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materials: reclaimed-recycled-local

philosophymadeen architecture backgroundconstruction project planningcontact Madeen architecture in Durango and Telluride, Colorado



Modern-mining style active and passive solar straw bale residence featuring: local wood siding, internet controlled smart house system, earth plaster, and “Mudstud” (cobb infill of some internal 2X4 stud walls) which adds thermal mass, sound insulation, and fire resistance).




















Natural Tuscan style hybrid straw bale and adobe architecture
Natural Tuscan style hybrid straw bale and adobe architecture


Thick straw bale walls with earth plaster
Thick straw bale walls with earth plaster



Passive and active solar off-grid strawbale residence w/ earth plaster, masonry heater, roof catchment potable water system & local wood


Environmental straw bale house near Durango, Colorado
Environmental straw bale house near Durango, Colorado


gothic style straw bale design
Gothic style straw bale design


Greg Madeen constructing a strawbale structure
Greg giving volunteer labor in 1993


innovative straw bale residence
Innovative straw bale residence


ecological straw bale wall construction system
Ecological straw bale wall construction system


deep green interior with exposed heavy timbers
Deep green interior


experimental passive solar straw bale house near Durango, Colorado
Experimental passive solar straw bale house near Durango, Colorado


small straw bale design
Small straw bale design


straw bale wall detail
Straw bale wall detail


innovative straw bale library in southwest Colorado
Innovative straw bale library in southwest Colorado


2,500 s.f. strawbale multi-purpose performance building at kid's camp
2,500 s.f. strawbale multi-purpose performance building at kid's camp


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2000 sq. ft. contemporary style solar straw bale design
2000 sq. ft. contemporary style solar straw bale design


creative straw bale house with barrel vaults
Creative straw bale house with barrel vaults


craftsman style straw bale bed room
Craftsman style straw bale bed room


passive solar straw bale house
Passive solar straw bale house. Potable water comes from on-site natural spring.


curved stairs in alternative straw bale residence
Curved stairs in alternative straw bale residence


straw bale courtyard
Straw bale courtyard


innovative straw bale and adobe architecture
Innovative straw bale and adobe architecture



Small passive solar "upright & wing" strawbale house with masonry heater near Telluride


natural earth plaster on small straw bale house
Natural earth plaster on small straw bale house


lime plaster on straw bale and compressed earth block walls
Lime plaster on straw bale and compressed earth block walls


sustainable straw bale residence near
Sustainable straw bale residence near
Durango, Colorado

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Straw-bale:
Straw is compressed, bound, and tied together in order to be stacked to form the wall system.


Straw bale walls have a very different look compared to sheetrock walls. They look like a human produced product rather than the product of a machine.


Straw can provide thermal and sound insulation when used to infill a post & beam wall structure. It can also serve as a load-bearing wall. It does all this in the form of a compact, portable, nontoxic and recyclable bale.


Straw can often be locally harvested and constructed. The straw used in bale construction is often saved from being burned as waste, becoming
a sustainable building material instead.

Madeen Architecture & Construction, LLC
102 East 8th St., Suite 215
Durango, CO 81301   
(970)769-0090

326 Midland Ave, #203   Aspen, CO 81611

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