straw bale house

straw bale house

A dwelling whose walls are constructed of bales of straw, compressed and wire-tied or string-tied into large units and built up on a concrete slab as if they were oversized bricks; they are reinforced with vertical poles that pierce the bales. When thoroughly dry, the walls are usually finished with a coat of stucco or adobe plaster to promote sanitation, fire safety, and protection against the weather; the bales provide excellent thermal insulation. Especially found in the farm regions of midwestern United States.