Inside the walls
A contemporary Wānaka cabin hides a surprise – an innovative straw bale system by StrawSIPs
Biddi Rowley
In a stunning locale beside the Clutha River in Wa ̄naka, a newly built cabin is a compact yet spatially rich home that showcases affordable, sustainable and high-quality architecture.
With a 30sqm footprint, it was designed and built by Charlotte Muschamp of Alki Design, using natural, untreated materials.
As a test of ideas, the project uses roofing, flooring and windows all reclaimed from local sheds and old houses; cladding and finishes are made of macrocarpa grown on Charlotte’s family farm in Southland. There’s a strong feeling of connection to the materials here, and a mix of movable and built-in furniture in multifunctional spaces means the home feels generous and adaptable.
Key to the build is StrawSIPs.
SIPs are structural insulated panels, prefabricated boards sandwiching a layer of insulation – often polystyrene. StrawSIPs, however, is an innovative, high-performance straw-timber system.
This timber and straw combination has been specially engineered for New Zealand buildings, with timber frames that support all structural loads and compressed straw that acts as a totally natural insulation.
The panels provide exceptional insulation, airtightness, breathability and air quality. They are one of the most sustainable and healthy building methods available, as well as allowing affordable and efficient construction of warm, dry and healthy homes.
The thick walls deliver natural insulation and are quiet, with a high degree of thermal stability, energy efficiency and comfort in winter and summer. Using natural clay and lime plasters on the interior adds a layer
of thermal mass to regulate the indoor temperature, with no VOC emissions.
StrawSIPs are biogenic and carbon- storing, contributing to a lower-impact construction industry.
The panels are prefabricated for rapid assembly, reducing on-site time and enabling precision construction even in remote or rural locations. The modular system means the range of types and sizes will suit almost any design and dimensions.
The simple construction method and fast assembly make them very cost-competitive with standard construction.
After working in the natural building industry and seeing the need for affordable, highly insulated, natural homes, StrawSIPs founder Stefan Warnaar brought modular straw panels to New Zealand as an option for anyone looking for an easy, efficient way to build with straw.
Modernising the age-old use of straw as insulation, the StrawSIPs factory is based in Central Otago, with the ability to manufacture and deliver to anywhere in New Zealand and offering help and guidance at any stage of the building process.
The StrawSIPS wall system is ideal for a modern home that balances performance, health, cost and climate responsibility. And with high-end, high-performance projects such as the Wa ̄naka cabin on the leading edge, StrawSIPS really has brought new meaning to the concept of a straw bale house.
