Find
more eco-houses on the natural
homes map or on
the natural
homes list.
These
pages are for natural builders to share their building projects.
You can share the whole project or part of it like the wall
decoration or any part you feel is worth sharing. If you
would like a free project page please contact
us.
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Earth
Hands
near Warsaw,
Polandby
Paulina Wojciechowska |
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Our
House
New Mexico, USA
by
Kristin and Denis |
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Here is the natural homes collection of low-impact homes.
They are arranged in country location alphabetical order.
The location of each house provides a link to the natural
homes map where you can see a picture of the home and follow
links to the owner's website.
Antarctica, Dronning Maud Land
The International Polar Foundation unveiled its plans for
the a polar station which will run entirely on renewable
energy and will completely recycling all its waste. It will
not cause any damage to the pristine Antarctic environment.
Argentina,
Cordoba, Yacanto
This is the fulfilment of an eleven-year dream. I had neither
architect nor building engineer: I designed the house, basing
it on a photo I had seen in the book The Straw Bale House.
The floor plan was done by a draftsman, structural calculations
checked by an engineer and an architect friend in Spain.
Argentina,
El Bolson
This kindergarten school called Escuelita was built out
of adobe, cob and strawbales, as part of a workshop organized
by Kleiwerks.
Australia,
N South Wales, Lethbridge
Lethbridge Winery and House were built by John and Susan
Glassford of Huff n Puff Constructions. Owners: Dr Ray Nadeson
and Dr Marie Collis.
Australia,
South Australia, Adelaide
The Roman Hut is small 55m2 timber framed, 2 storey strawbale
cottage. No PVC or formaldehyde are used in this purist
ecohouse. Constructed with workshopping, volunteers and
skilled tradespeople.
Australia,
Victoria, Harcourt North
Millduck incorporates recycled materials. Passive solar
design, including well-sealed single-glazed timber and aluminimum
windows. The house has a maintenance free exterior, and
is designed to suit this termite prone area.
Australia,
Queensland, Wolfdene
Newton House is set in a wonderful permiculture property
at Wolffdene. This cottage built in 1997 is believed to
be the first straw bale building in Queensland.
Belgium,
Aarschot
Betekom is a one storey timber frame straw bale living room
built as an extension to a rural house by Nebraska strawbale
building company for Toon and Nadine Proesmans.
Belgium,
Koersel
Aleschus Home: Rene and Joke Aleschus first built a straw
bale garden house to master the building process and then
built this house with a bowed roof that forms a terrace.
You can see more pictures on their blog below.
Brazil,
Brasilia
Bamboo Super Adobe is a 260m2 home with 180m2 veranda and
a green roof built by Bruno Imbroisi on a hectare of land
near Brasilia in 2006. The walls are earthbag construction
with a super-structure of bamboo supporting the green roof.
You can find out more (in Portuguese) on his website below.
Bulgaria,
Strandja
Details coming soon...
Canada,
BC, Cawston
Orofino Vineyards is the only strawbale winery in Canada
was constructed in 2004/2005. The design consists of two
buildings adjoined by a breezeway. 21 inch thick walls provide
superior insulation qualities ideal for constant barrel
room temperatures and for keeping us cool in the desert
heat.
Canada,
BC, Saltspring Island
Fiddleworks is the Rokeby-Thomas house on Saltspring Island
was built with hemp-bale walls on the main floor, providing
an insulating value of R30. Large windows run along the
south side of the house, helping it to gain solar heat throughout
the day.
Canada,
BC, Vancouver
City Farm ia a demonstration Garden in Kitsilano and is
to be the site of Vancouver's first cob garden shed. Cob
is an ancient building method using clay, sand and straw.
Building with earthen materials pre-dates the pyramids.
All over the world there are beautiful buildings both ancient
and contemporary, built of earthen materials.
Canada,
NWT, Fort Smith
This off-grid house was designed and built by Garry Foote.
It's heated by wood only and uses solar with a generator
for backup power. The house maintains a constant temperature
by natural air circulation. The current propane refrigerator
will be replaced with an energy efficient electric freezer.
The house has 8, 75W solar panels connected to 12, 200Ahr
6V batteries.
Canada,
ON, Cambelford
The Last Straw is an off grid 1300 sq ft hemp straw bale
infill home with mud plaster and a battery of solar panels
with a loadbearing straw bale power shed. The home also
has Ontarios first permitted wetland for blackwater
Canada,
ON, Coe Hill
On Golden Ponds: Bernice and David designed and built this
38-foot diameter, two-story home in 1995 after taking a
weekend course in cordwood building from Rob Roy at Earthwood
Building School. On the ground level, there are two guest
rooms, an office and a woodworking shop.
Canada,
ON, Haliburton
4C's Food Bank is a box-beam hemp bales building. The building
includes sun tubes; cellulose insulation from a minimum
of 85% recycled paper, earth floor is finished with five
coats of linseed oil, solar thermal panels and earth plaster.
Canada,
ON, Hillsburgh
Home Alive is a showcase for eco-materials and building
systems for homebuilders. Housed at Everdale Environmental
Learning Centre offering education in sustainable living,
including straw bale construction workshops.
Canada,
ON, Lake of Bays
Off-Grid Log Cabin is 600 ft.sq. log home, off-grid and
currently non-electric. Craig is planning on installing
a combination solar/wind system to provide power for a computer,
fridge and a few other "luxuries". Most of the material
used for the log cabin came from the land on which it stands
including the sphagnum moss used for insulation.
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Canada,
ON, McKellar
Weir House is a 1750 square foot load bearing single
storey home built in 2003 with solar for electricity,
composting toilet, masonry heater and solar heating
for domestic hot water.
Canada,
ON, Nelson
Heart House is the base for the Ashinah, an intentional
learning centre.
Canada,
ON, nr. North Bay
The Attema Home. This is a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom straw
bale load bearing home built in 2003-4 by the owners
the Attemas with some help on the foundation, bale
raising, top plates, and stitching.
Canada, ON, North Frontenac
Cristina's Nest is 102 acres lying in protected wilderness.
Cristina generates electricity with a bio-diesel generator
but will replace it with a wind turbine. Her generator
powers the house without a battery bank. She prefers
to use oil lamps for light. Clothes are washed by
hand and dried outside but in the winter by the wood
stove which is EPA approved, smoke combusting and
very green! |
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Canada,
ON, Norwood
Robin's Nest. Our unique straw bale home, along with the
tranquility of the hardwood forest, enhances the enchantment
of The Robins Nest Retreat.
Canada,
ON, Stone Mills
Jansman House. John and Anita Jansman planted winter wheat
in the fall of 1999, and harvested 400 bales of organic
wheat straw for the home. John and Anitas house was designed
by Toronto architect Janet Stewart. Camels Back Straw Bale
Construction did the actual straw bale part, offering guidance
and expertise to John and Anita.
Canada,
SK, Kindersley
In 1909 James Addison incorporated several innovative designs
that guaranteed his sod house had structural integrity.
The sods were cut from a dry beds where plant roots would
be especially thick. They were then laid on flat ground
in an interlocking pattern. A small portion of the centre
of each sod was scooped out, causing the weight of the wall
to slump towards the centre. This prevented the walls from
falling over as they settled.
Czech
Republic, Nachod
This is a house designed by the architect Jakub Wihan whose
philosophy is to study straw bale building technology by
building with the world's experts. He aims to reduce energy
consumption in the home through energy conservation techniques
and by building with low energy materials.
Czech
Republic, Mnichovice
Maternity Hospital. This is a maternity hospital in Mnichovice,
Czech Republic ecologicaly friendly strawbale renovation
using half bales.
Denmark,
Hurup Thy, Ydby
Nordic Folkecenter. This strawbale building, the first in
Denmark, is the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy.
An independent non-profit organization. The house has its
own supply of electricity from a 2,2 kW Proven windmill.
Denmark,
Langeland, Aeroskobing
Sofienlunds. This strawbale building is part of a family
organic farm. The building is used for the shop and a small
cafe. It is a 50m2 round house costing 40,000 DKK when it
was built in 1998.
Denmark,
Ringkobing
Dance Studio. In July 2004 the timber frame, with a beautiful
reciprocal roof, was built ready for two 14-day courses
in August when the straw bale walls were built and plastered
with clay. The roof was sealed with a membrane with soil
added for the green roof. Select satellite and zoom in to
see the round green roof.
Denmark,
Vejle Amt, Norre Snede
Norre Snede Straw House is a 130 m2 home costing 240,000
DKK and was self-built by the owners in 2001 moving in to
the house in 2002.
Denmark,
nr Vig, Lergraven
Spiral is a special timber frame straw bale house. It turns
three times like a sea snails house. The Insulation is strawbale
and paperwool and the roof material will be a plastic-membrane
with 20cm of seaweed on top.
England,
Avon, Bristol
Bristol Green House. Rik Lander is building a workshop in
a back garden in Ashley Down, North Bristol, using straw
bale, rammed earth tyres and rubble filled gabions. The
walls will be rendered with clay from the site and the building
will have a living turf roof constructed from wooden i-beams.
England,
Co. Durham, Frosterley
Eco-Classroom was built from sustainable timber by volunteer
labour. The building is powered by wind and solar energy
and heated by a wood burning ceramic stove. Hot water is
provided by solar water heating panels. The lavatories are
composting and grey water is treated by a reedbed. The living
roof provides a habitat for plants, birds and insects.
England,
Cornwall, Bodelva
Eden Loo. A low impact, sustainable, low maintenance cob
building incorporating toilets, (including disabled facilities),
powered by a dedicated renewable energy supply.
England,
Cumbria, Windermere
The Footprint Project. Over 140 different people took part
in building of this straw bale, cob and tyre foundation
building. Around 450 volunteer labour days were given to
the construction, and people have put in another 230 volunteer
days on other aspects of the project. Visit the Footprint
website to see a wonderful collection of pictures.
England,
Devon, Buckfastleigh
Silvaleaf Barn. A post and beam structure with strawbale
infill on limestone block foundation. Built 1999 by Kevin
and Helen Ireland of Silvaleaf Ltd.
England,
Devon, Colt
Barclay Cob. Building began on the 10th April 2007 by clearing
the top soil. By May the foundation and natural stones footings
were ready to start cobbing with Kevin McCabe, Cob Specialist
on site to ensure our first cob mix is correct. Lots of
pictures of the build on the Barclay Blog.
England,
Devon, Lower Tricombe
Lower Tricombe. This cob home by Kevin McCabe in Lower Tricombe
was built between 1993 and 1994 and various outbuildings
in 1995/6
England,
Devon, Merton
Sharpe Cob. This cob home by Jerry and Jan Sharpe. Although
the house is built from traditional materials, cob, lime
render and a slate roof, the design is contemporary. The
construction also includes contemporary building materials
as well. These include Glu Lam beams, composite timber I
beams and under floor heating.
England,
Devon, Ottery St Mary
Keppel Gate. This cob home by Kevin McCabe has bespoke sweet
chestnut mullioned windows, oak floorboards, underfloor
heating, a hand-made oak kitchen and hand-made oak doors.
England,
Devon, Upottery
Pamos Farm Cottage is a clay extension on stone farm house
for an eccentric pottter built in 1999. The home is also
used as a B&B. More pictures on Kevin McCabe's website.
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England,
Durham, Croft-on-Tees
Clow Beck Eco Centre in the Northeast of England,
is a Centre dedicated to teaching people about the
natural life cycle of food. It is a place to learn
how to respect, save and re-cycle rather than degrade,
destroy and pollute.
England,
East Sussex, Brighton
Earthship Brighton. One of the first Earthships in
Europe. Brighton Earthship has power, heat and running
hot and cold water, from the sun, wind, rain, and
biomass, as well as a waste management system.
England,
Glastonbury, Butleigh
Brook Farm. An inspiring building built as a temporary
wooden structure with infill walls of strawbale, cordwood
and bottles. Sadly this burnt down on the 23rd Jan
2007 and needs rebuilding. Please follow the appeal
link below.
England,
Gloucestershire, Westonbirt
Apple House. This is a straw bale apple garden and
apple house built in May 2003 under the management
of the UK straw bale builders Amazonails, with 50
volunteers some of which were WWOOF workers from as
far as Germany. The apple house is part of the UK
National Arboretum. |
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England,
Herefordshire, Putley
The Straw House. In 2001, with 500 bales of straw, Kester
Wilkinson and his wife Zinnia built this home for around
70,000 GBP on a one acre plot. It is a 2500sq ft, 4 bedroom
house built with a grant from the UK Department of the Environment.
England,
Herts, Berkhamstead
Straw Dance Studio was built for under 5,000 GBP in 1999.
This included all professional and statutory fees. The walls
are made of load bearing strawbales from the adjacent farmers
field and most of the timbers were salvaged from the local
recycling yard.
England,
Kent, New Romney
Romney Marsh Centre. Materials to build the centre were
sourced close to the site to reduce transport and energy
costs, including the M20 motorway which was crushed, recycled
and used as hardcore material. The main structure is a timber
frame from local larch with straw bale infill and then rendered
in lime with a green sedum roof.
England,
Kent, St.Margarets Bay
Pines Caly. The Pines Calyx conference and training centre,
an environmentally-friendly building made of chalk extracted
from the White Cliffs, at St Margarets Bay in Kent, is said
to be one of Europes most sustainable and healthy structures.
England,
Lincoln, Norton Disney
Hill Holt Woods. This is Nigel Lowthrop family home which
is entirely off-grid. The house collects water from the
rubber slate roof in to a 6500 litre tank, has a photovoltaic
array generating most of the electricity with additional
power from two wind turbines. See a tour on the BBC below.
England,
London, Islington
This cafe was built by farm volunteers out of traditionally
jointed green oak with straw bale insulated walls and a
green roof. The cafe seats around 24 people with outdoor
seating for a further 20 in the garden.
England,
Middlesex, Enfield
Climate Garden is an African style garden hut and a Serpentine
(or crinkle-crankle) wall built with volunteers with no
previous strawbale building experience. The project was
run by Chug. The pargeting designs are by Inna Savitskaya
of Greenhamlet.
England,
Shropshire, Ludlow
Ludlow Straw Castle. This small house is by the entrance
to Ludlow Castle and was built with the help from schoolchildren
and (in true English castle fashion) offenders serving community
orders. The ethos of the whole building is that it's made
from local materials - straw, timber, hazel spars, lime
and clay.
England,
Somerset, Castle Cary
Carymoor Centre. This oak frame building was constructed
off-site in Somerset. Taking about 2 months to cut; setting
out individual frames, scribing and jointing before being
dismantled, labelled and stored. The frame pieces were taken
to the site and erected within a week.
England,
Somerset, Castle Cary
Carymoor Environmental Centre. The 30m2 Strawbale building
located at the rear of the centre was built to demonste
sustainable building techniques. It has also provided a
learning resource for a number of groups and individuals.
England,
Suffolk, Haverhil
Haverhill Hemp Home. Hemp is a natural product, it is environmentally
friendly, produces no toxic by products and is fully recyclable.
It is thermally efficient resulting in lower fuel costs.
It absorbs sound and is non flammable.
England,
West Sussex, Lodsworth
Prickly Nut Woods. Built by Ben Law and a team of volunteers
during 2002 in just six months, this beautiful house is
a sweet chestnut cruck timber frame with straw bale walls
and sweet chestnut roofing shingles. The walls are finished
on the outside with wavy edge oak and chestnut boards and
on the inside with limeplaster. The internal walls are built
from chestnut lathe and cob.
England,
West Yorkshire, Silsden
Ecology Building Society. In April 2005 it took 20 volunteers
only 6 days to build the walls of this meeting room at the
Ecology Building Society. The lime rendering and clay plaster
was applied the following July after the roof was put on.
The build was lead by Amazonails.
England,
Yorkshire, Hebden Bridge
Apple House. Latham Farm is a listed traditional barn has
been converted for bunkhouse accommodation on the Calderdale
Way. This beautiful circular straw bale building, built
by Amazonails, serves as the shower and composting toilet
for the farm's guest rooms
Estonia,
Kanepi, Kooraste
Savikodu. A little bit of Nebraskan and something from light
weight frame and something from traditional post and beam
method - as a result of many compromises. Mostly it's load-bearing,
but for every foundation post there is also a timber post
to carry the load of the roof. There are lots of advice
and many pictures to see on the website below.
England,
Yorkshire, Eastrington
Home Grown Home. A cosy straw bale cabin, one bedroom holiday
home with renewable electricity, solar hot water and an
environmentally friendly toilet system.
Finland,
Humppila, Urpola
Viking Sauna. A medieval styled cordwood sauna with a shingle
roof for 15 people built between 2000-2002 for 53,000 Euro.
France,
Chez Touchard
La Maison Paille is the strawbale home of Andre de Bouter
where he runs a wide variety of courses in straw bale building.
France,
Jura, St.Maur
SPIRAL is a cordwood house built with twisted timbers and
bales of straw in the Jura mountains of France built in
1994.
France,
Aquitaine, Bourrou
La Ferme de Sourrou. Irene and Fabrice farm 37 hectares
where they live off-grid heating the house and water with
wood and solar. Irene says the open fire is one of their
luxuries, but the caldron heats the hot water and two radiators
upstairs and works with the hot water solar panel circuit
when the sun shines. Their lighting is all 12v DC.
France,
Normandy, Ger
Earthship France in Ger, is the first official residential
earthship in Europe. It has been designed by Mike Reynolds
who will also be project managing its construction with
Kevan Trott. The earthship will be available for rental
later in the year.
Germany,
Freudenberg
Freudenberg Village is an unbelievable collection of homes
each with one meter high brick walls with oak frame above
and a loam-straw in-fill. The timbers were stained black
or brown, and the surface of the loam was painted with soured
milk and lime. This creates a strong contrast between the
dark timbers and the light in-fill walls.
Germany,
Hameln, Meyers Muhle
Cafegebaeude is a 156m2 post and beam egg shaped strawbale
building that is loam plastered inside and lime outside
built in 2007
Holland,
Amsterdam, IJburg
IJburg Amsterdam. This house can be seen as the culmination
of SB building experience in the Netherlands. The intention
of Amsterdams town council was to give prospective owners
much more freedom to realise their dreamhouse than is usual
by the Netherlands closely regulated building practices.
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Holland,
Ouwerkerk
The Butterfly House was designed and build by Jan
Sonneveld in 1998. This ecologically friendly house
is the first straw bale house in the Netherlands.
India,
Andarman Islands
Andaman Earthship. The earthship is a self-sustainable
structure with its own sources of water and power
that can also withstand, to a certain degree, tsunami
waves. It can be built by anyone as was demonstrated
by the team members who put up one with their own
hands in just 15 days.
India,
Pondicherry, Auroville
Auroville straw. This house was built by Andre de
Bouter. The house has a keetu roof (palm leaves on
a wooden structure), a 16m2 loft to create extra living
space, and a 8m2 balcony so the occupants can sleep
under the stars during the hot summer months. No water
or electricity, but candle light and a solar lamp.
Ireland,
Castlbar, Balla
The Spiral House. This is Europe's first 2-storey
load-bearing house with a cedar shingle roof, built
by volunteers, 80% of which were women, under the
supervision of Amazon Nails. It is a 120 m2 home built
between 2000 and 2003. More than 100 different people
helped to build this amazing house! More picture here.
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Ireland,
Cork, Bantry
Ardnashee. A strawbale post-and-beam house using local Douglas
Fir timber, which is structurally strong, but easy to work
with, and aesthetically pleasing. This frame supports the
roof, and additional timber framing supports windows and
doors.
Ireland,
Cork, Mallow
Mallow House. Irelands most visited strawbale house, at
the Cork Racecourse Mallow for the Mallow Homes and Gardens
Festival. Built using the Nebraska method, where the weight
of the roof is carried directly on the walls.
Ireland,
Co.Clare, Tulla
Hemptulla is a timber frame building in an interesting octagonal
shape, this is to be a hemp an lime building. The building
is still under construction by the Old Builders company.
See more on their website and read about hemp on Construct
Ireland.
Ireland,
Co. Monaghan, Clones
The Ark Nursery is a round strawbale house built in near
clones in 1997 by Amazonails. The Ark Nursery is a permaculture
centre specialising in wetland plants for waste water treatment
and reedbed systems.
Ireland,
Co. Monaghan, Clones
Hempclones. This 42m2 hemp office is built similar to a
standard timber frame house with a mix of hemp and hydraulic
lime structured around the timber. Such building methods
have the ability to be CO2 negative and result in a healthy
breathable energy saving home.
Italy,
BZ, Lana
Strohhaus Lana is a row of four parabolic straw bale rooms
totaling 126m2 built in 2006. Structural tests were performed
in Switzerland on the wall design and showed that the walls
could take 15,000Kg/m2 force.
Italy,
Meran
The Passive House. Not only aestheticly pleasing but also
functional, economic and a long lasting straw bale house.
Spruce post and beam structure with pressed straw infill.
Italy,
Pramaggiore, Belfiore
La Boa. The first official straw bale house in Italy. Post
and beam technique. Clay plastered inside and lime outside.
Clay collected from the farm field. Painted with fresco
technique. Solar panels, rain water catchement, reed beds
for sewage treatments.
Mexico,
Sonora, Ciudad Obregon
Houses that Sing. Using every type of local building material,
mostly local, natural, and recycled combined into a series
of experimental small homes and an office building for Save
the Children.
New
Zealand, Wellington, Whitemans
The Short Straw Cafe is the only cafe in New Zealand built
from straw bales. Nice coffee experienced the warmth and
character of the beautiful, curvy, straw bale walls. An
added bonus to a straw bale construction is it makes the
cafe naturally cool on a hot summer's day and cosily warm
in the winter months.
Norway,
Larvik, Stavern
Stavern Halmhus is a non-loadbearing home built in 2001
Norway,
Roros, Engan
Halmhuset. The owner-builder Torgeir built what is most
likely the highest strawbale house. Warm and economic to
build and live in Torgeir runs a cafe, gallery and course
centre from the house.
Norway,
Vestfold, Notteroy
Atelier Spira. This is the home of the artist Edith Spira.
Built in 1999 it is a non-loadbearing, lime rendered straw
bale house with a bright corner of windows designed by the
architect Rolf Jacobsen.
Poland,
Krasnopol
Krasnopol Chapel is a cob chapel in Krasnopol built with
children from Sejny of the Border Foundation and Paulina
of Earth Hands and Houses.
Poland,
Suwalki, Nr Lake Hancza
Earth Hands is a hybrid house with a mixture of earthbag,
strawbale and cordwood built by Earth Handa and Houses in
the lake district of north-east Poland.
Poland,
Warsaw, Slubice
Natural Home. This is a cob and straw brick, or strawclay
house. The interior walls are uncharacteristically flat
for a house of this type. The shape of the roof is taken
from the shape produced by a hanging chain, the same structure
Antonio Gaudi used in his buildings in Spain.
Poland,
Warsaw, Nowe Miasto
Earth Hands is a earthbag foundation straw bale cottage
with clay plaster built by Earth Hands and Houses near Warsaw,
Poland. The interior and exterior walls have beautiful shapes
and curves.
Portugal,
Tabua
Quinta Cabeca do Mato. This cordwood, or cobwood, house
was built by Tony Wrench with the community at Quinta Cabeca
do Mato.
Romania,
Montana, Romana
Casa Verde. Glass bottles, collected from a dump, were included
in the cob walls. The large south facing window was a gift
from friends who had thermopane windows installed. The two
smaller windows facing east and west are actually car windshields.
The walls are finished with coloured clay, which gives a
very beautiful effect.
Russia,
Aleksino
Camphill Svetlana. This straw bale house was built between
2003 and 2004 using local materials and is lime plastered
inside and out. It has a biological WC and a Finish oven.
It was built with people from Camphill Norway and designed
by the architects Gaia Tjome.
Russia,
Russko-vysotskoy
Boris House. This straw bale house is used as a craft centre
and farm for the young of St.Petersburg and visitors from
Norway from Camphill Norge. Sadly the building was damaged
by fire in 2001. The architects were Gaia Tjome.
Scotland,
Eildon, Melrose
Littlecroft is a 50 square metre Study made from light earth
walls using a mix of clay, woodchip and straw within a timber
frame, it is the first stand alone building in the UK constructed
with this technique.
Scotland,
Fife, Kinghorn
Earthship Fife. Sustainable Communities Initiatives constructed
the first Earthship in the UK. Begun in July 2002, building
was completed in July 2004, with the help of over 200 volunteers.
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Scotland,
Isle Of Raasay
Isle Of Raasay. Paul has lived off-grid (or just about)
since 1985, when he bought his house with a Rutland
910 wind turbine. After his growing family demanded
more energy Paul installed a larger wind turbine reducing
his oil consumption down to 200 litres per year. He
now plans to replace the use of oil with coppiced
birch and solar PVs and solar water.
Scotland,
Isle Of South Uist
Martin's Earth Shelter. Martin built this earth sheltered
home. It has high performance triple glazed timber
windows and a turf and heather roof to blend in with
its natural surrounding. The house also has Solatube
skylights. It was financed with The Ecology Building
Society.
Scotland,
Kyle
This iconic image depicts most people's idea of what
an eco-house should look like. Neil's self build is
a post and beam structure incorporating locally sourced
timber with natural finishes. The house is well insulated
with recycled paper insulation and a turf roof. All
the property's energy is produced from an array of
photovoltaics and a wind turbine - when it's sunny
and windy enough - and when it's not there is a highly
energy efficient condensing boiler which powers the
underfloor heating system. |
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Scotland,
Kilmarnock, Loch Doon
The Gate House. The feeling emanating from the surrounding
natural materials is palpably different to a normal building.
It has to be experienced rather than described, but it is
peaceful, calming, and opens folk to subtle influences around
them.
Scotland,
Roxburghshire, Kelso
The Little Pig. This is a work in progress ready for the
straw bales in September 2007. Damon has a blog that charts
the journey through the self-build process, from plot-hunting
through to completion. The house is a box beam, a wooden
frame with sheets of plywood the void being filled with
straw bale. Read about the build on the first little pig
blog.
Scotland,
Glasgow, Rowardennan
Rowardennan Visitors Centre. The building was designed to
make use of local materials, sourced as near the site as
possible. It has a green oak frame with mud and straw walls
which are protected by lime harling, a slate roof and locally
quarried stone foundations. Composting toilets have also
been used.
South
Africa, N. Cape, Orania
House van Zyl. A 4 room strawbale house 78m2 built between
1999 and 2001. Thanks to a very visionary town council,
it was not difficult to get approval for this specific house.
South
Africa, Pretoria, nr. Bosplass
Didimala. Didimala is the first recorded straw bale structure
in Africa. With 10,000 straw bales, we are probably the
largest straw bale structure ever built. By using straw
bales we have provided high exposure to green building methods
and encourage the much needed dialogue concerning sustainable
development.
South
Africa, Pretoria
The nautilus. This is a cob home designed by Florian Kroll,
architect Helene .v.d.Merwe, and Helena Wagener. The design
uses the spiral which allows wind catchment and climate
control, passive solar gain, economic rainwater harvesting,
and ergonomic flow of everyday activities using a minimum
of building material.
Spain,
Catalonia, Aulas
A one and a half story load bearing, 35m2, strawbale house
with a rubble trench foundation and clay plastered. Rikki
is currently writing a Spanish strawbale construction book.
Spain,
Catalonia, Camarasa
Balaguer Straw. One of the many strawbale homes in Spain
that you can see on the casasdepaja.com website (in Spanish)
Spain,
Catalonia, Llofrui
Horta de la Viola. Horta de la Viola is a group in Spain
that help people to run workshops to build strawbale homes
either on their land or on your land in Spain.
Spain,
Valencia, L'Alcudia
Earthship Valencia. Oscar and Lisa started to build their
earthship in 2004 to escape the mainstream and become self
sufficient. Oscar is a singer songwriter and Lisa an Australian
studying composition. They run an English academy in Spain.
Read their story about their fantastic looking earthship
on their blog.
Sweden,
Ollov, Bastad kommun
Hagert House was completed in 2002 by Tore and Lars Hagert
and used 200 straw bales. This 80m2 home was the first strawbale
house in Sweden.
USA,
AZ, Cochise
We built our home in Sulphur Springs Valley in 1996. We
wanted to build a house that would be extremely energy efficient.
After much research we decided strawbale construction would
be best. Our home is very comfortable and quiet.
USA,
AZ, Flagstaff
Willow Bends. Our center was built in 2003 with the help
of many wonderful volunteers! The design of our education
center incorporates passive solar features such as trombe
walls and south-facing windows Straw Bale walls provide
R-33 insulation. The ceilings have blown-in insulation that
provide R-50 insulation and floors at R10.
USA,
AZ, Hotevilla
Tenakhongva. Mary Tenakhongvas straw bale home the Hopi
Nation first straw bale home on the reservation was completed
April 29, 2005. Red Feather hosted an open house in Hotevilla
where Hopi tribal members gathered to see Marys affordable,
sustainable and beautiful straw bale home.
USA,
AZ, Picture Rocks
'A House of Straw' was built by Carolyn Roberts. She is
a good example to those of us who want to build their own
home. The house cost $51,000 for her 1200 sq. ft home. Visit
her website to find out more.
USA,
AZ, Tucson
Caroline Coalter Wilson, a park ranger and naturalist, designed
and built Paca de Paja, an energy efficient home and bed
and breakfast. It is a Santa Fe-style strawbale home, completed
in 1999, is nestled in the desert west of Tucson and is
a showcase for energy efficient, low impact design.
USA,
CA, Auburn
Beauchamp Residence has a sculpted. built-in cob bench wrap
around the south wall of the house. This multi-levelled
strawbale home for a family of six is divided into a kids
wing, a family wing and a private area on the upper floor.
South-facing dormers and pop-out bays reach out to the sun
for wintertime passive solar heating.
USA,
CA, Berkeley
Berkeley Marina is built using rice straw bales, a waste
byproduct of the agricultural industry. The bottom bales
are enclosed in a water-resistant sheath. 2 foot by 20 ft
'belts' strap the bales down to reinforce the walls and
stucco is over the entire structure, inside and out.
USA,
CA, Capitola
The Sullivan Residence is a 1450 sq ft home on an urban
lot. It's an energy efficient with passive solar orientation,
super insulated strawbale walls, 1 Kwh photovoltaic electricity,
solar hot water heater. Beautifully crafted with earthen
plaster, reclaimed wood and window seats. Permaculture landscape
with rain water catchment. Monthly tours. Designed and built
by Boa Constructor Building and Design in 2002.
USA,
CA, Claremont
Western Christian School has thick walls, alcoves and a
truth window that shows the straw inside the walls, the
building provides teaching opportunities about reducing
air pollution, environmental awareness, ethics, and stewardship
of resources.
USA,
CA, El Paso
Paso Strawbale is a 2700 Sqft, post and beam straw bale
home with low e-glass. Light colored roof to reduce solar
gain. Stained concrete flooring, Granite counters. Took
23 months to build, had to switch contractors.
USA,
CA, Los Gatos
Presentation Retreat, where energy consumption is reduced
by at least 50% thanks to the use of photo-voltaic and solar
panels to harness the suns energy. A living roof with native
plants and grasses and straw bale walls hold the temperature
even.
USA,
CA, Middletown
The Drew Residence was the first permitted strawbale home
in CA to use all earth and lime plasters inside and out.
A thermal chimney that draws cool air into the house by
night. Large south-facing windows admit winter sun to heat
the house by winter and a built-in cob bench helps store
the heat through the night.
USA,
CA, Middletown
Harbin Temple is a 45 foot diameter circle of strawbale
and sculpted cob, with a conic roof of cedar and spiraling
log purlins. It was built with hands, hearts, SunRay and
Harbin.
USA,
CA, Ocotillo Wells
Hayes Residence is located in the Anza Borrego Desert, where
the winters are warm, the summers are hot, and the wind
can blow up to 70 mph. Cooling was the major concern in
the design. Large porches were used around the perimeter
of the house to keep the sun out.
USA,
CA, Pinyon Crest
Jackson Residence is a box beam straw bale home. It had
two main design criteria: one, the home was to tread lightly
on the site, preservation of the landscape and earth was
of utmost importance. A step footing was used to move the
foundation up the hill. And second, the home needed to be
able to be resold.
USA,
CA, Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita Transit Department is one of the worlds first
LEED-certified straw bale buildings. The envelope is constructed
of straw bales with a lime plaster layer on both the interior
and exterior.
USA,
CA, Vista
Vista Strawbale. One of the first permitted strawbale houses
in the area. With lots of patios the house is 130 m2, one
bedroom on about an acre of land. The property is planted
with lots of fruit trees and tropical bamboo. Our home is
currently FOR SALE.
USA,
CA, Weaverville
Straw House Coffee is built on the beautiful Trinity River
in Northern California and was the inspiration for the Straw
House Market nearby.
USA,
CA, Willits
Believed to be only the third straw bale church in North
America, St. Francis' new worship space will be cool, quiet
and filled with natural light. Bruneau hopes that some of
the members of the wider community who helped with the straw
bale work will find it a calm and beautiful space for prayer
and meditation.
USA,
CO, Evergreen
Chiras Earthship. This house is south facing, earth sheltered,
super insulated and off the grid. Located at 8,000 feet
in the Rockies, it never goes lower then 52 degrees, even
when it is 20 below outside. The back wall embedded in hillside
is recycled tires and the other walls are straw bale.
USA,
CO, Peyton
Earth Power was built by Jason and Ellen Crow. On 22 January,
2000 Jason and Ellen had their first tire pounding 'work
party'. They invited all of their friends and family out
to get their hands dirty. A lot was done, and some of them
even had some fun! Visit their website to read all about
their fantastic earthship journey.
USA,
CO, Ridgeway (Sunridge)
Sunridge Earthship is the home of the late Denis Weaver,
a one-of-a kind, energy efficient, luxury home featured
on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Home and Garden TV
and the Discovery Channel. Its 930 m2 have been custom designed,
handcrafted and furnished with incredible decorative detail.
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USA,
CO, Ridgeway
Ridgeway Earthship. Totally off-grid, the construction
of this natural home has been the subject of the US
National Solar Homes Tour. The home is built entirely
of earth, stone and wood with two earth floors. All
wood on the ceilings, cabinets, walls, and the kitchen
floor are either recycled, used sustainable harvested
or milled dead standing beetle killed blue pine.
USA,
CO, Taos
Earthship Biotecture HQ. Earthship Biotecture, is
a company based near Taos offering sustainable designs,
construction drawings, consultation and guidance to
help people towards sustainable housing.
USA,
IL, Kempton
Haeme Sweet Home. The post and beam timber frame was
built like a pole barn with 6 by 6 treated posts buried
4 feet (1.2 m) deep on concrete footings and backfilled
with gravel. The floor joists were drilled, and rebar
was inserted to impale the first course of straw bales.
About thirty people came to help, despite temperatures
over 100F (38C). |
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USA,
KS, Lawrence
David and Monika Eichler offer a consulting service to individuals
interested in constructing straw bale homes. Having worked
closely with the architects in designing their own straw
bale home and as general contractor during the construction,
the Eichlers can share information that can help the new
straw bale builder assess strengths and weaknesses in a
proposed project.
USA,
KS, Topeka
I'm Dorethy, a 64 year old woman who has built her own cob
cottage near Topeka, Kansas. It is solar, off-grid, with
radiant heat, branched drain graywater system, etc. I've
lived there for 3 years, and am adding a second unit, a
post and beam strawbale, which is, as yet, unfinished.
USA,
MA, Easthampton
This is a wonderful post and beam structure using traditional
jointing techniques with a straw bale infill. The building
is purpose built as a cafe on the Hanging Mountain Farm
maple syrup farm.
USA,
MD, College Park
Friends Community School in College Park, is building its
new schoolhouse with straw bales and timber frame, a beautiful,
environmentally advanced green building. The school for
165 kindergarten-through-8th grade students.
USA,
MD, Pasadena
2-story home utilizing 850 straw bales pinned with locally
harvested bamboo, limestone exterior and earthen plaster
interior. Of passive solar design; radiant floor heat, compost
toilets, and a living roof are included.
USA,
MI, Oxford
Strawbale Studio is an enchanting 600 square foot thatched
roof studio in rural Oakland County, southeast Michigan.
The studio features straw bale walls, a round log frame,
earthen floor, fieldstone foundation, a loft, and beautiful
artwork.
USA,
MN, Pine River
HUG straw is shown here under construction. HUG is a for
profit organization started by eco-minded entrepreneurs
for the purpose of exploring and developing systems that
support ecological living.
USA,
MN, St.Paul
Moonunit. It's a hybrid passive solar, cob, earthbag, straw
bale, light clay, tires, papercrete, urbanite, stone, wood
post and beam structure; with earthen and lime plasters.
Most of the wood is salvaged. The earth and sand was dug
from the site and brought from a local gravel pit. It sure
helps to have friends looking out in dumpsters for windows,
doors and supplies.
USA,
MO, Annapolis
Ketter-McDiarmid House is a post-and-beam frame of locally
sawn oak to erect the roof before filling-in the cordwood
walls. The massive oak posts were 9X9 inch, with the tallest
ones weighing almost 300 Kg. Erecting with the help of friends
was a very challenging and satisfying part of the homeing
process. Once roofed-in, we began the exciting process of
the cordwood infill.
USA,
MO, Rutledge (Mercantile)
Hooray! The day we've been waiting for has finally arrived!
We began digging the holes for the basement and cistern
which will house the base of our composting toilet plus
serve as a tornado shelter for the Dancing Rabbit community.
Everyone with a dog named Toto will be welcome.
USA,
MO, Rutledge (Allium)
Allium was the first building at Dancing Rabbit in 1998.
It's a load-bearing straw bale house with earthen plaster
walls and floor. Its exterior is earthen plaster with a
lime finish. It has its own solar electric system and is
wired for DC electric and has an outdoor wood-fired, rain-fed,
cob hot-tub. The house got its name after a garlic sculpture
was put in the plaster to hide some wiring.
USA,
MO, Rutledge (Larkspur)
Larkspur. Tony and Elisa built their house on nine concrete
pillars to be light on the land. The house is built with
locally sourced timber, just five miles from the house.
The stick frame house uses clay-straw as an infill and then
clay plastered. Visit Dancing Rabbit and watch Tony and
Elisa introduce their house on YouTube.
USA,
MO, Rutledge (skyhouse)
Skyhouse. In 1999 Skyhouse community, a group of 5 (at the
time) income sharing residents of Dancing Rabbit, embarked
on an adventure. The goal was to create a house that could
eventually house all of Skyhouse under one roof, while in
the short term serving as the community centre for Dancing
Rabbit. Read about the adventure on the Skyhouse website.
USA,
MT, Busby
Roundstone. After four weeks of construction and several
years of navigating the bureaucratic process required for
new home construction, the Roundstone Family moved into
their new straw bale home in July of 2006. With assistance
of volunteers the family were able to build a home and a
model for homeownership in Northern Cheyenne country.
USA,
MT, Fortine
Music Studio. This is a solar powered strawbale recording
studio, completely off the grid. Because of its unique construction
and location in the middle of the forest, there is a very
special atmosphere there.
USA,
MT, Townsend
Windmill Designs is a non-loadbearing 3 bedroom self-built
home by Laura and Brian Obert with an interior size of 2,200
sq ft. Construction began in April, 1995 and ended in May,
1996
USA,
NC, Black Mountain
Cob Community Center in the eco-village called Earthaven
with over 120 people with many earthen structures.
USA,
NC, Black Mountain (Leela)
Leela. This is a work in progress. The rear straw bale wall
has been built. It has a base coat of lime plaster inside
and out and the windows are framed in. The East adobe wall
is built and the windows framed, and the West cob-adobe
wall has been built to just below the second floor.
USA,
NE, Gibbon
Audubon Center is the second largest straw bale constructed
building in the United States made with a timber frame of.
local cedar. Amongst other green aspects are foam insulation
made from waste product left over from processing gasoline,
a closed loop geo-thermal heating and cooling system and
solar tubes.
USA,
NM, Cibola
Nido de Libertad was built by Allen and Pat Gooch. It is
earth sheltered and uses the sun to maintain a comfortable
temperature. Without any mechanical heat source or cooling
mechanisms the house automatically maintains an internal
temperature between 62-75F (17-24C) all year round. It also
uses the sun to power the systems of the house.
USA,
NM, Sunland Park
This is a World Hands Project house made of pallets with
a straw-clay infill. The roof is made of trusses built from
pallet wood and then insulated with straw. Then earthen
plasters are added inside and out. The World Hands Project
help communities develop a better quality of life through
holistic design, natural building and resource-efficiency
solutions.
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USA,
NM, Sunland Park
This is a World Hands Project house. This is a straw-bale
addition to a children's clinic. The World Hands Project
is a group of concerned citizen-activists from diverse
backgrounds who are interested in teaching, designing
and building creative and sustainable solutions to
common worldwide challenges and establishing community
with all people.
USA,
NM, Clayton
Clayton Lake Center. This building uses 650 straw
bales stacked seven rows high. The bales are fireproofed
with boric acid and borax, which also keeps bugs and
rodents away.
USA,
NM, Grants
The Derrick Earthship. In the summer of 1999 Scott
and Janis Derrick started building a 3 U Earthship
in Cibola County, New Mexico. Visit their website
below for an extensive history of their building experience
with lots of pictures and practical advice. |
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USA,
NM, High Rolls
Green Mountain Solar. Chris decided to build an off-grid
home in 1997 when he bought 5 acres of mountain property
and an old Airstream trailer. Now that he has most of the
kinks worked out he's able to help others make a positive
impact on the environment. His website if full of good advice.
USA,
NM, Taos
This is Carole Crews' cob dome. In some ways the exterior
is like a great sand castle, summer rains refresh the earthen
plaster walls like a tidal rhythm cleans the beach of sculpture
and footprints, blending sculpted detail into eroded landscapes.
This process reminds the builders not to take their work
too seriously.
USA,
NM, Tesuque
EcoNest-Hummingbird. A study in efficiency containing all
of the spaces that would be found in a larger home. With
ship construction as its inspiration, every inch of space
is utilized. Office, entry, dining nook, kitchen, winter
garden and bed nook all radiate from the central living
room.
USA,
NM, Tesuque
EcoNest-Peregrine. A two bedroom residence with central
living room. A guest suite is joined to the main house by
a Japanese-style courtyard. Both are timberframe and light
clay-straw. The dining room doubles as a passive solar space
and has a wood fired masonry heater between it and the living
room.
USA,
NV, Las Vegas
Desert Living Center is owned by the Las Vegas Valley Water
District, as of 2007 will be the largest straw-bale complex
in the country. The Strawbale construction building technique
used at the Springs Preserve is five times more effective
than traditional insulation.
USA,
NY, Adams
Woodhenges. This home is within a community called Woodhenge
that is the site of much experimentation. If you are into
seeing the leading edge of unconventional off-grid and inexpensive
recycled housing, this is the place to visit.
USA,
NY, Harrisville
The Schuth Cabin. Larry's cordwood and timber frame cabin
was a family project. The only outside help was from some
friends at work to help set the frame and roof rafters.
This took about a week. It is a saltbox design of 900 sq.
ft. and is composed of 30 cords of 17 inch long cedar cordwood.
Construction costs were about $10 per sq. ft
USA,
NY, Hermon
Hermon Straw Bale. This 1034 sq ft two-story circular strawbale
home was built with volunteer labor in 2002. It's bale walls
plastered inside and out serve as super-insulation. The
house is biofuel heated.
USA,
NY, Plattsburgh
Earthwood is Rob Roy's round two-story off-the-grid cordwood
masonry earth shelter, which has a 38 foot outside diameter,
16 inch thick walls and over 2,070 square feet of living
space. Rob is the author of many books in cordwood and timberframe
building.
USA,
NY, Rainbow Lake
Rainbow Lake. The house and off-grid power systems are good
examples of what can be done on a very limited, pay-as-you-go
budget. The original energy system was home made solar panels.
As money became available, used panels and a Trace inverter
were added and recently some new panels. Part of the barn
was an experiment using cordwood construction.
USA,
NY, Saranac
Cape Cod Power. Since 2003 this 1855 Cape Cod-style home
has generated an average of 4,500 KW more electricity per
year than is used, courtesy of a grid-tied 10KW Kyocera
solar system incorporated into the roof of our utility barn.
Enclosing an outside porch with passive solar gaining windows
and in-floor heating has also improved the comfort level.
USA,
NY, Vermontville
Vermontville Off-Grid is a 1440 sq ft off-grid owner-built
log home. The combined energy system includes 12, 75 watt
solar panels, a Whisper wind generator, 12 batteries and
Trace inverter. House has a 3200 gallon cistern in the basement.
It was built with a southern exposure to allow maximum solar
gain in winter, with the roof overhang blocking the sun
in the summer.
USA,
NY, Vestal
Architect Laura Lee Intscher began work in June 2005 on
her eco-friendly Vestal home. The 3,200 square feet, four-bedroom,
two bathroom house is scheduled for completion in late spring
or early summer 2006. It will be able to heat and cool itself
without any gas, oil or other fuel, aside from the occasional
wood fire lit in an efficient masonry fireplace.
USA,
OK, Leflore
WindingRidge. Follow the link below to find details of the
building of this beautiful homestead complete with solar
and wind power, rain-water collection cisterns, a strawbale
house and even a wolf or two to try to blow it all down!
USA,
TX, Dripping Springs
Sunset Pottery. Nearly 500 bales of straw were used as insulation
in this 4100 sq. ft. building. The wall-raising was assisted
by Strawbale Association of Texas with Matts Muhrman, Judy
Knox, and David Eisenberg present for the wall-raising.
USA,
TX, Fredericksburg
This cob home has a first floor kitchen and sitting area
with sleeping loft. The water supplied by rainwater catchment.
The electricity will eventually be solar. The house is intended
for one person or a cosy couple. 90% of all materials are
clay, sand, stones and native juniper wood harvested and
milled within 100 miles.
USA,
TX, Lockheart
With a philosophy of recycle and use what you have, Jennifer
and Robert have made the effort to use local and recycled
materials rather than just running out to the hardware store
for a quick fix. From recycled windows off ebay, granite
off cuts for windows sills, scavenged lumber this cob home
will provide inspiration for years to come.
USA,
UT, Ogden
Ogden Nature Center. The Ogden Nature Center is a wildlife
sanctuary and education center. This is their office and
education building timberframe with strawbale.
USA,
WA, Mattawa
Mattawa Library. USAs 1st strawbale public library in the
small agricultural town of Mattawa. Empowered by IronStraw,
the folks of Mattawa and and a group of 30 hardworking,
inexperienced builders from four regional states built this
handsome library on a cold February weekend.
USA,
WA, Port Townsend
This is a Timberframe, cob and cordwood shower house. The
shower house floor plan follows a spiral; you enter at the
spiral opening and bathe at the center. The roof has carvings
on the ridge pole as practiced by the native cultures of
the northwest US.
USA,
WI, Avalanch
Chrysalis Farm House is a two story 120m2 whole tree house
costing around 140,000 USD in 2005. Insulated slab-on-ground
with in floor heating, whole tree branching column frames
with pole framed second floor and roof. Straw bale super
insulated walls and roof and passive solar window wall and
attached solar greenhouse.
USA,
WI, Browntown
Serendipity Greenhouse was completed through workshops,
sponsored by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and
with the assistance of friends and others in the community
who joined in during the summer. It will serve as a demonstration
for family farmers looking to survive the challenging economic
climate.
USA,
WI, Galesville
McAllen House. The first floor was completed in the fall
of 1995 with Ed McAllen working on the structure full time.
He quit his job for the construction seasons of 1995 and
1996 to devote exclusive time to the dream.
Wales,
Gloucestershire, Llandogo
I have a Strawdio, I have moved my music stuff in. Its everything
I had ever hoped for. The space has the lovely flexible
feeling of strength with softness. Its cosy, its warm and
I dont want to go anywhere. Visit my website below.
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