Hemp | Tag | ArchDaily

The Past, Present, and Future of Hemp in Construction

August 13, 2024

Cannabis has been widely used throughout human history for a variety of purposes: textiles, paper, food, medicine, biofuels, and even as a stigmatized recreational drug. Considered one of the first plants cultivated by humanity, its history spans millennia and often intertwines with the world of construction. Hemp, a variety of cannabis, has been an essential material in construction history, widely used for its exceptional strength and versatility in various applications, such as fiber production for reinforcement, thermal and acoustic insulation, and as a sustainable alternative in construction processes.

Natural Touch: Biomaterials in Interior Coatings

December 07, 2023

Amid the ongoing environmental crisis, bioeconomy has gained significance across different domains, particularly in the construction sector, where efforts there is a push to enhance sustainability. This shift in mindset has also influenced the realm of interior architecture. With a growing awareness of climate change and the imperative to protect our planet, architects and designers are increasingly embracing biomaterials. The result is the creation of spaces that not only captivate visually but also demonstrate a proactive commitment to the environment.

+ 8

BASE Studio Reveals the Constructive, Structural, and Aesthetic Capabilities of Colihue Cane

October 04, 2023

Innovation in materials and construction systems has been a significant theme in 2023, and BASE Studio has decided to surprise us with a new material configuration that showcases the mechanical and aesthetic capabilities of Colihue. Alongside this proposal, innovative ideas for habitable projects have been generated, setting them apart from others through a distinctive spatial morphology created within a rigid perimeter of arches that inscribe a paraboloidal surface.

Mapping the Future of Hemp Architecture and Construction Materials: Revolutionizing the Industry

July 10, 2023

In recent years, the spotlight on sustainable, eco-friendly, and low-carbon materials has intensified across the architecture industry. Amid this interest, a renaissance of hemp architecture is gradually gaining momentum on a global scale. Hemp-based materials have emerged as a favorable alternative to traditional industrialized materials, presenting a multitude of benefits that could revolutionize the construction industry. Despite its vast promise, several hurdles obstruct the widespread adoption of hemp, inhibiting its transformative potential in the construction industry.

What Happens If Hempcrete Catches Fire?

August 31, 2021

Every time we publish an article about Hempcrete, we get a lot of comments on social media - with a certain level of irony - about what would happen if the material caught fire. This is actually a legitimate question, as there is still a lot of confusion about the differences between marijuana and hemp, both of which come from the same plant species (Cannabis Sativa). But while marijuana has psychoactive effects due to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), mainly present in the flowers of the plant, hemp-based building materials are produced from its stem, which contains small amounts of THC. To quickly answer the title question: no, the building won't be destroyed in the event of a fire. In fact, some tests have shown that these materials have excellent behavior against fire, dissipate flames, maintain structural integrity, and don't emit toxic smoke.

Hempcrete: Creating Holistic Sustainability With Plant-Based Building Materials

April 15, 2021

Hemp is one of the oldest crops domesticated by humans. With its wide variety of uses and applications, it’s easy to understand why it’s been a desirable product throughout history. Hemp seeds and flowers are used in health foods, medicines, and organic beauty products; the fibers and stalks of the hemp plant are used in clothing, paper, and biofuel. Today even a waste product of hemp fiber processing, so-called hemp shives, is being utilized to create sustainable building materials like hempcrete.

8 Common Materials You May Not Have Realized Are Sustainable

December 26, 2017

Sustainability. A word that, for many of us, has been driven into our minds from the very start of our careers as architects. We have a responsibility to the planet and future generations to design buildings that are socially conscious—from solar panels to triple-glazed windows, we have tried it all.

Ultimately, whether our designs are sustainable comes down to the early decisions we make for the building, with our choice of materials having a huge effect on the overall carbon footprint. With new technologies come new ways of incorporating abundantly found materials into the skin of the building that could reduce the building's embodied energy and enhance the structure's properties.

In this article, we have compiled a list of 8 familiar materials that you wouldn't initially associate with sustainability but which you might consider for your next design.

Hemp: The Latest Architecture and News