designboom · Creativity & design

LTL Architects Develops All Straw House Using Compressed Straw Boards

LTL Architects, in collaboration with Guy Nordenson and Associates and Princeton University, has created a prototype residence in New York utilizing highly compacted straw boards as a complete structural building system.

Prefabricated over two months, the house is assembled from 16 large straw units. The compressed straw, at approximately 370 kilograms per cubic meter, serves as structure, insulation, and interior finish, exceeding the density of conventional straw bales. This approach exposes 111 layers of straw internally, with wood ring beams providing lateral stability, eliminating the need for separate interior finishes.

The exterior features a rainscreen made of 33 prefabricated thatch panels, overlapping to create a continuous, textured surface. This combination of compressed straw and thatch unifies the building into a single material system.

The house's geometry is dictated by the material constraints of the straw panels and the drainage requirements of the thatched roof. Exposed straw layers and timber ring beams visibly communicate the construction logic and structural organization.

The project functions as a research dwelling, exploring a contemporary building system based on straw's properties. Prefabrication ensures efficient assembly, and the exposed material reduces the number of components typically needed for a wall.

The research involved a team of Princeton student researchers, with support from university sustainability and architecture funds. Materials used include Durra Panel and thatch, with tadelakt plaster applied directly to straw for waterproof backsplashes.

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