The beauty of straw bale homes

by Athena Swentzell Steen

"The first architects, builders, and homeowners to embrace the straw bale renaissance were excited by the energy conservation, resource recycling, and affordability of this rediscovered building material. As their movement evolved, however, it became apparent that the elegant simplicity of straw had also enabled its practitioners to tap into an undiscovered creative aquifer.". "Athena and Bill Steen, co-authors of The Straw Bale House (Chelsea Green, 1994), a book widely credited with popularizing and legitimizing straw bale construction, celebrate in gorgeous color photography the accomplishments of straw bale artisans. Selecting from a variety of building types and applications, they vividly portray the sensuous versatility and cross-cultural appeal of this most accessible form of construction. Accompanying the stunning visual display is a text that incorporates key lessons the Steens have learned in their years as straw bale pioneers. Their insights into design, materials, and const