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Susan's Live/Work Studio
Type of Construction: Structural or
Load-Bearing
Size: 700 sq. ft., 1 Story
Built By: Small Contractor with Owner Labor
Length of Construction: Approx. 5 Months
Completed: November, 2008
Foundation: Rasta Block with Earthen Floor
Finish: Earth Plaster Exterior, Lime Plaster Interior
Pre-Compression: None
Bale Type: 2-String Metal Twine
Number of Bales: 200
Straw Type: Wheat
Bale Orientation: On Edge
Located in Grantville, Kansas, this small home utilizes load-bearing straw bale walls on the north, east, and west facades for thermal mass and insulation and a glazed south façade to maximize solar gain. It was designed and built by a small contractor with the help of the home owner. The home exhibits a number of sustainable features including a Rasta Block foundation with concrete collar and infill; a compacted earth floor to minimize the amount of concrete used in the project; and earth plaster exterior finish with a lime skim coat and lime plaster interior finish.
Photos by Collin Jacobs
Photos by Collin Jacobs
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The first straw bale buildings were located in the Sand Hills of Nebraska in the 1800s. European settlers were given few alternatives for building as the northern plains offered minimal lumber, stone, or sod. So they used one of the oldest known methods of construction, stacking, in combination with a new material, straw. Many of these homes still exist and, if maintained, are still in excellent shape. The oldest known straw bale construction in the world, located in Alliance, Nebraska, turned 100 years old in 2003. Read More... |
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