Largest hempcrete build in the Southern Hemisphere

X-Hemp staff tour the building mid-construction

The THA provided the business case for a hemp mill in Tasmania, and our current President Andi Lucas brought that vision to life in the form of a brave start-up called X-Hemp. This fledgling company is supplying all the hemp used to create the stunning curves that provide sound insulation and beautiful, sustainable walls from hemp in this innovative design.

Meeting pods dot the vast spaces, providing quiet, temperature-insulated and beautiful places to work.

This astonishing project in Hobart for the University of Tasmania has already won an international design award.

Competing against 12 other finalists from around the globe, the Forestry Building was crowned the winner of the Future Project: Education category at the World Architecture Festival Awards held in Singapore in November 2024.

Artist’s impression Image Credit:UTAS

Bold vision from UTAS, with strong advocacy from Woods Bagot, the skills of THA Corporate member Hansen Yuncken and mentors from THA Corporate member The Australian Hemp Masonry Company and Hannan Build, have combined to create an amazing showcase of the application of hemp.

X-Hemp employees and THA staff were lucky enough to receive a mid-construction tour in February 2025, meeting Brett and Mark from Steven Little Construction who create the curved formwork, and Shane and Tully from Hannan Build who are the master hemp installers.

The curved cavity in the foreground will be filled with a mixture of hemp hurd, lime and water, and allowed to harden before the formwork is removed.

The heritage dome will become a living forest with 3,500 native plants.