Froggy Bottom – Otago

The Froggy Bottom project marks a significant milestone for Hiberna Modular.
As the first full-scale home built using our structural panels, this project was an exciting step. 

Our client initially envisioned a traditional strawbale home after completing a self-build course. However, after discussions with our team, they made the bold decision to be early adopters of our modular system—embracing a more efficient, prefabricated approach that maintains the thermal and environmental benefits of strawbale construction. We extend huge appreciation to them for taking this step with us.

To meet the brief of a ‘modern yet rustic’ home with low environmental impact and minimal maintenance, the walls were constructed using Hiberna Modular panels, finished externally with a skim coat of earth lime plaster. This not only enhances moisture resistance and fire protection—a well-known benefit of tightly compressed straw—but also contributes to airtightness and durability.

The structure also includes 60mm fibreboard insulation and a vapour-permeable airtight membrane beneath the cladding, ensuring breathability and reducing moisture risks, especially when combined with mechanical ventilation. Sustainable Engineering’s hygrothermal modelling confirmed the resilience of this build-up under challenging conditions.

As with any first-of-its-kind project, Froggy Bottom provided valuable insights.

Despite some challenges, the final home demonstrates the effectiveness of Hiberna Modular’s panellised approach. With interior clay plaster finishes that complement the natural materials, the home offers both beauty and high-performance insulation—proving that straw structural panels are a viable, scalable construction product.

This house sits on a picturesque rural site, surrounded by regenerating bush with a pond at the foot of the property—an inspiration for its name. Through a harsh Otago winter, the owners have been delighted by the warmth and comfort of their new home.