Straw Bale Building Details An Illustrated Guide for Design and Construction

Written by leading practitioners, Straw Bale Building Details is the must-have illustrated guide to design and construction details for site-built straw bale buildings. Essential for avoiding costly mistakes, increasing construction efficiency and durability, and achieving desired energy performance goals.

This is a masterwork that belongs in the hands of anyone designing, building, or issuing permits for straw bale buildings.
— DAVID EISENBERG, Director, Development Center for Appropriate Technology, and co-author, The Straw Bale House

This is the book I have been waiting for — the complete guide to straw bale construction.
— DAVID A. BAINBRIDGE, straw bale building pioneer

Co-created by some of the greatest eco-architects and builders who have ever lived, it is highly readable, comprehensive, and absolutely relevant to the immense challenges of our time.
— MARK LAKEMAN, founder, communitecture, architecture and planning, and cofounder, City Repair and the Village Building Convergence

STRAW BALE BUILDINGS promise superior insulation and flexibility across a range of design aesthetics, while using a typically local and abundant low-embodied energy material that sequesters carbon — an important part of mitigating climate change.

However, some early straw bale designs and construction methods resulted in buildings that failed to meet design goals for energy efficiency and durability. This led to improved building practices and a deeper understanding of the building science underlying this building system. Distilling two decades of site-built straw bale design and construction experience, Straw Bale Building Details is an illustrated guide that covers:

• Principles and process of straw bale design and building, options, and alternatives
• Building science of straw bale wall systems
• How design impacts cost, building efficiency, and durability
• Avoiding costly mistakes and increasing construction efficiency
• Dozens of time-tested detailed drawings for straw bale wall assemblies, including discussion of foundations, windows and doors, and roof interface options.

Whether you're an architect, engineer, contractor, or owner-builder interested in making informed choices, Straw Bale Building Details is the indispensable guide to current practice in straw bale design and construction.

... An unparalleled resource, representing decades of cumulative wisdom from dozens of top architects, engineers and contractors.
— CATHERINE WANEK, author and photographer, The New Strawbale Home and The Hybrid House, former editor, The Last Straw Journal, and co-editor, The Art of Natural Building

... A must have for anyone interested in building with bales.
— ANDREW MORRISON, straw bale consultant at StrawBale.com

California Straw Building Association (CASBA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the practice of straw building through research, testing, and documenting innovations in practical experience. Members have worked on hundreds of straw bale structures across a variety of architectural styles, climates, and seismic zones. CASBA is headquartered in Berkeley, CA.