Page 26 - October 2015 Green Builder Magazine

CASE STUDY: A MODERN STRAW BALE MINING CABIN

GREG MADEEN DESIGNED this 1,660-square-foot straw year, the cabin needed to be extra insulated, making straw bale a
bale cabin for a young couple who hired him before good choice. The roof is insulated to R-50 with recycled cellulose.
24 they had even bought a building site. Located at 9,000 The bale walls are covered with earthen plaster on both sides, but

feet near a major ski resort, the building was inspired pine board-and-batten siding is attached on the exterior, which
by nearby oldmining structures in Colorado’sgoldcountry.Butmake is unusual for a straw bale house. The siding was milled from

no mistake: this is a thoroughly modern home. The cabin’s bones timber harvested from the region; paired with the corrugated tin,

consist of a post-and-beam structure infilled with regionally sourced it contributes to his “Modern Mining” aesthetic. The home features

straw bales. The pier foundation is pinned directly to exposed granite recycled and reclaimed materials and furnishings, as well.

bedrock, reducing the amount of concrete needed. The compact dwelling can accommodate up to 10 guests. A

“The cabin has very good passive solar features,” says Madeen. 3-kW PV array is designed to produce more than the estimated

These include ample glazing on the south façade, minimal yearly energy demand, which is kept low by both its energy-

windows on the north, night insulation and appropriately sized efficient design and the heating system: a radiant heat floor

overhangs, which are supported by exposed timber braces. The powered by a high-efficiency electric boiler. The owners can

wall separating the south-facing great room from the north-facing monitor the cabin remotely, and can program the thermostats

bedrooms is a standard stud-framed wall, but the cavities are filled and control the pair of electric water heaters. If only one is

with “Mud Stud”—a mixture of sand, straw, clay and water—which needed to meet demand, the other is turned off, or if the cabin

functions as thermal mass and renders the wall fireproof. is unoccupied, both can be turned off.

Because the location can receive up to 30 feet of snow in a www.madeen.com

IMAGE CREDIT FOR ALL IMAGES: SCOTT DW SMITH

www.greenbuildermedia.com 10.2015 Solar Style. The steel stair tower,
metal roof, pine siding, corrugated tin
and heavy timbers contribute to the
cabin’s “Modern Mining” aesthetic.