“Natural Habitat” Straw Bale Home
June 30, 2011
Plan Number: at-200
Designed by: Arkin-Tilt Architects
Description
This 1860 s.f. passive solar straw-bale home illustrates solutions to ecological living. A compact four-bedroom plan also allows for a future office addition in the cupola.
Although the current home is oriented on a north-south axis to maintain neighbor’s views, the interior temperature of the home stays within 5° of 68°F without additional heating or cooling. The roof is insulated with cellulose (recycled newspaper) insulation and sheathed with ‘Meadowood’ rye-grass straw-board. Plastered straw-bale walls are balanced by fiber-cement clad conventionally framed walls in appropriate locations (i.e. plumbing, bays and the high cupola walls).
A structural wall of exposed framing provides ample storage for books and art while dividing the living and sleeping areas. Bedrooms all feature bed-sized window bays, and two of the children’s bedrooms are separated with movable wall panels, adding further flexibility. Other ecological features include built-in composting and recycling (hatches in the backsplash allow recyclables to be placed in bins which are accessed from the outside), cooling via cupola windows, and passive solar design.
Awards and Publications
Environmental Design + Construction’s Excellence in Design Award
Sunset/AIA Special Design Award
The Green House
The New Strawbale Home
Casaviva June 2004
Real Simple April 2002
Specifications
| Square Footage | Home Elements | |||
| Total Living Area | 1860 SF
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Levels: | 1 | |
| Main Level: | 1860 SF
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Foundation: | Slab on Grade | |
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Alternate Foundations: | Crawlspace, Pier, Basement | ||
| Patio: | 880 SF
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Lot Type: | Flat
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| Footprint: | 35′-0″W x 66′-0″D | Alternate Lot Types: | Gentle Slope
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| Room Details | ||||
| Master Suite: | Main Level | |||
| Bedrooms: | 4 | |||
| Bathrooms: | 2 |
Details and Features
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Floor Plans
Included in Construction Drawing Set
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Pricing Details (FREE S&H)
| Set of Black Line Drawings | $1,775.00 | —Buy Now— |
| Set of Vellum | $2,200.00 | —Buy Now— |
Chalk Hill Cabin
June 30, 2011
Plan Number: at-100
Designed by: Arkin-Tilt Architects
Description
This 872 s.f. off-grid straw-bale project was originally designed as a getaway home for a San Francisco couple with two active young boys.
The house mediates the northern edge of a forest glade, with driveway access and entry against a steeper slope to the north. The entry/mudroom, bath and mechanical spaces are located in a wood-framed portion of the home a half level up from the main living space. This simple, straw-bale home opens to a south-facing terrace, connecting it to the forest glade, and a more intimate queen bed sized sleeping bay. An open loft above the kitchen provides additional sleeping space for kids and guests.
The house features the ability to be energy independent. The property currently employs solar hot water collectors to provide domestic hot water as well as space heating by flowing the heated fluid first through a heat exchanger and then into tubing buried in a 2 ft. bed of sand beneath the floor slabs. In addition, P.V. panels on the roof harvest electricity, stored in batteries, powering the well pump and other domestic needs.
The metal roof, plastered bale walls, and fiber-cement siding give the structure elegant lines and distinctive finish. What’s more, those same elements, along with a fire safe perimeter, will give the structure high marks for surviving a wildfire, ensuring that this small cabin will provide many years of service.
Specifications
| Square Footage | Home Elements | |||
| Total Living Area | 872 (+150 Loft) |
Levels: | 1.5 | |
| Main Level: | 872 | Foundation: | Slab on Grade | |
| Second Level: | 150 SF Sleeping Loft | Alternate Foundations: | Crawlspace, Pier, Basement | |
| Decks: | 350 | Lot Type: | Sloping, Wooded | |
| Footprint: | 48′-0″W x 24′-0″D | Alternate Lot Types: | Flat | |
| Room Details | ||||
| Master Suite: | Main Level | |||
| Bedrooms: | 1 | |||
| Bathrooms: | 1 |
Details and Features
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Floor Plans
Included in Construction Drawing Set
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Pricing Details (FREE S&H)
| Set of Black Line Drawings | $985.00 | —Buy Now— |
| Set of Vellum | $1,220.00 | —Buy Now— |
