{"product_id":"the-beauty-of-straw-bale-homes","title":"The Beauty of Straw Bale Homes","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhile enthusiasts of straw bales praise the exceptional energy efficiency of bale buildings  and the wise use of resources involved in utilizing an agricultural byproduct as an affordable construction material  the real reason straw bales have excited builders and homeowners nationwide goes beyond energy conservation  resource recycling  and affordability. People love straw bale homes because they are so often extraordinarily beautiful and inviting. In the past two decades  the bale-building renaissance has attracted some of our most gifted architects  artisan builders  and craftspeople. Certain qualities of straw as a material--and the hands-on process of constructing walls with a completely natural substance--have appealed to both very experienced builders and those who find this to be a uniquely accessible form of creating shelter. The characteristic thick walls and wide windowsills of straw bale houses  the possibility of incorporating curves and even arches  and the rousing experience of family \"wall-raisings\" have become well-known. Combined with older styles of plastering and earthen floors  these very contemporary buildings have a timeless quality thats easy to recognize yet hard to achieve with conventional manufactured materials. These are buildings with personality--plus! Athena and Bill Steen  co-authors of the original Straw Bale House book published by Chelsea Green in 1994  have now created a book that celebrates in gorgeous color photographs the tactile  sensuous beauty of straw bale dwellings. Their selection of photos also demonstrates how far bale building has come in a very short period of time: In addition to handsome homes  small and not-so-small  this book shows larger-scale institutional buildings  including schools  office buildings  the Solar Living Center  and a Save the Children center in Mexico. In addition  this book includes an introductory essay by the Steens noting the key lessons they have learned in years of building with bales: insights into the design and construction process  and critical advice about design elements that ameliorate the impacts of moisture  weather  and wear-and-tear over time. Each photograph is also accompanied by narrative text highlighting a given buildings special features and personal touches.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964110303285,"sku":"ByrdShop_1890132772","price":43.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781890132774.jpg?v=1770449346","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-beauty-of-straw-bale-homes","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}