Built in 2007, this Asian craftsman house is the first straw bale insulated residential construction in Cuyahoga County. It is also the owners’ third house to be showcased on the Heights Heritage Tour.

Inspired by South African straw bale houses and committed to resource preservation, the owners visited other straw bale construction. They hired the Bedford architectural firm of Doty and Miller for the design, because these architects “understood” their vision.

Construction of this beautiful high-performance house combined 30 to 50 straw bales with the generous help of friends, neighbors and straw bale aficionados. This occurred over two weekends in January 2007.

The space abounds with green features inside and out. The lawnless front yard is an Asian-inspired garden, watered with rainwater diverted from downspouts. Composting bins are handy for kitchen waste, and solar lights and signs decorate the front.

More Asian influence is in the front entryway where trelliswork flanks the front door. Strawberry beds on stilts provide visual interest and containment for happy plants. These beds can be tended on foot or from a chair, and so are suited for physically challenged gardeners.

Of particular interest is the 100-year-old Amish carpenter’s bench, which was bought in Holmes County and now functions as a kitchen island. A close look at the bench reveals a number of interesting details: each drawer is made of a different wood; tool holes have been left intact; the vises are usable; one drawer is marked “1869.” Kitchen cabinet doors are also repurposed, purchased at a local antique store and installed to fit stock cabinets.

All straw bale houses include a “truth window” providing evidence of authentic construction. These windows can be any shape or size and can even be curtained. The truth window is found in the wall near the dining area, given pride of place above the built in inset shelf. It holds a pop of color in the balls of orange wool fiber.

Enter the study from the living area through a stunning Victorianera door reclaimed from a house in Grand Rapids, Michigan and purchased on EBay. The door was acquired before the plans were finished, so its 4-foot width could be easily incorporated into the house design.

One of the most distinctive features of the house is the walkway between the study and the center hall – consisting of deeply curved walls and ceiling, with the curves complemented by the starburst pattern in the floor. This collection of curves can produce an echo when the sound comes from just the right spot.

The first floor master bedroom can be darkened significantly to meet the owners’ desire for a cave-like sleeping area. The brownishred walls are finished with linseed oil, used to retain color and produce a suede look.

The master bath is handicapped accessible, with its open shower area decorated with tiles in Celtic knot and quatrefoil motifs made by one of the owners. These shapes are also reflected in the stained glass window. Marble in the bathroom is from the former Adelstien Pharmacy, formerly located at East 79th and Cedar. Also reclaimed is the beautiful cast iron antique pedestal sink.

Some of the more remarkable features of this house – produced by its unique construction – center on its interior ambience. The owners were delighted with the unexpected silence and stillness in the house. The ambient street noise from Cedar Road is absent due to the thick walls and insulation. They are also pleased to benefit from the walls’ tendency to absorb humidity in the summer, which is released in winter, providing extra warmth at no cost.

And, of course, the owners have incorporated as many green aspects as possible:

• Ceiling fans in all main rooms provide cross ventilation with windows that open

• Pella Architect and Designer series windows and French doors

• Low VOC Sherwin Williams paint and natural plaster throughout

• Energy Star appliances and Toto dual flush toilets

• Lennox 96% efficient furnace, Bosch tankless water heater

Watch For:

• Reclaimed door to study dated April 22, 1891
• Deep window sills throughout the house
• Timbertec – organic and recycled plastic material – used for the railing deck
• Exposed straw on walls – in foyer and in first floor bath featuring navy blue mortar pigment.