From Field to Form: Straw

A group of experts discuss the use of straw as a building material.

Straw is an agricultural by-product from the harvest of grains, and it sequesters carbon as it grows in the stalk and the soil. Using straw for building utilizes waste from food production, which otherwise may be burned and release carbon into the atmosphere.

Straw has been used as a building material for over a century in the U.S., revived in the 1980s, and has been included in the International Residential Code since 2015. Its benefits are numerous. As a wall system with clay and lime plasters, it effectively manages moisture in walls and is naturally fire resistant, avoiding the need for toxic flame retardant chemicals. It contains no petrochemicals, is energy efficient, and the material is relatively inexpensive.

What will it take to accelerate the use of straw for buildings? Can we address our housing crisis with straw? How can we accelerate the adoption of straw for urban building fabric? What are the unique opportunities for designing with straw?

Organized in partnership with Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design, From Field to Form: Straw will explore these questions with a panel of experts.

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