This workshop/studio was an extremely interesting and left field project for us… pushing ourselves outside the comfort zone of conventional building and learning an awful lot as we went along.

In the heart of the Ashdown Forest we were to build a 250 square foot Hempcrete workshop. 

The brief read ‘environmentally friendly’ and ‘as carbon neutral as possible’. Hempcrete is an extremely malleable product to work with as a substructure and sequesters more carbon than any other mass building product. Externally was to be clad in softwood weatherboard and internally, a lime plaster was specified to finish the walls. This gave an incredibly soft, yet rustic finish to this well insulated and breathable dwelling. Refurbished windows and doors, finishing it all off to blend seamlessly into its surroundings.

This was an extremely rewarding project, making far less of an environmental impact than the usual brick and block techniques we’re all too accustomed to in the UK .