Home of Straw

The subtle beauty of this arid site dictates the design of an artistic couple’s retirement home. Nestled into a ridgeline on the foothills at the base of Mt. Antero, just northwest of Salida, Colorado, the low-slung house has minimal impact on the environment, the site, and neighbors’ views. This home is a poetic expression of the importance of sustainable and healthy materials and systems.

The basic rectangle of the plan butterflies from a hinge point which serves to frame a spectacular view of Mt. Antero. Here, converging points of opposing bow roofs collect rainwater and celebrate this precious resource through sculptural rain chains and gutter detailing. Inside, this special point & view marks the entry, with the home’s public wing to the left (kitchen, dining, living) and private wing to the right.

Friends of the owners, builders and architects gathered for a weekend to stack the straw bale walls, a process that remains as memories embedded in the walls of this home. Rich earth plaster walls and deep windowseats and glazing punctures make this a calming place to relax. The nature of the thick wall system holds in heat during the winter and cool in the summer, making it a comfortable haven year-round.