Design-Build

Deirdre is a licensed (BCIN) designer who delivers code compliant plans to get your project started and detail your build through to a smooth and successfull finish. Below is a list of buildings she designed and you can see pictures of them on the Gallery 2004 - 2010 page.

Typically Deirdre designs the buildings that Straworks Inc. builds or she acts as a consultant on a desgin team. Either way, we are almost always involved in the design of the buildings we work on. That way, problems are fixed on paper instead of on-site.

If your straw bale project is in central or eastern Ontario, is one storey and is 45 ft. x 60 ft. or less, we offer an engineered building sytem to fast-track your plans through to the permitting stage. To learn more about The Straworks Building System click here.

If your project doesn't fall within these parameters, we work with engineers to design the structure and stamp our drawings in order to meet the requirements of the Ontario Building Code.

Plans by Straworks Feature

Builder Details: Designs specialize in straw bale construction details based on 7 years of building experience on over 20 straw bale buildings.
Bale Dimensions: Buildings are designed to maximize ease of bale installation and thermal performance. The length and width of a building are divisible by 3 ft. (a bale length) such as 18 ft. x 24 ft. or 24 ft. x 30 ft. The height of the walls corresponds to bales stacked 5, 6 or 7 courses high. Window sizes and placement are designed so bales fit around them. This kind of planning saves hours of time and energy on site spent modifying bales to fit a frame that wasn't designed with them in mind. Furthermore, by avoiding cutting and knotching bales we are keeping them whole and allowing them to do what they do best--insulate our walls.
Passive Solar: Passive Solar design combined with straw bale walls, proper air sealing and high levels of insulation everywhere else, is an effective and smart way to live in a comfortable and nurturing space with low heating and cooling bills. This means the long side is on the east-west axis (facing south) and living spaces are grouped to the south. Calculations determine correct depth of overhangs based on the longitude and latitude of your site to maximize solar gain in the winter and minimize it in the summer. It's simple.
Design for Ontario's Climate: A building's shape should match its climate. A long thin building is harder to heat and cool than a square building of the same size. In Ontario, the long side of a building should be 1.1 to 1.3 times the length of the short side.
Team Based Design: The contractors who will work on the building and the engineer who will stamp the drawings, are included in the design process. As the old adage goes, it's easier to fix mistakes on paper.
Ecological Footprint: By employing several strategies, from efficient use of space to material selection and passive solar orientation, Straworks designs ultimately have a lighter ecological footprint than their conventional counterparts and that's why we're in the business.
Designed for your Budget: As a design-builder, we know what construction costs and are committed to designing a project that meets your budget.
Tailored to your Needs: Straworks designs balance using floor space space efficiently and meeting your needs comfortably.
Tailored to You: From organic and bulbous to Ontario's traditional farm houses, Straworks can design a straw bale house that's You! Chances are you know what you want and we can help you live it.

Straw Bale Buildings Designed by Deirdre McGahern

2011 - House, Browseville, Ontario

2011 - Carriage House, Norway Bay, Quebec

2010 - House, Howe Island, Ontario

2010 - House, Buckhorn, Ontario

2009 - Vegetable Barn, Greenwood Ontario

2009 - House, Mallory Town, Ontario

2008 - Cabin, Cavan Ontario (with Jen Feigin of Green Hammer)

2008 - Garden Shed, Stockdale, Ontario

2007 - Artist Studio, Warkworth, Ontario

2007 - Leslie's Cabin, Waldergrave Farm, Tatamagouche Nova Scotia

2007 - Workshop Shed, Stirling Ontario

2005 - Canteen Washroom Facility, Centre Hastings Skate Park, Madoc Ontario