surprise is on the inside: straw bales inside the framing provide super insulation. Natural builder Lydia Doleman designed this 800-square-foot small-footprint house to last centuries, with its metal roof and strong foundation. She used reclaimed lumber and recycled materials extensively. Hot water pipes warm the earthen floors and replace energy-intensive concrete. Day-to-day usage is low impact: composting toilet, vegetative roof and rainwater catchment, LED lighting, and solar hot water.”
Dunne’s Hardware Stores….NOT!
“See where we pick up our lumber for our straw bale house.”
Senior Living Straw Bale Home in Vermont
“HOLLAND — With straw bale walls, enclosed in a lime, clay, straw plaster that was mixed on site, it’s not exactly what comes to mind when you think of a senior living facility.
Paja Construction
Many readers may not be aware of all the companies who have pioneered the natural building movement and have built up vast experience in the field. Someone new to the subject might think the ideas we talk about are fringe or experimental or untested simply because they’re not aware of how many companies there are and how many structures have been built this way. So, I’ve decided to start profiling some leading natural building companies. Send me a link if you have a suggestion. (We are not being remunerated in any way for these company profiles.)