Ricehouse's Casa LH: A Piedmont Retreat Built from Rice Waste

Italian practice Ricehouse, founded in 2016 by architect Tiziana Monterisi and geologist Alessio Colombo, has been featured in the Wallpaper* Architects' Directory 2026. The company specializes in transforming rice production by-products—husk, straw, and other agricultural residues—into natural building materials. Their product range includes thermal insulating plasters, lightweight screeds, and prefabricated panels, all designed for breathability, durability, and thermal regulation, with end-of-life recyclability. Their architectural approach is rooted in a biological and territorial system, giving new value to waste materials. Casa LH, their latest project, is a single-story house in Piedmont, Italy, set within natural parkland. The house uses rice waste insulation between prefabricated fir panel walls, bamboo decking externally, and oak furnishings internally. A mechanical ventilation system handles heating and cooling, while triple-glazed windows with low-emissivity coating are predominantly on the south elevation. The garden roof aids thermal regulation and biodiversity, with existing wisteria providing natural shading that dies back in winter for passive solar gain. The Wallpaper* Architects' Directory, now in its 25th edition, celebrates emerging architectural talent, with this year's survey featuring 30 studios from around the world, including Italy.