Masterstudio: The Architect changemaker Semester 1
Christoph Güttl





Once utilized in construction, the straw bale, forgotten amid technological and scientific advancements, has now been rediscovered. Widely available as an underused material with the potential of closing waste streams and storing carbon. It is presented as a simple unit, left in 0.90m x 1.20m x 1.80m blocks, cut to length, shaped into stairs, or pretensioned for ceilings. The manipulations are highlighted by consistently using a different colored twine. A single massive wall captures the essence of these large straw bales, featuring only small openings and spaces in between. Visual senses are suppressed by darkness, allowing other senses like smell, touch, and noise to come into play.