New Strawbale Home, The

Most of the homes are in the higher-end spectrum and I was disappointed that I didn't see less expensive (but maybe not as fancy) homes included. However I did like the coverage of the co-housing communities who use straw bale building.

Overall, a lovely book that you will drool over if you like straw bale or any other natural building.


Living the Life   March 20, 2010
Strawbale girl (Ruidoso, NM)
We had the pleasure of meeting Catherine at her bed and breakfast in Kingston NM where we stayed for a hands on strawbale building workshop. This book as well as Catherine inspired us to build not only our home but our vacation rentals out of strawbale and as much off the grid as possible ([...]) If you are into strawbale building, or just considering it, I highly recommend visiting her bed and breakfast or buying her books so you can see all the latest and greatest of eco-building techniques that are out there!


Nice picture book, not a build it manual   August 23, 2005
A. Burchfield (Conway, Missouri USA)
21 out of 21 found this review helpful

For your money you'll be getting what amounts to a picture book with several different types of strawbale homes across the US and Canada. There is a small starter section, with pictures, on general construction details.
For each house there will be at least two, sometimes four or five, pages of text and pictures about the owners homes and how they were built. Don't buy this book thinking it's a build it manual, that isn't the case as the information is more of an idea book type presentation. You'll get a little on costs, size and other things including square feet both inside and outside the walls (along with small floor plans of each home) and several very well done photographs.
I found these photos to be the best part of the book as they will either give you some ideas for your own home or at least they'll show you what's out there. Some of the ideas had a Santa Fe look but some had a sharp edged box with lots of glass look (and not much straw either). Most of the homes were not displayed from all angles, just from selected views.
If you're on a strict budget you won't want this book unless you can find a cheap used copy, it's much more of an idea book.


Nice pictures   May 20, 2007
Candace Marshall (Canyon Lake, TX)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book had some good pictures of different SB structures. But, to me that is all there was.