Two centuries ago, using hemp to construct a house would not have sounded strange. Back then the crop, a relative of marijuana minus most of the THC, was used for so many things—such as fashioning rope, weaving textiles, and making paper—that property owners in Jamestown were required to grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.
In the 1930s, a campaign against the evils of marijuana took down hemp with it. The crop, a celebrated carbon sink that requires little in the way of pesticides to cultivate, is only just now reemerging and being put to old and new uses. Building with hemp is an eco-practice pioneered in recent decades in France and Belgium, and starting to take hold around the world. Its use in the building of this thoughtfully designed house in northern Israel caught our attention.
The solar-powered, net-zero structure is the work of Haifa-based architecture studio Tav Group. Founding partner and lead architect on the project, Maoz Alon, received the commission from his longtime friends Yoki Gill and Daniel Benozilyo, creators of the hiking sandal brand Source Outdoor, known for its environmental leadership. The couple wanted quarters that incorporate local, biodegradable building materials with best green practices, compost toilets and a gray water system included. “The design concept,” says Maoz, “was to build a house as nature would have it, like a bird feathering her nest, treading softly on the earth and leaving the faintest ecological footprint.”
Exterior photography by Yoav Etiel, interior photography by Yaeli Gabrieli, courtesy of Tav Group.
![situated on the southern slope of mount carmel overlooking the mediterranean, t 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yoav-etiel-photo-6-733x472.jpg)
![all of the stone used in the \250 square meter structure is local and much of i 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yoav-etiel-photo-1-733x484.jpg)
Yoki, Daniel, and their daughter, Miya, left behind a city apartment and first lived on the property in a pair of connected yurts. The house is in Ein-Hod, which has a complicated history and has been an artists’ enclave since the 1950s.
![the hempcrete is set in a wooden framework and finished with lime plaster tinte 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yoav-etiel-photo-4-733x489.jpg)
![the main entrance is off a central courtyard. the front hall is flanked by livi 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/courtyard-tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-13-733x489.jpg)
Building the house, Yoki notes, cost approximately 20 percent more than standard construction, but in the long-run is “far more economical—and fun.”
![on the interior, stonework is paired with rustic woodwork: window frames, panel 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-1a-733x489.jpg)
![the interior stones were shaped on site. here, the walls are rammed earth, form 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-1b-733x489.jpg)
Asked about the crooked fireplace chimney, Maoz responds “It’s a long story that can teach an architect some humility. First came the timber mason who took the liberty of distributing the wooden beams a little differently than what was planned. Then came the chimney mason who found a beam where the chimney was supposed to pass through. He vigorously started to saw the intruding beam—if it hadn’t been for Yoki’s alertness that might have ended up a catastrophe. The chimney man then came up with this twist in the plot, which we architects would hardly find conceivable. And lo and behold, it has become an attraction.”
![the living room has a built in settee and custom sideboard. the clay plaster fi 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-2a-733x489.jpg)
“The house’s volumes and particularly the window sizes and orientation were
designed for optimal air flow,” says Maoz. “Together with the thermal mass of the walls, floors, and partitions, good
isolation, and exterior shading, there is no need for artificial air-conditioning.” “Humidity control via the ‘breathing walls’ is amazing,” adds Yoki. “Year-round, the house is 20 to 25 degrees [68 to 77 Fahrenheit].”
![the eat in kitchen has hempcrete walls. the custom cabinets and shelves are oak 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-3-733x489.jpg)
Of the wood-framed windows, Maoz says: “they’re a great solution—beautiful, durable, pleasant to handle, and insulating. But they’re not common around here lately—we’re in search of an able artisan for our next project.”
![limestone from the excavation of the foundation was used as pavers throughout t 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-4-733x489.jpg)
![the three bedroom private wing, with pine flooring, runs in an axis off the fro 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-7-733x1100.jpg)
![miya\2\17;s room, photographed before it was fully occupied. the walls a 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-6-733x1100.jpg)
![the bathrooms walls are tadelakt, water resistant moroccan plaster—read 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-9-733x1100.jpg)
![a bedroom with a view and a built in bedside niche. 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-8-733x489.jpg)
![a ceramic wash basin is situated outside a \2\20;toilet cabinet.\ 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-10-733x1100.jpg)
![salvaged french doors open to one of several private decks. 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yaeli-gabrieli-photo-11-733x1100.jpg)
![the house overlooks the mediterranean and is designed to capture the sea breeze 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/tav-architects-and-designers-ein-hod-hemp-house-israel-yoav-etiel-photo-5-733x489.jpg)
If you’re interested in building with hemp in the US, check out Hempitecture of Ketchum, Idaho. In our new book, Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home, we feature a trailblazing hemp farmhouse in Cambridgeshire, England. And for a fascinating deep dive into the history and uses of hemp, listen to Trace Materials, a podcast produced by The New School/Parsons Healthy Materials Lab.
Some more eco-minded ideas and projects:
- A Kitchen Built from Apple Crates and Recycled Materials
- An Architect Designs a Home That Can Move With Its Owners
- Midcentury Modernized: A Sensitively and Sustainably Remodeled 1960s Gem
- Gift Guide: 15 Surprises for the Eco Aesthete
Frequently asked questions
What is the eco house built from hempcrete?
The eco house built from hempcrete is a sustainable and environmentally-friendly residential building located in Israel. It is made from a mix of hemp hurds, lime, and water, which results in a durable and energy-efficient structure.
Who built the eco house?
The eco house was built by TAV Group, a construction company that specializes in green building solutions.
What are the benefits of using hempcrete to build a house?
Hempcrete is a renewable and sustainable material that has many benefits. It is a good insulator, which means that it can help keep the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is also fire-resistant, mold-resistant, and pest-resistant. Additionally, hemp absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows, so using it as a building material can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Is the eco house energy-efficient?
Yes, the eco house is designed to be energy-efficient. It has solar panels on the roof to generate electricity and a rainwater collection system to conserve water.
Where is the eco house located?
The eco house is located in Israel. Its exact location is not specified in the article.
Is hempcrete a new building material?
Hempcrete has been used in construction for many years, but it has only recently gained popularity as a sustainable building material.
Are there any downsides to using hempcrete?
One potential downside of using hempcrete is that it can be more expensive than traditional building materials. Additionally, it can take longer to build with hempcrete because the material needs to dry between layers.
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