Joint insulation venture builds on hemp plant

York Press Business News - 3rd February 2011

NATIVE Architects, the York-based practice, is in the process of pioneering an innovative insulation system made from hemp, the plant which forms the base of marijuana.

But this strain of plant, which is mixed with lime to create a cement, is not the kind that can be smoked, the architects are quick to point out.

The project in North Yorkshire where they are using the material forms part a design for an internal shuttering system at the Grade II listed Hornington Manor at Bolton Percy.

Native is delivering the project on behalf of Harrison Spinks, which supplies luxury beds, and farms hemp on site at Hornington for use in the manufacture of its mattresses. This involves minimum waste within the manufacturing process, with the unwanted hemp being used to insulate existing barns on site.

James Newton, architectural technologist at Native, said: “We plan to use the waste hemp ‘shiv’, the woody core of the hemp plant, as an insulator within a lime and cement-like mix which will then be poured into a mould that is anchored back to the farm’s original masonry.”

Using Hempcrete in construction is widely considered to be “carbon negative”, in that it absorbs CO2 as it sets.

Using waste shiv produced on site further enhances its inherent environmental credentials.

“We are working closely with the Limecrete Company to ensure the correct mix is applied on site at the project,” he said.

Native, based at Crockey Hill, focuses mainly on sustainable, eco-friendly new build and restoration projects across Yorkshire and the north-east.

Joint insulation venture builds on the versatile hemp plant

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