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Jago Strawbale House
A home designed and built entirely from natural materials, offering energy-efficient performance, a healthy living environment, and a strong commitment to sustainability.
LOCATION
Verona, Italy
TYPE
Residential
YEAR
2015
STATUS
Complete
PROJECT OVERVIEW
A self-sufficient home in the Valpolicella hills
The project originated from the client's desire to create a home perfectly tailored to their needs, both in size and functionality, and with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. The result is a compact, highly efficient residence designed for a small family of two to three people, situated in the hills of Valpolicella near Verona, Italy. Nestled beside an existing pool and oriented toward a stunning vista of the valley and its vineyards, the house embraces both its landscape and its climate.
01 — Layout
Framed by the valley
The floor plan features an open-plan living area and kitchen, anchored by a large window framing views of the pool and surrounding hills. The private zone includes a master bedroom, a single bedroom and a bathroom. Each room has been thoughtfully positioned to maximise passive solar gains in winter and encourage natural cross-ventilation through the summer months, reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling.
02 — Construction
Built from straw, stone and lime
The chosen construction system is based on a modular timber frame infilled with straw bales — selected for its exceptional sustainability credentials, outstanding insulating properties, and the opportunity to drastically reduce operational energy use. All coatings and foundation elements are made exclusively from natural materials such as stone, lime and clay, eliminating concrete entirely and keeping metal and plastic to an absolute minimum. The double-pitched roof, also insulated with straw bales, carries photovoltaic panels on its south-facing slope, while the north side is finished with a sedum green roof to further enhance thermal performance and ecological value.
03 — Energy
Largely off the grid
The high thermal performance of the straw envelope ensures the house requires minimal energy for heating, contributing to year-round comfort with very low running costs. A 6 kW south-facing photovoltaic system, paired with a battery storage unit, enables the home to operate independently from the electricity grid for most of the year. This strategy supports the project's overarching goal: to create a home that is not only environmentally responsible in its materiality but also largely self-sufficient in energy use.