The Hempcrete House | Witchcliffe Ecovillage

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The Hempcrete House is a valuable lesson in sustainable living within a modest budget.

This small highly sustainable home is designed for a couple who bought a Groupie Lot in the Witchcliffe Ecovillage. A Groupie Lot is limited to a home of a maximum 100 square metres, and the Ecovillage has some of the strictest sustainability guidelines of any development in Australia. The Clients wanted the most energy efficient and environmentally sustainable home possible within a tight budget and selected hempcrete as their preferred building material.

The project brief had a high sustainability agenda including being self sufficient in water, power and sewerage ( done through a communal treatment plant in the Ecovillage). The home achieves an 8.9 Star NATHERS rating and requires only minimal heating and cooling.

INTERIORS | Arcologic & Owners
PHOTOGRAPHY | Clara Fischer / Arcologic
BUILDER | Homes By Nature

Explore the eco-friendly design of The Hempcrete House, a model of sustainability in Witchcliffe Ecovillage.

An H shape configuration was chosen to allow all habitable rooms to have a northern aspect and views to landscaped courts or gardens.

The linking element of the two wings becomes a small study nook and also houses an apartment style laundry behind cupboard doors.

The main open plan living space is characterised by large double glazed timber sliding doors opening up to an alfresco with a vine covered pergola for sun control. Materials include hempcrete walls, timber windows, burnished concrete floors and thermally modified timber gable ends.

A 45 degree zincalume roof takes its cue from rural village homes of old and gives the home a distinctive appearance within the Ecovillage.