Local Wood Strawbale Cottage

We completed construction of this project in January 2011.  This summer we will return to complete the exterior landscaping, put a final white plaster finish on the exterior, and plant the living roof.  This project features site-harvested and sawn aspen interior timbeframe and site-sawn treecyled white pine salvaged from the city of Wausau's Marathon County Park.  Pine was used for all stud lumber, exposed joinsts and rafters, ceiling decking, and exterior siding and trim.  This superinsulated 1200 sq ft house used strawbale insulation on the lower level with a dense pack cellulose strap wall system on the upper level.  Locally sourced earthen plasters form the finish surface on the interior and exterior of the strawbale walls.  The south first floor roof is 6" living roof medium that will be artisically landscaped with sedums and other hardy low-maintenance plants.  The shallow frost protected slab foundation was integrally colored with a red pigment to be the finish interior floor.  We polished the surface to bring out a dust-free, bright, and lustrous surface that is a unique and beautiful finished floor.  Using this construction method saved money and minimized the use of energy-intensive concrete products.