05.21.21Announcements

Sierra Valley Preserve is Open for Visitors

After receiving a negative impact declaration and approval from Plumas County on our Special Use Permit application, the Feather River Land Trust officially opened the gates at the West Entrance to Sierra Valley Preserve, located near Beckwourth, California.  Featuring accessible parking, restrooms, seating and visitors kiosk the design fits comfortably in landscape while giving a nod to its ranching past. Popular for birding the entry provides trail access to 2,586 acres of unique wetlands habitat located on the Middle Fork of the Feather River.

02.18.21Announcements

ATA PISE Plaster Patching and Iron Sulphate Floor Stain Parties at Santa Rosa Fire Rebuild

Over the course of this past year ATA has convened its team (masked and socially distanced, of course) to add our labor to some of the natural building features of the Dicolen Residence, a strawbale rebuild project of the family’s original home lost to the Tubbs Fire in October 2017.  

12.18.20Announcements

Occidental Strawbale Residence Design Contributes to ATA Meeting 2030 Goals Again

For the past three years Arkin Tilt Architects—signatory to the AIA’s 2030 Commitment—has achieved at least 70% reductions in energy use across our portfolio of projects.  This year we add to the list a new residence for Jennifer Doudna and Jamie Cate in Occidental, California, a project featuring straw bale construction and earth masonry foundations and retaining walls, and shaped and oriented for peak passive solar heating as well as cooling.

11.07.20Announcements
arkin tilt bale

Bale Raising Time for Blue Dot Farm Garden Shed!

This workspace is aiming to be a low-carbon structure with straw bale walls, salvaged steel sash windows, and  a compacted gravel foundation with a concrete cap, cutting the carbon emissions of the foundation by about 70%. Kudos to Verdant Structural Engineers for developing this detail. Permitted last year, it is now  transforming into reality! Tim Weed led the musical entertainment with such classics as “Turkey in the Straw” and “Building for my World."

07.28.20Announcements

Emerging Ways to Build with Straw Published on Green Building Advisor

David Arkin wrote this article while participating on a ‘Climate Rise’ (a virtual version of the CASBA fundraising rides he’s been doing over the past several years).  As a co-Director of CASBA, this is one of the many ways we’re promoting the use of Carbon Storing Materials.  Fine Homebuilding’s online presence is a subscription service called Green Building Adisor, but you can click here for a PDF of the article.  

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