One of Australia’s first government-backed hempcrete projects, funded by a grant through the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants, Lithgow Area Womens Shed is a multi-purpose building, housing both the Women’s Shed workshop and tool room etc, a public meeting hall for up to a hundred people, with semi-commercial kitchen and accessible facilities, as well as two lettable offices intended for community or sporting organisations.
Designed by multi award winning sustainable design practice Envirotecture, it was decided early on in the design process to use hempcrete for its natural characteristics and carbon sequestration. 40 cubic meters of Australian manufactured and grown hempcrete cloak what will be a high-performance building.
Passivhaus design detailing was used to ensure high thermal performance, and full accessibility has been incorporated to meet the widest community needs. Building Designer Dick Clarke from Envirotecture has said ‘It’s the first commercial building in Australia built to these standards and we’re hoping it will set new standards for both the use of hempcrete and Passivhaus design.’
Under the expert supervision of James Isaacs from Belubula Hemp Homes the installation of the hemp was largely undertaken by volunteers, very many of them the women whose community this building will serve.