There are many pieces of interesting architecture in our community, some of which I was reminded of after reading Amy Penne’s preview of what is to come in the arts this month. Mid-Continent Modern is being celebrated at Krannert Art Museum this week, a project which took a look at the Erlanger House in Urbana, just one of many mid-century homes. You don’t have to look around too much to find other interesting home projects in Urbana, and while this one is a bit different than something like Erlanger, I was lead to the Urbana Straw Bale House. This house, located at 605 East Main Street in Urbana, was awarded Traditional Construction Heritage Award by PACA a few years back. This is just one of many that is new to me, so I thought it would be worth a share.
New Prairie Construction’s talks a little more about the house on their website (linked above):
This lovely stuccoed and plastered house boasts many unique features in addition to its straw bale building blocks. Sustainably-harvested wild cherry windowsills, century-old salvaged maple flooring, and gorgeous panel doors from the University of Illinois’ Harker Hall make for a beautiful and environmentally-friendly home. Lime plaster and clay paint softly enhance the organic shape of the bale walls.
