This project introduces a biobased hemp facade system featuring hexagonal panels and a sustainable substructure, leveraging hemp’s carbon absorption and insulation properties to create an eco-friendly, aesthetically flexible alternative to conventional facades.
Organization
TU Delft, Bucky Lab
Project information
The value proposition of hemp as a sustainable building material for façade systems becomes highly relevant in view of the pressing need to cut down carbon emissions and ensure circularity in the construction industry. The attempt, therefore, has been to devise a biobased façade system that exhibits novelty in materiality, functionality, and aestheticism while realizing the potentiality of biobased materials in modern architecture. We selected hemp due to its rapid renewability, carbon absorption properties, and excellent insulation performance. By collaborating with industry leaders and conducting extensive material research, we developed a hexagonal panel system, backed by a biobased substructure. Our prototype highlights the design flexibility of biocomposites, offering a visual and functional alternative to conventional facades. While our prototype successfully demonstrates the aesthetic and sustainable potential of biobased facades, further development is required to optimize scalability, durability, and performance under real-world conditions. Testing for water and fire resistance, refining the weight and modularity of the panels, and exploring end-of-life recycling solutions will be crucial steps for market-ready applications.