Study · Material
Interior & material studies
Hemp lime
Soft plaster, warm timber, and an opening to the landscape. Exploring hemp-lime through room design, wall details, and hands-on material studies.
A softer kind of wall.
Hemp Lime explores the relationship between a wall’s construction and the atmosphere of a room. Deep window reveals, softly textured plaster, and warm timber give this study its character. The interest is both practical and spatial: how a wall meets an opening, how its surface catches daylight, and how the room feels connected to the landscape beyond. We begin with those relationships and explore the assembly with the people who know it best.
What is hemp-lime?
Hemp-lime, often called hempcrete, combines the woody inner part of the hemp stalk with a lime-based binder and water. It is used as non-structural insulating infill alongside a supporting frame, rather than as a replacement for structural concrete. This distinction shapes the design: the frame, infill, openings, and finishes each have a role. Our visual studies explore how those parts might come together in a considered home.
The wall and the opening.
A closer study of texture, depth, and the meeting between wall and window.
Design rendering
Let the opening shape the room.
A deeper window reveal offers more than an edge around the glass. It can hold shadow, create a place to sit, or frame a tree with particular clarity. In this study, a long timber seat extends across the opening, bringing the garden close to everyday life. The wall gives the view a sense of depth; the window offers openness. Both deserve attention as the design develops.
Texture, tested in the light.
A small sample can reveal qualities that a drawing cannot. We are interested in the contrast between the raw, fibrous composite and a softly worked plaster finish, and in how each sits beside timber, stone, and fabric. Samples let a project team explore tone, touch, and surface variation before making a larger commitment. The final finish and its compatibility with the chosen wall system would be developed with its suppliers and specialists.
Start with a sample.
Raw texture and a plaster finish, explored at the scale of the hand.
Design rendering
An idea to explore, place by place.
Hemp-lime may be part of a conversation about a new garden room, an addition, or a wider building project. Its suitability depends on the complete assembly and the conditions it will meet. For an existing mid-century home, we begin with the fabric worth preserving and the problem that needs solving. We explore options with the relevant building specialists, considering moisture, detailing, drying, and the relationship to the original structure before choosing a direction.
Learning through making.
We welcome collaborations with natural-building practitioners, plasterers, makers, and clients who are curious about working differently. A sample panel, a small mock-up, or a shared study can be a useful first step. ArcSalt’s interest is in bringing the spatial idea into conversation with the craft: an opening with presence, a surface with depth, and a room that belongs to its setting.
Original design & material studies
Have an idea, a sample, or a project you would like to explore together?
Further reading: Healthy Materials Lab — Hemp + Lime
