Dive into insightful conversations with Australia’s leading hemp building professionals, owner builders and more. From sustainable building techniques to real-world experiences, we explore the future of eco-friendly construction, one episode at a time.
Episode 1 – Kirstie Wulf
Kirstie Wulf from Shelter Building Design and the Hemp Building Directory talks about the Malua Bay Hempcrete house and more.
Designing for the Future: Kirstie Wulf on Hempcrete, Bushfire Resilience & Sustainable Homes
In this episode of the Hemp Building Podcast, host Jeremy Thomas (Environmentarian & the Hemp Building Directory) sits down with Kirstie Wulf (Shelter Building Design & The Hemp Building Directory), award-winning building designer and one of Australia’s leading experts on hempcrete construction. With over 25 hempcrete homes to her name, Kirstie shares her insights on designing homes that are fire-resistant, energy-efficient, and built to last for generations.
At the heart of the conversation is the Malua Bay Hempcrete House, a home rebuilt after being lost in the devastating 2019 bushfires. Kirstie walks us through the design challenges, the importance of passive solar principles, and how hempcrete’s fireproof, breathable, and insulating properties made it the perfect choice for a resilient, low-maintenance home.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why hempcrete is ideal for bushfire-prone areas—and why more homeowners are choosing it.
- The science of vapour permeability—how hempcrete regulates moisture to prevent mold and create healthier indoor air.
- Smart design strategies—how orientation, shading, and thermal mass work together to reduce heating and cooling costs.
- Making hempcrete more accessible—how the combination of prefab hemp blocks and cast-in-place methods is speeding up construction and cutting costs.
- The future of hempcrete in Australia—scaling up supply chains, training more builders, and making sustainable housing the norm.
- Kirstie also shares stories of builders who were initially hesitant but became hempcrete converts after working with it firsthand. If you’re considering hempcrete for your home—or just curious about better, healthier, and longer-lasting buildings—this episode is packed with must-know insights.
Tune in and get inspired by the future of sustainable home design!
Episode 2 – Will brain
Will Brain from Hempcrete Victoria talks cast and block method and more.
Building the Future with Hemp: Will Brain on Cast & Block Innovations
In this episode of the Hemp Building Podcast, host Jeremy Thomas (Environmentarian & the Hemp Building Directory) sits down with Will Brain of Hempcrete Victoria and Respirabuilt to explore the future of hemp construction.
Will shares his journey from working with hempcrete in the UK to pioneering a hybrid “Cast & Block” system in Australia—an innovation that drastically reduces build time and costs, making hempcrete more accessible to mainstream builders and homeowners. This system combines the aesthetic and insulating benefits of traditional cast-in-place hempcrete with the efficiency of prefabricated hemp blocks, allowing for faster builds, reduced labor costs, and keeps all the benefits is hempcrete including the fire resistance—a crucial factor in bushfire-prone regions.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The evolution of hempcrete and why it’s gaining traction in Australia.
- How Cast & Block works—the process, benefits, and cost savings.
- Why many homeowners choose hempcrete for health reasons, from better indoor air quality to mould resistance.
- How Will’s work is helping builders and developers scale hempcrete construction for larger projects.
- The fireproofing advantages of hempcrete, including real-world fire tests and case studies.
Will also shares insights on vapour permeability, thermal performance, and sustainable building materials, drawing from his international experience. If you’re a builder, designer, homeowner, or simply curious about the future of sustainable construction, this episode is packed with valuable insights.
Tune in to discover how hempcrete is revolutionising the building industry—one block at a time!
Disclaimer
HBD do not warrant the quality or experience of anyone listed on this directory.
We have relied on the information provided by the business and its representatives.
This site is not intended to provide and does not constitute building advice, or other professional advice.
