Buckley North Hemp House
Featured Project | Completed 2024
Photos commission by owner through Realestate.com.au (Shona Hendley)
The Buckley North Hemp House is a striking example of how hempcrete can be incorporated into architecturally distinctive, environmentally conscious country living. Set on a 65-hectare rural property near Geelong and Victoria’s Surf Coast, this four-bedroom home combines Swiss-inspired architecture with natural building materials and thoughtful design.
Designed by owner Chris Leach following a trip to Switzerland, the home features a distinctive gabled roof, expansive glazing and a layout that balances shared family spaces with private retreats. David Brian of Southern Hemp provided hempcrete construction and consulting expertise, helping bring the project to life across two stages, from 2020 to 2024.
Buckley North Hemp House
Built in Two Stages
Construction began in 2020, with the first stage completed in 2022. The second stage followed from 2022 to 2024. One particularly interesting aspect of the project is the change in materials between the two stages: the first used French hemp and binder, while the second used Australian hemp and binder. This provides a valuable example of hempcrete construction using materials from different supply chains.
The project brought together owner and project manager Chris Leach, draftsman Jake Dorian of Enlight Building Design, builder Tim Della, and David Brian of Southern Hemp for the hempcrete component.
Swiss-Inspired Country Living
The home’s architectural design draws on Swiss influences, including the steep gabled roof and a large north-facing roof plane designed with future solar installation in mind. Inside, the layout separates the main living area, children’s bedroom wing and upstairs parents’ retreat, with acoustic insulation between floors.
Hemp walls feature prominently in the open-plan living area, while the broader property combines productive farmland with established trees, an orchard, dams, a swimming pool and outdoor entertaining spaces.
A servery window connects the kitchen to the outdoor entertainment area.
Hempcrete Performance
According to the owner, the external hemp walls provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, helping maintain comfortable indoor temperatures through the seasons. He also reports no condensation or mould issues, attributing this in part to the way the hemp walls help balance indoor humidity.
The home combines hempcrete with other practical design choices, including burnished concrete floors, metal fascias and hydronic heating, reflecting a focus on comfort, durability and reduced maintenance.
Materials and Features
- Hempcrete walls using French hemp and binder in stage one, followed by Australian hemp and binder in stage two
- Timber-framed construction with hempcrete infill
- Swiss-inspired gabled roof design
- North-facing roof plane designed for future solar installation
- Burnished concrete floors
- Hydronic heating and ceiling fans
- Open-plan living with outdoor entertaining area
- Acoustic insulation between floors
Buckley North Hemp House Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions about Buckley North Hemp House
1. What is the Buckley North Hemp House?
The Buckley North Hemp House is a four-bedroom, Swiss-inspired hempcrete home on a 65-hectare rural property in Buckley, Victoria. It combines natural building materials, considered architectural design and practical country living.
2. Who built the hempcrete walls at the Buckley North Hemp House?
David Brian of Southern Hemp provided the hempcrete construction and consulting expertise for the project, working alongside the owner, draftsman and builder.
3. What hemp and binder were used at the Buckley North Hemp House?
The project used French hemp and binder during the first stage, followed by Australian hemp and binder during the second stage. This makes the project an interesting example of using different hempcrete material sources across a staged build.
4. What are the benefits of hempcrete at the Buckley North Hemp House?
Hempcrete provides thermal insulation, acoustic benefits and the ability to help regulate indoor humidity. The owner reports that the home stays warm in winter, cool in summer and has experienced no condensation or mould issues.
5. Where is the Buckley North Hemp House located?
The Buckley North Hemp House is located at Buckley in Victoria, within reach of Geelong and the Surf Coast. The property combines a hempcrete residence with farmland, an orchard, dams, a swimming pool and extensive outdoor spaces.
