Deflating the big bad wolf: Homeowner perceptions of straw bale construction in northern Arizona

Straw bale construction has attracted much interest in the search for sustainable housing solutions. In spite of prolific research and many publicized advantages of building with this material, no academic study has previously examined homeowner perceptions of straw bale housing. This study aimed to discover the dimensions of straw bale homeownership, and to examine concepts of house, home, and place, through the lens of environmental psychology. By personal interviews with current straw bale homeowners, I identified common themes of straw bale homeownership and explored the emotional connection to place and the development of home.;In the literature review portion of my study, I examined the work of prevalent straw bale researchers, including Chris Magwood, Peter Mack and Tina Therrien, Chris Walker, Bruce King, Catherine Wanek, Bill and Athena Steen, Clarke Snell and Tim Callahan, Ed Paschich and Jan Zimmerman, Paul Lacinski and Michel Bergeron, Nehemiah Stone, and several less prominent figures within the straw bale community. Referencing these authors I discussed widely accepted theories of straw bale construction, authoritative scientific findings on its viability as a building material, and the relevance of these to the homeownership experience.;Initial interview questions followed the structured-interview method of post-occupancy evaluation. This method allowed respondents to answer questions by self-selecting the content of their interview. Subsequent questions will remain open-ended so that responses may explore the unique experiences of each interviewee. All interviews have been transcribed, and I performed content analysis following the theories of Weber (1990), and Stemler (2001), in order to explore the dimensions of straw bale homeownership. By identifying these dimensions, my study helps to establish a connection between straw bale research and straw bale homeownership. Within the spectrum of the homeowner experience, this study will serve to identify strengths and weaknesses of straw bale construction from a previously underrepresented perspective.