Solar-powered farmhouse makes use of hemp throughout

This zero-carbon house in Cambridgeshire, England, literally comes from the land. Built on the 53-acre Margent Farm, the Flat House takes advantage of the property’s biggest resource—hemp.

London studio Practice Architecture worked with the farm to design the house, which was constructed in two days using prefabricated panels made from hempcrete, a mixture of hemp and lime.

Oskar Proctor

The paneled facade of the house is clad in hemp-fiber tiles that are bound with a sugar-based resin made from agricultural waste. “The materials are breathable meaning they regulate the moisture in the air, resisting damp and mould and leading to a healthier environment and air quality,” the architects told Dezeen. The house also goes off-grid with a biomass boiler and solar panels on the roof.

Inside, the hemp panels are left bare, framed by a timber support system, which gives the walls a cool, neutral-toned texture. Though the house is made from humble materials, it still exudes an air of sophistication. The open-plan lower level has an atmospheric double-height ceiling and a wall of windows light up the dining area. Light timber stairs lead to a mezzanine and the bedrooms.

Oskar Proctor

Oskar Proctor

Oskar Proctor