Straw
An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about straw
Product • By Clayworks • Clayworks Arakabe Finish
Clayworks Arakabe Finish
Our Arakabe style finishes pay thoughtful tribute to the traditional Japanese plastering technique of the same name, where straw is integrated into the clay for greater flexibility, strength and moisture resistance. Bespoke variations include Long Straw, Short Straw and Heavy Straw. More
News • Specification • 2 May 2024
10 homes making use of straw bale construction and insulation
Straw has a long history as a building material, finding application in thatch roofs, as a binding agent in adobe bricks, as an insulant, and in straw bale construction.
It is increasingly recognized that the construction sector plays a huge role in contributing to the climate emergency, accounting for 37 percent of global carbon emissions. Straw, a renewable, recyclable, regionally available, and low-cost material, offers a climate-friendly alternative to conventional building materials such as concrete and steel. A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (2023) highlights that the annual supply of bamboo and straw, two fast-growing and renewable biomass resources, outweighs demand. The report calls attention to th... More
News • News • 3 Aug 2023
Tane Garden House serves as a symbol of sustainability on Vitra Campus
A new construction on the Weil am Rhein campus of Swiss family-owned furniture company Vitra has been unveiled. The Tane Garden House, designed by Japanese architect Tsuyoshi Tane of Paris-based Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects, is a modest dwelling, a thatched hut raised on squat stone legs.
Vitra
The idea for a garden house emerged when Tsuyoshi Tane accompanied Rolf Fehlbaum (Chairman Emeritus of Vitra) on a drive around Weil am Rhein (a suburb of Basel). Recounting memories of his childhood and the fields on which Vitra Campus sits today, Fehlbaum discussed how he was planning on including nature in the campus’s next phase of development. Tane recalls Fehlbaum asking: “Would you be interested in designing a garden... More
Project • By Outpost • Private Houses
Strawbale Meeting Room
Straw Meeting Room
The project is a self build small meeting room built as a load bearing straw bale building with lime exterior and interior finishes. The outside has been painted by an artist friend and collaborator Cecilia Sjoholm.
The design is a simple cube with a free floating metal roof above the straw insulated cube. The idea behind the project was for the studio to test and gain first hand knowledge of building with natural building materials. Straw sequesters carbon, is biodegradable, highly insulating, hygroscopic and highly available local building material in the UK. Its fun to work with and as we have proven anyone can do it.
We see an urgent need for the whole industry to revaluate our standard practices in the face of cli... More
News • News • 23 Dec 2020
The future of architecture through 10 biobased materials
As more architects, and their clients, prioritize sustainability goals and the connection to site and history, biobased materials are being more frequently used to create buildings around the globe. These materials, viewed through the lens of contemporary architecture, are creating distinctive structures that lean on the past but are decidedly of the moment. From timber frames to biobased plastics, these elements are creating new spaces that will help define the trajectory of architecture for years to come. Encompassing exhibition spaces, private homes, and more, 10 examples show us where this attention to natural materials may take architecture in the coming decades.
Matthew Millman
1. Earth - House of Earth and Sky by Ai... More
News • Innovations • 23 Dec 2019
Henning Larsen is testing applications for the use of straw in their projects
International architecture firm Henning Larsen recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. But they haven’t stopped innovating, including in regard to their commitment to environmental responsibility. From schools to municipal facilities, their forward-thinking practice considers how buildings can incorporate sustainable solutions into a project’s design.
Feldballe Skole sketch, courtesey of Henning Larsen
Since using organic materials is part of reaching toward sustainability, Henning Larsen is gathering knowledge and testing applications for the use of straw in their projects. Believing we need to rethink our use of building materials, the firm is incorporating straw into a 270-square-meter extension to Feldballe S... More