hEmpowering Bottom Up | Project 1

hempowering bottom up

Location: Mithileshwar Nikas, Dhanusha

Project Type: Residential 

Completion Date: 12/2016

Beneficiary:  Mother with young 4 children

This house marked the first project under the hEmpowering Bottom-Up initiative, a community development program by Shah Hemp in collaboration with the Women Development Advocacy Centre (WDAC), a local grassroots NGO. WDAC played a crucial role in identifying the beneficiary family and facilitating community engagement throughout the project. The beneficiary family, a mother with four young children, lived in a single-room structure made of bamboo, clay, and twigs—a fragile dwelling that could collapse with a strong gust of wind. The space, which lacked a window, also served as a shelter for their six goats, highlighting the dire living conditions.

The project received funding and support from Germany-based organizations HempConsult and Hempro International as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The house was constructed by Shah Hemp, involving a team of international expert volunteers working alongside community members, fostering local participation and skill-building.

This endeavor not only provided a safe and sustainable home for the family but also served as a model for future community-driven projects, emphasizing the use of eco-friendly and durable building materials. This project is featured in the book Hemp Buildings: 50 International Case Studies

Design & Features

Total Footprint Area:  450 sq ft. ( sq.m).

Total Volume of Hempcrete Installed:  900 cu.ft. ( 90 cu.m). 

Hempcrete Application: All external and partition walls and ceiling.

Structural Details:

  • Foundation was built with lime and stone. 
  • Bamboo skeleton for the walls, cast with hempcrete.
  • Clay plaster finish for walls.
  • Bamboo mesh roof plastered with clay and final protection layer of straw. 

Hempcrete Construction Timeline & Team

  • Timeline: 15 days 
  • Workers: Home owner with community members.
  • Expert Supervision:  Laurent Goudet, and Gilbert Baumans provided technical guidance and expertise throughout the project.

Community Impact

This grassroots-level project demonstrated a practical and technically relevant approach to utilizing local raw materials for building stronger homes. It showcased how community members could harness their own resources to create durable, sustainable structures, using their existing knowledge while also learning new techniques.

Local community members collaborated with international hemp and natural building experts, working side by side to complete the construction. The active involvement of the homeowner from day one empowered her and gave her the necessary skills to maintain the home independently. As a result, she not only gained a sense of ownership and pride in her new, resilient home but also developed the confidence and knowledge to ensure its upkeep in the future without relying on external help.

Sustainable Benefits

  • No synthetic or chemical-based materials were used in the project.
  • 100% of the materials were sourced directly from local communities in Nepal.
  • Funds supporting the project were directed to community members supplying raw materials and working on-site, rather than to large corporations.
  • The project reinforced local economies by ensuring that financial benefits stayed within the community.
  • The approach minimized environmental impact and promoted sustainable, community-driven practices.

Key Learnings from this project

  • Natural building materials are excellent choices for community-driven projects, as they are sustainable, locally sourced, and align with the needs of the community.
  • Community engagement is significantly higher when local materials are used, fostering a sense of ownership and pride among participants.
  • Buildings constructed with natural materials tend to be more comfortable and in tune with their environment, promoting a healthier living space. This approach also reduces reliance on artificial energy sources, contributing to lower energy consumption and enhanced sustainability.

Construction Pictures

Would you like to explore how Hempcrete can transform your next project into an eco-friendly, comfortable, and sustainable space?

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