Building from straw is an ancient technique recently rediscovered by environmentalists. The bales are relatively inexpensive and very thermally insulating (about R2.1 per inch of wall thickness) - Our straw walls have an average insulation value of around R42, which means that it takes very little energy to heat or cool the house. There are few other uses for straw, since, unlike hay, it cannot be used by animals for feed. Furthermore, because it decomposes very slowly, it isn't often used for composting. Every year, millions of tons of straw are discarded or burned in Australia.

The same things that make straw hard to use for other purposes make it ideal for building. When kept dry, straw is very sturdy. Straw has been found, completely intact, in ancient Egyptian tombs. Properly taken care of, a straw house could conceivably last as long.

Because the straw is packed so tightly together, oxygen cannot get into the middle of the bales, and so they do not burn easily. Exposed to enough heat, they will, of course, burn, but less easily than a comparable house built of conventional construction materials.

A solar passive design is intended to provide us with a warm environment in the winter, and a cool one in the summer without the need for high energy appliances such as reverse cycle air conditioners.

The straw walls have such good insulation that the design for this type of house is particularly important. A poor design can actually result in a very hot house. So solar passive principles have been employed.

Strawbale buildings have their own unique feel and character. The thickness of the walls, their subtle curves and sculpted features contribute to this. Strawbale walls are a pleasure to look at and touch. They are naturally rendered and breathe.