The path has been laid and the door in open!!! San Diego County has permitted its first Straw Bale Building.

In May the county of San Diego issued its first building permit for a straw bale structure. San Diego county is following in the path of 40 plus other counties in California, however the first permitted building in each county is always a milestone.

Architect Drew Hubbell, of Hubbell & Hubbell Architects and Artists, is responsible for this elegant, semi-circular, energy efficient straw bale guest house. The plan of the house is designed to minimize the intense summer heat of Borrego Springs while taking advantage of passive solar gain during the winter months. The high insulation value along with lower material costs and the relatively unskilled labor required to erect the straw bale walls make the construction technique ideal for this project and the desert climate where the house is located.

When asked why he decided to use straw bales Hubbell responded, “It was an ideal match of building material, site, clients, and program.” The clients, Clark and Eleanor, have always been interested in education and exploring new ideas. After Clark recently retired as a professor at the University of the Pacific they decided to become involved with learning about environmental building methods. Clark says, “We have all been learning about the advantages of straw bale building along with the growing straw bale community emerging throughout the country. It’s great to see a classic technology from the beginning of the century have such a strong and well timed resurgence as we near the millenium.”

Straw bale has proven to be an economically and environmentally appropriate building solution for a variety of reasons. Architect Drew Hubbell says, “One of  the best reasons to use straw bale construction is the way the two foot thick walls add a sense of performance and stability as well as a sculptural quality. This material when used thoughtfully lends itself to the creation of beautiful site specific buildings while limiting the environmental impact on the world’s resources. It is fun to discover a material, typically only used in barns and stables, that is  economical, environmentally sustainable, and has the potential to help ease America’s housing shortage. I strongly believe straw bale technology, though not our only answer, can be one solution down the path to sustainability.”

A hands on straw bale workshop will be held at the site in Borrego Springs on Aug. 2nd and 3rd. The cost of the class is $75. For further information about the workshop contact Drew Hubbell or Bob Bolles.