Canvas for Living

Hemp is said to have been one of the first plants to be spun into usable fibre tens of thousands of years ago. One of the fastest-growing plants on earth, it is now used for a huge number of industrial and commercial products. Today, hemp can be found in paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food and beer, and building materials.

As a building material, hemp is hard to beat. Throughout its growth cycle, the hemp plant absorbs more carbon than it emits, making it one of the few carbon-neutral building solutions. In an industry responsible for emitting up to around half of all greenhouse gases, both in construction and operational phases, this plant emerges as a powerful solution. It’s incredibly agile—growing up to 6 metres in a matter of months—and incredibly robust. Almost 6 times stronger than steel, hemp fibres were used to make nautical ropes before the advent of synthetic materials.

Beyond its carbon-neutral status, hemp’s inherent properties make it particularly suitable for architectural construction. The material effectively manages moisture and possesses significant thermal mass, adapting seamlessly to diverse climates by regulating internal temperatures. This hugely impacts user experience and ongoing costs: a hemp-based home demands considerably less energy to deliver warmth and comfort. In addition, hemp is fire and mould-retardant, and termite-resistant. Which means this all-rounder material also helps future-proof buildings against potential changes in building codes, environmental conditions and zoning decisions.

Otetto Living Panels® leverage this intelligent material to redefine pre-fab walling systems, which are already inherently sustainable, cost-efficient, and time-efficient.

The panels’ uniform consistency minimises on-site ‘surprises’, reducing the risk of disappointment and costly project delays – and easing the often-turbulent construction process.

With high-performing sustainable and health benefits, coupled with the ability to self-regulate, hemp products maintain their natural DNA. This brilliant material transforms homes from mere ‘machines for living’ into living, breathing organisms.

Otetto’s interlocking Living Panels® are made from Australian-grown hemp in a thickness of 300mm, offering the ideal density for fire-rating. As a seamless all-in-one structure, external and internal skin, they become the ideal building blocks for a new paradigm in home design – and a sustainable legacy for generations to come.