PÕHULA(va) Straw Installation by 1+X – A Circular, Biogenic Pavilion for the Paide Opinion Festival

The PÕHULA(va) Installation, designed by the Estonian architectural collective 1+X, is an innovative straw-based pavilion built for the Paide Opinion Festival’s Energetic Economy Area in 2024. Located in Paide, Estonia, the 46 m² structure combines experimental design, sustainable thinking, and hands-on craftsmanship, showcasing how natural materials can shape contemporary spatial experiences.

Its name—PÕHULA(va)—is a fusion of the Estonian words põhk (“straw”) and lava (“stage”). Translated as “straw stage”, it perfectly describes the project’s identity as a multifunctional open-air venue. More than a performance platform, the installation operates as a gallery, pavilion, classroom, and communal gathering space, encouraging visitors to slow down, interact, and experience architecture through sight, smell, and touch.

A Prototype from 15 Months of Research

PÕHULA(va) represents the culmination of a 15-month research project conducted by 1+X into the architectural potential of straw as a biogenic building material. Developed as a prototype for the group’s prefabricated straw panel system, the installation demonstrates how organic construction materials can enter mainstream architectural practice.

The pavilion’s golden straw exterior immediately draws attention from a distance. Its warm surfaces invite visitors to explore, offering a sensory encounter with natural materials rarely highlighted in contemporary installations. Inside, the structure is divided into distinct zones:

• a central stage for talks and performances,
• a discussion and seating area, and
• a project exhibition zone featuring fabric panels, books, and video projections documenting the research journey.

Open, Light-Filled and Connected to the Landscape

Designed with open sides and a translucent roof, the structure feels airy and transparent, allowing natural light to filter through and creating fluid connections between the stage and surrounding park. Two straw-free panels act as framed windows, offering a curated view toward Paide Hill and reinforcing the installation’s relationship to place.

The structure is built entirely from timber-framed, straw-filled prefabricated panels, produced in nearby Hobukooli Park. Once assembled on-site, a lightweight roof and straw-bale seating elements completed the pavilion. The use of biogenic materials reinforces a commitment to circular design—structures that decompose harmlessly, return to nature, or are reused in new constructions.

Building Knowledge Through Making

The construction process became an educational experience for the young architects of 1+X, who gained first-hand insights into working with natural materials and prefabrication methods. The project emphasizes how material research, experimental building, and environmental responsibility can converge to shape the future of architecture.

A documentary video captured the assembly process, revealing the collaborative nature of the project and the team’s reflections on ecological construction, circular economies, and the evolving role of architects in sustainable development.

PÕHULA(va) stands as a powerful example of how straw—a humble, ancient material—can inspire new architectural narratives. Blending research, craftsmanship, and festival culture, the installation demonstrates how temporary structures can spark meaningful dialogues about sustainability, community, and the future of building.

All photographs are works of Evert Palmets