Hempcrete Buildings..

I've realised that the inclusion of hempcrete as well as bamboo in my designs could be really effective in having thermal massing for passive heating and cooling.

Using bracing and cases a hemp house around a timber frame has a nice appearance of a rendered concrete, has thermal mass and from this exemplar I found can be used to design buildings similar to what I'm after.

It will provide a high thermal resistance, it can be made at adjustable thicnesses, low air filtration, has hygroscopic charageristics, so it can absorb water and then release it, usese lime that hasn't been processed with high embodied energy, it is durable and recyclable and accomodated different structural systems.

Refreence:

Hemp News. Hemp House - Asheville. Accessed October 17, 2012.  http://www.hemp.com/2011/03/hemp_house_ashville_north_carolina_video_on_using_hempcrete.