Hemp within plant fibres is widely recognised as an insulation material with potential for use in construction, due to its thermal and acoustic properties equivalent to conventional insulation materials and better environmental performance. This workshop will be a theoretical and practical training session providing basic knowledge about hemp and hempcrete: their history, legislation, properties and potential use in construction. A technical guide will be provided where participants will learn more about the plant and construction techniques with hempcrete. In the practical component, mixtures of hempcrete will be produced with hemp shavings, fibre waste, lime and additions, which will be used to produce samples. This workshop is an opportunity for participants to delve into material experimentation, learning how to make the material mixes and recipes through a hands-on approach.

Participants should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for manual activities.

Natura Matéria is a spinoff of the University of Minho that provides consulting services and sells construction products that respect the new market requirements, in terms of sustainability, based on the concept of circular economy and healthy housing.