Pioneering sustainable hempcrete house in Guernsey
This quietly radical project provides a blueprint for sustainable residential development for rural and suburban sites.
In 2020 Hill-Harvey-Wood were commissioned to extend a Georgian Farmhouse in Guernsey that sits in the centre of a large garden including a historic vine house. Planning approval was secured for a ‘sister’ volume to the farmhouse that doubles the floor area to 400m2 and provides generous living spaces and bedrooms. A new single story entrance building creates an arrival courtyard and a link to the renovated vine house that will be used for outdoor entertainment alongside a dedicated glasshouse for home-grown produce.
New timber framed structures are enclosed by hempcrete (a carbon-negative and breathable material) and finished in lime render façade unifying the new and old buildings. Hill Harvey-Wood developed proposals with Hempcrete UK with a view to develop partnerships and upskilling, which would provide much needed expertise on the island bringing benefits beyond the project. The scheme was developed to the conclusion of RIBA Stage 4 in preparation for construction at a time that suits our client’s family.
External Links
Hempcrete UK