Hemp is a versatile and sustainable material, absorbing more CO2 per hectare than any forest or commercial crop. When combining hemp shivs with a lime binder, hempcrete is made which has the strength of concrete and the flexibility of clay. The material is widely used in sustainable building, but has little application on a smaller scale.
Further exploring the potential of the material, Hemp-it-yourself creates a new method of applying hempcrete into a collection of furniture pieces by merging material knowledge with a low-end approach to meet current values of sustainability. The semi-modular system consists of six shapes that are casted into fabric form-works and can be mixed and matched together to create objects with various heights, volumes and functions.
Inspired by the democratic design philosophy, the side tables are based on a manual and can be produced locally, giving the power to the user. When various people around the world make a side table according to the Hemp-it-yourself manual, a network of makers is created, shifting the focus from the individual designer to a collective, globally local practice. Through this the project aims to encourage the usage of natural materials and on-demand production.
Have a look at how you can Hemp-it-yourself
Hemp-it-yourself is a graduation project by Hannah Segerkrantz
photos: Luca Tichelman, Hannah Segerkrantz
© Hannah Segerkrantz 2020