Iceland has officially joined the Hempcrete club by completing its first building with the material. Anna, one of the architects behind the project, describes her inspiration in an interview with Iceland Review:
“The idea came to us when we moved back from London to Iceland in the fall of 2020. Upon hearing that the import and cultivation of industrial hemp seeds had been legalized earlier that year, we saw a great opportunity – not just for the construction industry but also for agriculture and other innovations.” She added that “hempcrete captures carbon from the atmosphere during its drying process, making it a carbon-negative building material.”
- Hempcrete is naturally toxin-free, provides insulation, is resistant to mould, water damage, and fire, is soundproof, and can be broken down and used as fertilizer at the end of its lifecycle.
The small design is inspired by Japanese tea houses and was completed by German journeymen.
After conducting some tests to see how the house holds up against Iceland’s weather, the goal is to scale up the use of hempcrete in Iceland.
Ludika Architects states on their website that “nature and modern technology can work together. Where the land stays happy, and so do we.”
Click here to learn more about this project.