Build with Nature

The StrawSIPS construction system delivers a healthy, sustainable home with outstanding energy efficiency and thermal performance.

StrawSIPS straw-timber panel system

A revolutionary way to build a natural, healthy and energy efficient home.

StrawSIP panels are a high performance, straw-timber system that allows for affordable and fast construction of warm, dry and healthy homes.

What are StrawSIP panels?

SIP is an abbreviation for Structural Insulated Panel. Our SIP structure and system is totally different to what is commonly thought of as a SIP (polystyrene and plywood/OSB).

StrawSIPs are are unique timber frame structure with compressed straw within the timber frame. The timber frame is engineered to do all of the structural load bearing and bracing, and the straw acts as the insulation.

The result is a strong, durable and highly insulating panel that is modular, efficient and ensures all the benefits of building with straw are retained.

The design, engineering, consent and building process with StrawSIPs is straightforward and easy to understand.

What can be designed and built with StrawSIPs?

Almost any type of home can be built with StrawSIPs panels as the system is modular, flexible and integrates well with most other building methods and materials. It is possible to design anything from a modern, minimalistic home with clean, straight lines to a rustic, traditional cottage with curves, undulations and raw materials. The starting point is the same and as long as the overall design details for the walls are followed then you can be creative and design the home that you want.

Benefits of StrawSIPs

  • Super Insulated and Energy Efficient

    The overall R value of the wall structure is above R6.0 with almost no thermal bridges through the wall. Coupled with an airtight construction, high thermal mass from internal clay plaster, and a large thermal lag from the thick straw walls and the overall energy efficiency of StrawSIP homes one of the best systems available and suitable for Passive house designs.

  • Built with Natural, Renewable and Sustainable Materials

    Barley or wheat straw from local farms is collected directly off the fields in Central Otago.

    Locally grown Macrocarpa timber from the Catlins is used for the framing timber. Untreated and naturally durable to H3 the heartwood makes the ideal timber for a natural, healthy home.

    Natural plasters, natural paints, wool insulation, NZ timbers and more complement StrawSIPs perfectly.

  • Exceptional Indoor Air Quality

    Clay plaster is the ideal internal wall lining material for creating amazing air quality within your house. Clay is able to regulate humidity, absorb odours and toxins out of the air.

    We use materials with no or very low VOCs (Volatile Organic Components) which are so common with other buildings built with glues, paints, petroleum products etc.

  • Precise and consistent prefabrication

    All StrawSIPs panels are manufactured in our factory in Alexandra, Central Otago under dry conditions. We use custom hydraulic presses, saws, and other machinery to produce precise and consistent panels every time. All panels are quality checked before during construction to ensure that they are the correct specification for the design and within the required tolerances.

  • Affordable and easy to build with

    StrawSIPs are supplied at a fixed price that is affordable for any budget, and especially affordable compared to traditional strawbale construction methods due to the massive reduction in manual labour required.

    The panels are essentially like large blocks of LEGO and installation is straightforward with easy to follow instructions and details. Only a few types of screws and simple tools are used to put together all of the panels for a house in a couple of days.

  • Fire and Earthquake Resistant

    Despite the common belief that straw will easily burn, tests have shown that it smolders and chars on the outside, but due to the density of the straw, high silica content, and lack of oxygen it is difficult to burn quickly.

    The timber frame structure, like most timber frame buildings, is engineered to perform well in earthquakes. The latest NZ standards are met and the double timber frame and plywood bracing provides a strong, yet flexible structure to resist earthquakes.

Assembled with ease.

The assembly of our panels on site is straightforward, fast and possible for any builder in NZ. The panels are all screwed together and screwed to the floor/foundation. You can have all of your walls standing and protected within a few days.