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STRAW BALE HOUSE
Strathcona, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Designed for myself and my wife, this house is designed as an
infill project in a historic neighborhood in Strathcona, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. It has a high mass to surface area ratio (compact
multi-story), abundant insulation and accepts the sun’s
heat in the winter while providing shade from the summer heat.
In this design, straw bale walls provide both thermal mass and
super-insulation from the cold. Window penetrations through the
straw bale walls are kept to a minimum with the majority of the
glazing located on the south end of the residence. The use of
3 1/2” earthen floors and a central masonry heater maximize
interior thermal mass. Horizontal louvers shade the house from
summer heat while admitting the low winter heat where it can
be absorbed by the interior thermal mass.
Key elements of the design are:
- 20" thick straw bale walls with clay/lime plaster interior
and exterior finish
- 3.5" thick radiant heated earthen floors
- Central masonry heater incorporating two Rumford fireplaces
a contra-flow masonry heater and boiler flues
- Southern greenhouse/solarium with active air circulation
through masonry heater and exterior louvers which shade the
summer sun
- Greenhouse/solarium functions as entry vestibule
- Natural ventilation via operable windows
- Mechanical ventilation via central whole-house fan
- Bowed metal roof with ventilated attic and 15” high
density cellulose insulation
- Traditional front porch as encouraged by the zoning bylaws
and fitting the neighborhood.
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