Bevan Architects Build Carbon-Negative Hemp Eco Retreat For Under £100,000

<a href="http://www.bevanarchitects.com">Bevan Architects</a> recently completed construction on this simple, light-filled Hemcrete holiday cottage on a riverside apple orchard in Northern Ireland. Hemcrete is a carbon-negative material made from the hemp plant that provides excellent insulating properties and a much lighter environmental footprint than other building materials. The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/eco-hotel-endemico-is-a-gorgeous-eco-retreat-in-baja-mexico/">low-impact</a> retreat beckons visitors to escape from urban life and experience a breathable, natural dwelling.

The home responds to its rural context by incorporating elements of local building vernacular and using low-impact and high-performance materials.

The frame is built from locally sourced <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nicola-spinetto-designs-stunning-multi-level-pop-up-garden-in-italy/">Douglas Fir timber</a>. The home is located next to (but well above) the flood level of a fast flowing river, and the northern side features a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-roof/">green roof</a>. To the south a slate roof ensures the cottage blends in with the more traditional buildings of the area.

Not only do <a href="http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/research/cicm/low-carbon-materials/hemp-lime-construction.html">Hemp and lime walls</a> sequester carbon, they also provide fantastic thermal and acoustic performance. <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/breathable-buildings/">The walls are breathable</a> and able to absorb and emit moisture, creating a far healthier interior space than conventional building methods.

The roof of the cottage is insulated with 350mm <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sheep-wool-building-insulation/">sheep wool insulation</a>, so there's no chance of even the tough Northern Irish winter seeping in.

Due to the insulating properties of the hemp-lime composite, no plastic membranes or toxic membranes were used in the build. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcctSvVFheA">Videos</a> document the techniques involved in creating the walls.

With a total construction cost of less than £100,000, the 70 square meter home is a great model for individuals or small families interested in building their own carbon negative abode. Thanks to excellent documentation of the project, a recently published <a href="http://www.brebookshop.com/details.jsp?id=325431">book on hemp lime construction</a>, and a feature spot in <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/08/top-10-eco-homes-marsh-house-nottingham">the Guardian's top 10 eco homes</a>, Bevan architects are well-poised to help others create location-sensitive, energy-efficient dwellings.