On October 11 and 12, 2024, the „HFT Hemp Building Symposium“ of the study program of Interior Architecture took place for the first time.

Whether in combination with lime, clay, geopolymer or mushroom mycelium – the natural building material hemp combines a variety of properties.
The two-day symposium presented the world’s oldest cultivated plant and was aimed at architects, interior designers, structural engineers and all those interested in the topic of „building with hemp“. The focus was on working with hemp shives, with both basic and expert knowledge being passed on. The design potential was demonstrated by lighthouse projects that have already been realized. Obstacles and challenges were discussed and strategies for scaling up through the development of innovative processes were presented, such as the prefabrication of wooden elements with rammed hemp lime.

After the theoretical discourse on the first day, the practical application of different construction methods was demonstrated on the second day.

The hemp building symposium was organized by the study program of Interior Architecture at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Architecture and Design. Following the symposium, the contents will now be compiled and made available to the public in a publication.

The symposium was organized by a committee consisting of Prof. Jens Betha, Head of the Laboratory for Natural Building Materials, Dipl. Des. Melissa Acker and Patricia Klier M.A. in cooperation with hemp engineer Henrik Pauly M.Eng.

Many thanks to the Verein der Freunde der HFT and all other project partners, volunteers and participating companies.

Further information: www.hanfbausymposium.hft-stuttgart.de

• – member of the symposium comittee, coordination, lecture & workshop „hemp + mycelium“ (2024)
• – publication (2025)