The Stroh Haus: Straw Bale Moderne

One of the top frequently-asked-questions we get here at Building Green is "I love the dramatic look of Kevin's house, but it's not quite my style. Does all straw bale construction have to look earthy and rustic?" The answer is no, and nothing illustrates the point better than the Stroh Haus, a thoroughly modernist project built using compressed straw. Check out our friend Jetson Green's blog for a great set of images of the house.

If you want to learn more about compressed straw as a building material, an excellent primer from Environmental Building News can be found here. Even if you're remodeling or building conventionally, you can reap benefits from considering strawboard panels for interior wall construction. According to Toolbase Services, strawboard is easier to work with than studs and drywall, and can yield cost savings of 18-22%. For more inspiration, visit our Straw Bale Workshop.