Design firm Ideo Arquitectura and architect Virginia del Barco led the conception and creation of Can Monges, located in Ses Salines, Balearic islands. The team shares that the 200-year-old home had suffered from dampness and humidity, a challenge they had to conquer. As a response, they turned to hemp, fibers from the stalks of the cannabis sativa plant, and made it the principal engineer of the house. ‘We use hemp on the roofs due to its very high thermal capacity – three times higher than conventional treatments – and in the walls separating rooms due to its extraordinary acoustic capacities (high density). We learned that the raw energy consumed during hemp’s manufacturing is very low making it fast-growing, easy to cultivate, healthy, and highly durable,’
THE USE OF HEMP
Ideo Arquitectura believes they have pioneered the use of hemp on the island as no builders in Mallorca have yet used it, drawn from the insufficiency of knowledge surrounding hemp and the lack of businesses that cultivate it. The team says hemp is suitable for places with high levels of humidity as the plant’s natural regulation increases comfort and saves energy. The team built a one-meter high perimeter that runs along the ground floor, so when the house is closed, the dampness and moisture passing through the hemp dissipate, thanks as well to the ceramic vents they placed on the walls that enable to refresh the air inside the home.
The use of hemp in construction alleviates greenhouse gases that may deteriorate the lifespan of a home, but the designers did not limit themselves from only using hemp as the primary material. ‘To make this rehabilitation an environmentally effective place, we had to consider what to do with the rubble generated by the work,’ the team shares. ‘Two maxims to begin with: reusing and recycling. the rubble from the demolition was used to consolidate the walls. the sandstone blocks from the old dryer were used for the new furniture in the kitchen and bathrooms. The existing, very deteriorated pavement was given a second life by reusing it in the lintels of the new openings in the façade. all of this contributes to reducing the use of the planet’s resources.’
MATERIALS FORMING THE NATURAL HOUSE
Aside from hemp, the team employed clay, ceramics, wood, and lime to finish the fixtures, interior, and designs. The fireplace, for instance, was made of clay and ceramics and built with two curved vaults, the same look conferred to the kitchen floor and the lighting fixtures in the bedrooms. Northern pinewood glazed the islands, doors, and windows while lime construction, an ancient technique in Mallorca, paint the walls, floors, and ceilings. the result unfolds as an atmosphere of peace and solitude, a couple of requests from the client.
As the team concludes, ‘We worked on the project through the context of “think global, act local,” which means zero pollution and local resources. In the end, Can Monges is an opportunity for architects, builders, and local entrepreneurs to learn how to improve the quality of people and cities through materials and techniques.’
