Hemp-Lime Construction

The use of Hemp-Lime construction is growing in use as a more environmentally friendly choice for construction. Hemp is carbon sequestering and lime is a lower embodied carbon and breathable alternative to ordinary portland cement (OPC).  Therefore, when combined with other sustainable choices for foundation and roof construction and finishes, a low to no carbon building that has a breathable and healthy environment can be acheived.

 

Another benefit is that if used where there is naturally occuring limestone or chalk, and hemp can be grown, a truely ecological approach of building can be used which is to build with materials from the site.

 

Some good examples from recent years:

This is Clay Fields development in Suffolk designed by Riches Hawly Mikhail Architects and Buro Happold Engineers, for Orwell Housing Association. Hemp-Lime sprayed onto Timber Frame with permenent internal sheathing. Source: Case Study Sheet from: limetechnology, Tradical, hemcrete. CaseStudy: Orwell Housig Association availiable from: http://www.limetechnology.co.uk

The Triangle housing development by Hab Oakus developers, designed by Glenn Howells, built by Willmott Dixon in Swindon, Wiltshire. Hemp-lime compacted within temporary shuttering onto timber frame. OPC content reducing ecological credentials. Source: University of Bath, EPSRC and BRE, Hemp-Lime, The Triangle, Low Impact Materials: Case Study H, May 2011, availiable from BRE online.

Seven Storey Office buildig, timber frame with hemp-lime blocks in Clermot Ferrad. Source: Bevan, R. & Wooley, T., 2008. Hemp Lime Construction, A Guide to building with hemp lime composites, Bracknell: IHS BRE Press.
 

Hemp-Lime Spray onto Timber Frame at th WISE building at C.A.T. This building succesfully used a number of ecologically minded and mostly natural materials to create a living ad studying space of outstanding architectural quality. Source: http://info.cat.org.uk/questions/wise/how-were-natural-insulation-materials-hemp-cellulose-and-cork-used-wise

 

A few construction details for hemp-lime construction:

More information and useful links:

http://www.answers.com/topic/hemp
http://info.cat.org.uk
http://www.greenspec.co.uk/cement-substitutes.php
http://www.hemptechnology.co.uk
http://ecoswitch.com/eco-build/eco-build-directory-1c-lime-as-building-material/
http://www.natureproinsulation.co.uk/hemp.htm
http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAAwards/Winners2011/Wales/WISEBuilding/WISEBuilding.aspx
http://limecrete.net/http://www.brebookshop.com/samples/321427.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r10SmYkXVQE
http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/pdf/projects/low_impact_materials/IP14_11.pdf
http://www.lhoist.co.uk/tradical/hemp-lime.html

http://www.backtoearth.co.uk/downloads/hemcrete_detailed.pdf

http://gse.cat.org.uk/hemp-building-research

developing the Digbeth Digital Gateway project

Beginning this urban renewal project by aiming to create an architecture that connects existing open loops and acts as the processor between resources at site and brief needs.

 

 

Re-connecting green and blue routes through the city

Inital plan breakdown of built entity.

Evolving an approach to architecture. What should the goal of ecological architecture be?

Exploring timber structures for hemp and lime construction through models.