Location: Leavenworth, Washington
Contractor: Borealis Builders

My husband Mike and I purchased a vacant lot in the summer of 2015 and began construction on a home I designed for our particular lifestyle and wishes. My intent for the project was to fit everything we need into the smallest space, resulting in an efficient 1100 sf plan with a generous double-height space to make the house feel much larger than it is. The detached single car garage is necessary for gear and tool storage. The majority of the walls are straw bale construction, which put Mike and I in a very hands-on role in construction. Borealis built the foundation and the post-and-beam frame, and came back after we installed the SIP (structural insulated panel) roof and straw bale walls to build the framed sections of wall and other key elements. Strategic shading and orientation, straw bale walls, exterior insulation on the small sections of framed walls, and a roof with exceptional thermal performance make for a very comfortable house.

Photos by Dylan Fuller and Veronica Park, 2017