Castlemaine Hempcrete Home

Perched on the slopes of Castlemaine and opening north towards Mount Alexander, this hempcrete house was conceived as a comfortable, healthy and enduring home for a growing family.
 

Passive solar design underpins the architecture. North-facing glazing brings low winter sunlight deep into the living spaces, where the polished concrete floor provides thermal mass—absorbing warmth during the day and releasing it as temperatures fall. The length of the cantilevered roof was designed to moderate the higher summer sun, helping protect the interior from overheating while framing expansive views across the landscape. Operable windows support natural ventilation and allow the house to respond to Castlemaine’s changing seasons with less reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.
 

Hempcrete forms the breathable envelope of the home. Made from hemp hurd and a lime-based binder, it combines insulation with thermal inertia and help regulate indoor humidity. Its vapour-permeable construction allows moisture to move through the walls and dry naturally. Finished in lime render, the walls create a tactile envelope with a much lower embodied impact than conventional masonry construction.
 

Inside, warm timber, rattan and subtle brass detailing soften the earthy palette of hempcrete, lime render and exposed concrete. Materials were selected wherever possible for their natural, non-toxic and low- or zero-VOC qualities. Every element—from floor finishes and wall linings to cabinetry construction, joinery, ceiling boards and hardware—was carefully considered to support good indoor air quality, everyday durability and healthy family living.
 

We were honoured to lead the Architectural design development and undertake the interior Design and Project Management for this deeply personal family home.