Rare Forms Design/Build

03/30/2026

A few shots of the foundation progress at our Stockbridge project. A mixture of footings and piers pinned to ledge.

Hemlock timbers from coming soon, followed by our straw SIPS that are waiting in the shop🌾

Bonus on site waterfall for lunch breaks.

10/31/2025

This Halloween season, we hosted a BYOP (bring your own pumpkin) non-traditional tradies meet up in partership with in our straw panel manufacturing facility!

This was a casual and fun evening for women, trans, & non-binary folks in construction and trades to connect, share experiences, and build supportive community, while carving some epic pumpkin characters and scenes. Swipe all the way to the end to see an incredible representation of panel installation in pumpkin form, compliments of our very own Audra! 🎃🌾

04/25/2025

Join us Monday . Greg will be giving a public lecture on bio-based building materials, carbon-storing construction, and healthy housing solutions—exploring how the future of housing can help solve our climate crisis.

📍 In person at UMass Amherst
💻 Or join us virtually — Zoom link in bio!
🗓️ Monday, April 28
🕓 Free + open to the public

Whether you're in the AEC industry or just curious about how materials like straw and wood can shape a healthier future, we'd love to see you there!

12/27/2024

Behind the scenes of a high-performance transformation: Our Williamsburg retrofit and addition project is all about upgrading the old while building for the future! 🛠️✨

This process-first project showcases how we’re turning an aging home into a comfortable, energy-efficient space while keeping waste out of the landfill. Here’s how we did it:

🔨 Removed the aging siding to prepare for upgrades
🛡️ Air sealed from the exterior for improved energy performance
🌲 Added wood fiber insulation to boost thermal efficiency and sustainability
🌬️ Installed rain screen strapping to promote ventilation and drying, ensuring a durable envelope
🪚 Re-siding and re-trimming the exterior for a fresh, modern look

By upgrading instead of rebuilding, we’re lowering energy use, improving comfort, and supporting a healthier indoor environment—all while retaining the character of the original structure.

This is what the future of retrofitting looks like: smarter, greener, and better for everyone. 🌱

11/14/2024

Some welcome publicity of our efforts this week!

EASTHAMPTON — Walking into the Rare Forms workshop, you’ll find items typical of any design build company, such as tools, wooden planks and other construction materials. But the first thing that will catch your eye are dozens of bales of straw,...

10/08/2024

Tomorrow is the day!

We hope you can join us for good company and good times learning about locally manufactured carbon storing buildings!

Link in bio for more info and RSVP.

09/23/2024

Please join us to celebrate the official opening of our SEED Panel manufacturing shop in Easthampton, MA!

After two years of hard work, our team is proud to launch a new era of carbon-storing, healthy homes in Southern New England. SEED Panels combine high performance, natural building, and offsite construction—paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Join us for shop tours where you’ll learn firsthand how we create straw-insulated structural panels and see completed panels up close. Guided tours will walk you through each step of the process.

Enjoy delicious crepes from Crêpes Nanou and sample craft brews from Abandoned Building Brewery as we celebrate this exciting milestone.

Link in bio for more details and to RSVP for a chance to win Rare Forms swag!

09/14/2024

Teamwork makes the environmental dream work! 💪

Today, the RF team came together to clean up the Connecticut River in Hatfield, MA, as part of the Source To Sea Cleanup. Together, we removed 2,000 pounds of trash from the riverbanks! A huge shoutout to Valley Recycling for supporting this mission and helping us make a positive impact. 🌍

Every effort counts when it comes to protecting our waterways and environment. Cheers to making a difference, one cleanup at a time! 🥂

08/25/2024

A Major Milestone: Our First SEED Panels Are Here! 🌾

This week marks a significant moment for us at Rare Forms — our first full week of SEED Panel production! These panels are the cornerstone of our commitment to sustainable, high-performance building.

Matt, our production supervisor, has been hands-on in making this dream a reality. Here, he’s putting the finishing touches on one of our first SEED Panels, carefully trimming the straw to perfection. Matt’s dedication and expertise are a huge part of why these panels are coming to life.

SEED Panels represent more than just innovation; they’re about building a future where our homes are healthier for both the people who live in them and the planet they’re built on. We couldn’t be more proud of this first batch, and we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable construction.

Here’s to many more weeks of production and the countless homes that will benefit from straw panels! 🌱

08/15/2024

Achieving a HERS rating isn't just about numbers—it's about accountability and ensuring every promise we make about performance and energy efficiency is verified by a trusted third party. helps us stay on track from start to finish, from initial projections to final inspections, including a final blower door test and equipment check.

This home is a testament to what's possible when you combine high-performance building practices with a modest, roof-mounted solar array. The result? A NET POSITIVE energy home that's ready to give more than it takes. 🌱

While single-family homes won't solve the climate crisis, housing is a necessity. So, if we must build, let's do it right—for the health of the occupants, the resilience of the community, and the sustainability of our planet.

We're proud to push the envelope and set new standards for what housing can and should be. Cheers to building better homes for a better future! 🏡

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07/23/2024

Coming into the final days of this new home in Northampton.

Our first modular build with , this home hits all of our typical performance targets for health, efficiency, and resiliency. Looking forward to sharing some finished photos soon!

05/21/2024

BIG NEWS! These beautiful rolling fields of rye on the banks of the Connecticut River will soon be transformed into carbon storing insulation in our straw panels!

We have been collaborating with as a SEED manufacturer to leverage the year's important work they have done on carbon storing building systems into a major shift for Rare Forms. Beginning in June (so soon!!) we'll be manufacturing panels in our new 4500sf shop in Easthampton, MA.

We are beyond excited to finally share this news. So much work has gone into this project, and it's just the beginning.

Reach out to learn more. We're starting to book projects for 2025, but also have room for one or two more in 2024.

HEALTHY, EFFICIENT, CARBON STORING HOMES FOR ALL!