STRAW BALE HOUSE

The owner of a cattle required a two-room and bathroom extension for the existing two-room structure to house occasional cattle farm workers such as veterinarians, irrigation technicians, extra cowboys for roundup seasons, etc.
Located in the Laguna region in the desert, this project needed specific adjustments for this climate, with its high sun exposure throughout the year, harsh windy winters and susceptibility to flash floods.The existing quarters were made in concrete block and stone which behaved poorly in the months of extreme weather, so the main question was how to address this issue and increase the comfort in a low-tech, low-cost manner?
The answer was found in the ranch itself: straw-bale. Straw-bale construction increases thermal mass and performs remarkably in this climates, so we decided to use it in the north and east walls (the west wall was protected by the extension of north reed porch).The challenge was to adapt the existing building methods from wood structure to block and concrete construction because of the specific workforce skills. The new rectangular extension completes a “L” layout with a service volume containing the bathroom on the inside and the boiler and gas tank on the outside flanks. The result has been a significant improvement to the thermal qualities of the structure and therefore, an increase in the users’ comfort thanks to the thermal mass, sun shades, cross-ventilation, etc.