Abstract: A composite wall system that uses fiber bales or other quasi-structural building blocks in conjunction with a bracing system that stabilizes vertical rods to create columns capable of transferring the gravity compressive loads on the wall to the foundation. Rod columns are installed vertically along a line between the inside and outside faces of the wall. The rods extend from a foundation at the bottom end to a header at the top end. The rods are operatively connected to trusses or beams integrated into the layers of bales. The trusses or beams braces and thereby immobilizes the rods in all horizontal directions at every bale interface.

Abstract: Straw bales are used in conjunction with a skeletal framework to form various structurally stable building components such as walls and floors. Straw bales and horizontal trussing members are combined to form a truss. The truss has of a pair of trussing members operatively connected to one or more bales. The trussing members, which are positioned opposite one another along the edges of the bale, form the chords of the truss. The bales form the web of the truss. The trussing members are one of the basic components of the skeletal framework used to construct the various composite structures embodying the invention. In the composite structures, straw bales are arranged in layers within a skeletal framework. The skeletal framework includes the trussing members and a series of rods positioned along the center line of the layered bales. The trussing members in each pair are positioned opposite one another along the edges of the bales at the interfaces between the layers of bales.