Organicforms Design

Hello everyone! Introducing the newest design for the website. The Picacho Peak.

The Picacho Peak blends modern architectural style with passive solar efficiency for a home that feels timeless and sustainable. At 2711 square feet, this 3 bedroom plus/2-1/2 bath, opens into a vaulted living and dining space filled with natural light from high clerestory windows. A spacious kitchen with a large island anchors the open layout, complemented by a walk-in pantry and generous laundry and utility room with exterior access. A half bath and coat closet near the entry add everyday convenience.

The west wing features an ante-room office leading to a private master suite with vaulted ceilings, clerestory windows, a walk-in closet, and a spa-style bath with dual sinks, walk-in shower, soaking tub, and private water closet. The east wing includes two vaulted bedrooms—each with walk-in closets—a shared bath with double sinks, and a flexible family or game room that can serve as a fourth bedroom.

Designed for spacious living within a modest footprint, The Picacho Peak balances comfort, efficiency, and style. Expansive covered porches at the front and back create seamless indoor–outdoor living, with the rear larch-covered patio ideal for sunset dining. Thoughtfully planned and beautifully proportioned, this design celebrates simplicity, functionality, and a relaxed, connected lifestyle. This design was originally designed for straw bale but could easily be converted to ICF or conventional construction. Built on a durable slab foundation, it can also adapt easily to a framed floor system. Check out my website for more info! www.organicformsdesign.com Thanks for visiting!

Hi everyone! Earlier this spring, I was invited by a group of faculty at the University of Utah to take part in a pretty exciting project. They launched a course and research initiative centered around building eight small cabins (15' x 13'—about 200 sq. ft.) using a variety of low-carbon construction methods like straw bale, rammed earth, adobe, cob, and hempcrete.

Each cabin will be identical in size and design, built by students and faculty to compare the different techniques. My role was to create the construction plans for the straw bale cabin—and I’m thrilled to share that they’re well underway!

Construction kicked off this summer, and I just received some progress photos: the straw bale walls are up, and the team is moving on to the roof, which will be a low-pitched Dutch gable. After that, plastering begins.

I’ll keep sharing updates as the project continues—thanks for following along!

Introducing the "Alpine Family" design. This home was inspired by a beautiful family that was needing a balanced and a spacious home with a small footprint, prioritizing comfort, functionality, and efficient use of space. The main level features a vaulted dining room filled with natural light, a south-facing living room that opens to a wrap-around porch, and a functional kitchen with a pantry and sitting bar leading to a trellised patio for outdoor dining. The master suite includes two closets, a soaking tub, and private patio access for a retreat-like atmosphere. Upstairs, a family room and three large bedrooms share a spacious bathroom with double sinks and a convenient laundry chute. Designed for gathering and privacy alike, the home emphasizes cozy, flexible living with porches and patios that extend the living space outdoors. Built on a durable slab foundation (with the option for a framed floor), it’s ideal for a growing family seeking both simplicity and connection.

For more information, check out my website at www.organicformsdesign.com

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Here's one of my latest projects. Some folks out in Tennessee contacted me and wanted to wrap their timber frame structure with straw bales. We had to start from scratch so we began by building an insulated footing around the building to support the bale walls. From there I designed a window and door framing system that held the bale wall, and connected it to the timber frame, and ready for plaster.

More and more I have folks that are interested in building straw bale homes with exposed timber frame. It's a beautiful way to build where you can see the structure and have it integrate into the functionality of the building.

Check out my website for more buildings like this one. Thanks for looking.

https://www.organicformsdesign.com/plans-for-sale

The Willamette — Organicforms Design This modern design is a three bedroom plus office and two bath has a vaulted living room. Large windows and south facing clerestory windows bring natural light passive solar design. The bedrooms are separated within their own wings for privacy. A Master bedroom suite and separate office on one s

https://www.organicformsdesign.com/plans-for-sale

The Sonoran Mesa — Organicforms Design This low profile straw bale home is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin West. It is a very simple 2 bedroom straw bale home that sits low on the land and blends in with it's surroundings. Large windows throughout bring the outside in, for a full experience of the surroundings.

https://www.organicformsdesign.com/plans-for-sale

The Columbia — Organicforms Design farmhouse design with two full bedrooms and large front porch. Large fireplace with vaulted ceilings in the living room and kitchen and dining room with eating bar.

https://www.organicformsdesign.com/plans-for-sale

The Olympic Isle — Organicforms Design A super cost efficient ranch style straw bale home with shed roof. Two bedrooms and a full bath with a central kitchen with an island and bar seating opens to a living room that is blasted with natural light from the large windows on the south side that bring the inside out and the outside in.

https://www.organicformsdesign.com/plans-for-sale

The Cascade Cottage — Organicforms Design Modern and energy efficient straw bale 2 bedroom with additional sleeping loft and 1 full bathroom and utility room with lime plaster and clerestory windows spacious kitchen and living room and laundry area

https://www.organicformsdesign.com/plans-for-sale

The Sierra Verde — Organicforms Design A simple two bedroom, one bath home has high vaulted ceilings, large south facing windows perfect for passive solar friendly building sites. Modifiable and flexible floor plan allows customizations to fit your lifestyle. Outdoor patio and large windows brings the outside in and the inside out.

https://www.organicformsdesign.com/plans-for-sale

The Desert Sunset — Organicforms Design straw bale home with wrap around porch and clerestory windows for natural light. 1 master bedroom and full bath with additional sleeping loft that can be converted into 2nd bedroom. Spiral staircase and large spacious kitchen and living room. Utility closet for solar batteries and radiant floor h