Straw Bale House with Escher GuneWardena is in the works!

Nous has teamed up with Escher GuneWardena Architecture on a new project that explores sustainable and innovative building methods, most notably straw bale construction. This method uses tightly packed straw bales for walls, offering excellent insulation, low cost, renewable sourcing, and surprising fire resistance. In this particular project, straw bale walls are coated with rough gunite—a type of sprayed concrete—to add strength, weather protection, and a unique texture. This combination of natural and modern materials presents interesting challenges for engineers, including managing moisture, ensuring structural integrity, and meeting fire and stringent seismic safety standards. The project is an exemplary example of how thoughtful design and engineering can work together to create beautiful, sustainable, and high-performance buildings.

Renderings courtesy of Escher GuneWardena Architecture