Nebraska's Vernacular Straw Bale

December 28 visited Arthur, Nebraska. Saw a couple examples of Nebraska's vernacular straw bale tradition.

Martin-Monhart House, built 1925 Pilgrim Holiness Church, built 1928 Nebraska Sand Hills

Stefan and Kate's Adobe Home

The evening of December 27, stayed with Stefan Bell in Taos, NM. Stefan and Kate, who live in Mikawa, Hokkaido, are renovating a century old adobe home in Taos. Everything is custom built. For a beautiful earthen plaster finish, Stefan says that three things are needed: the right mix, the right temperature, and time.

Adobe ArchBathroom NichoBedroom

Ginna's Straw Bale Home

December 27-29, drove from Phoenix, AZ to Madison, WI. On December 27, visited Ginna's straw bale home in Santa Fe, NM. Stefan Bell, who built the straw bale walls of Toby and Maiko's home in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, led the construction of Ginna's home.

Wisteria vines

Passive solar design

Front door
Adobe archNicho

富山ストローベイルハウス協会

November 28 and 29 worked as a translator for Ben Nakamura and Associates Inc. (中村勉総合計画事務所). Prof. Nakamura was nominated by the Architectural Institute of Japan for an eco-architecture award sponsored by an organization in Singapore.

November 30 presented at the Center for Environmental Information Science Annual Conference in Tokyo.

December 1-4, helped the Japan Straw Bale House Association and Toyama Straw Bale House Association with the construction of the first straw bale building in Toyama. Actually only the master bedroom is straw bale. The building was designed by Hiroyo Nakata, a graduate of Nihon University. Hiroyo Nakata also manages a cafe in Toyama called Cafe trois.