Los Ranchos, 1996

Professional Office Space

In 1995 we were approached by friends who, along with two other professional couples, wanted to construct an office building on a small site in Los Ranchos, New Mexico. During the design phase we identified the requirements of a psychiatrist, two psychologists and a certified Rolfer. Our clients' goals focused on the qualities of beauty, privacy, and green building.

For this project we procured the first state permit for the construction of a commercial straw bale professional office. We maximized the interior space of the office, as well as its overall insulation, by building the exterior walls out of straw bales. For the interior, we recommended adobe walls for privacy between offices and frame walls for partitions, as interior straw bale walls would have decreased the square footage. For finishing, we stuccoed the exterior walls and plastered the rest.

The decision to go with straw bale construction on this project allowed our clients a very private office experience even though the building itself was just feet from a busy street. Furthermore, the integration of adobe, plaster and brick satisfied the requirements of the local architecture. This cozy and energy efficient building has been known to comfort and console.

Clients: Drs. Tom and Linda Holley

Location: 1100 Alameda NW, Albuquerque, NM