You may be looking to take advantage of underutilized southern exposure and retain more of the sun’s warmth with a conventional remodel. You may want to live in a space that is surrounded by timbers, clay, and straw that is constructed in such an artful way that you find yourself enchanted with your surroundings. You may want to build a home that pushes the limits of efficiency. Whatever your drea
m may be, we would love to help you bring it to reality. Don Smith, the owner of SmithWorks Natural Homes, has been building in the Crested Butte area since 1990. For years, Smithworks has been collaborating with scientific experts from the University of Wisconsin to refine and perfect the clay/straw techniques, adapting age-old methods to modern building requirements and tastes. He has also worked for many years in affiliation with The Econest Company founded by Robert Laporte and Paula Baker-Laporte. Robert and Paula, a builder/architect team out of Ashland, Oregon, have developed the EcoNest home concept and co-authored EcoNest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries of Clay, Straw, and Timer, published by Gibbs Smith, 2005. Their homes have borrowed from several different traditions, namely Japanese and European timber framing and the clay straw techniques of Germany. Their marriage of different traditions have led to an innovative building method that we feel stands alone in beauty and natural harmony.
