California

 Nature & Visitor Centre One the first civic buildings to be built out of straw bale in the United States. Designed by DSA Architects with fellow architect Greg VanMechelen. Environmental features include: Straw Bale Exterior Walls, Passive Solar Design, Building Integrated Photovoltaics, Hot Water Solar Panels for Radiant Heating System, Natural Linoleum Floors, Interior Walls from compressed straw panels, Recycled and Sustainably Harvested Wood Framing Cabinetry from Wheat Straw particleboard, Countertops made from Recycled Glass.

Architect
Paragon Designs offers a mix of efficient talents and skills for a full-service design and construction team. Services range from designing custom homes, restoration of historic homes, construction of small commercial buildings to management of both large and small-scale projects. Offering Graphic Design, Project Renderings, Environmental Design, Healthy Homes, Feng Shui Analysis, Historical Restoration, Cost Estimates, Development and Site Supervision.

Winery Owner
In 1995 Clay and Fredericka completed construction on their new and permanent winery building. This structure, a noteworthy example of environmental architecture, is a “straw bale building,” the first of its kind in California. With sixteen-inch thick walls made of bales of rice straw, the winery is so well insulated that it maintains a constant cellar temperature, without the need for mechanical cooling or heating.

Architect
Hands-on construction and workshop experience. Teach on-going sustainable design courses, led straw bale workshops, as well as organized workshops for others.

Architect
DSA Architects offer a wide range of architectural services, from consulting to complete design services. They pursue sustainable design approaches, such as passive solar design, and their buildings incorporate resource efficient building systems like straw-bale houses pictured here.

Architect
The Hubbell & Hubbell team creates places that heal the soul and renew the spirit. We are a unique family-owned firm committed to integrating nature-centered art and architecture in environmentally friendly private and public spaces. Artist James Hubbell has developed projects all over the world for more than 40 years. Architect Drew Hubbell has pioneered the permitting of straw bales as a building material in the city and county of San Diego.

Architect
Extensive experience and take joy in designing with alternative materials such as strawbale, autoclaved aerated concrete, insulated concrete forms and adobe.

located on the Central Coast of California, constructs unique and creatively styled, environmentally-friendly homes. By blending sustainable building and passive solar techniques, as well as the most current materials and technologies, these homes are durable, energy efficient, and, above all, a delight to live in.