You could also go "rammed earth" like Randy Bachman did for his studio, here on the Gulf Islands, and build something that will also last forever.
BTO Studio
I'd even suggest you call John Vrtacic of
Vrtacic Design. John had a hand in designing this studio, as well as many of the great studios here on the coast and even smaller project studios. His credits are fairly impressive. One thing about John, is he can work with almost any budget within reason. He's a very accommodating, helpful guy,even if just for some consultation.
Best of Luck. Should be fun
Quote:
Originally Posted by sirthought  Daniel,
I am by no means an expert on building homes, much less studios. But I recently have been watching a PBS series called "Building Green." The basic setup of the series is the host is building a home (huge - BTW) in California. Each episode covers building design and techniques and he goes out to various suppliers to highlight different products that are 'green' minded.
Anyhow, he's building a frame place, but it's all going up around bails of straw for the walls. It's pretty cool and amazingly affordable and energy efficient. Looks awesome too. You'd never think this is a straw-built house once it's finished. He shows how you can basically build about any structure with straw and because of how you finish the inside and outside it lasts forever!
I'm just thinking that since you're building from scratch, and cost is an issue, this might be something to seriously consider. It could reduce your cost on wood, insulation, etc. Plus you'd likely have a place that is easier to heat and cool, which would save on energy bills in the long run.
Some links you may find helpful. | StrawBale.com Straw bale construction | straw bale | straw bale houses | strawbale | straw bale homes Episode Four: Straw Bales | Building Green TV Short video with parts of the TV episode.
This might come from left field, but the show was inspiring to me. I've now been dreaming of the opportunity to do what you're doing now, but make it a straw built house with a rockin' studio!
Good luck and keep us updated in whatever you decide! |