The University of Tasmania’s The Forest redevelopment is making history as home to the largest hempcrete installation in the Southern Hemisphere. The ambitious adaptive reuse project, delivered by Hansen Yuncken, combined heritage preservation with sustainable innovation — using locally produced hempcrete, mass timber, and regionally sourced materials to create a landmark educational precinct that prioritises embodied carbon reduction and circular economy principles.
The University of Tasmania’s The Forest building is a bold testament to the potential of bio-based construction — and at its heart lies a remarkable collaboration between X-Hemp, Hannan Build, and the Australian Hemp Masonry Company.
Together, these innovators brought the hempcrete vision to life across 28 teaching and learning spaces and a liftwell, marking one of Australia’s largest and most complex hempcrete installations to date.
“There was continuous communication between the three companies from the outset through to completion,” said Klara Marosszeky, Managing Director of Australian Hemp Masonry Company. “We were all committed to ensuring it was a positive experience and outcome for UTAS, Woods Bagot, and Hansen Yuncken. The project is a great opportunity to showcase the possibilities of hempcrete construction.”
Australian Hemp Masonry Company developed the hempcrete product, supplying a proprietary lime binder manufactured in Sydney and consulting on every phase of the project. They also worked closely with architects Woods Bagot from the early design stages, delivering educational sessions for their team. Their Tasmanian partner, Andi Lucas and X-Hemp, provided the locally processed hemp hurd, ensuring the build met the university’s sustainability goals — including low embodied energy, carbon storage, and superior thermal, acoustic, and air quality performance.
Hannan Build – Shane Hannan and Tully Dunn, brought over a decade of installation expertise to the table. “This project is all about feature walls,” Klara explained. “While hempcrete is traditionally rendered, the off-form walls allowed Shane and his team to play with colour and tone — each batch of hemp bringing natural variation that’s beautifully showcased in the finished design.”
Despite the challenges of working on a multi-storey adaptive reuse site alongside hundreds of trades, the team’s collaboration and commitment ensured seamless delivery. “It’s a beautifully executed showcase project,” Klara says. “Together, we’ve demonstrated that sustainable, bio-based construction can be both beautiful and viable — and that it’s the future of Australian building.”
For more information contact,
X-Hemp 0413 388 470 www.xhemp.au
Hannan Build 0429 658 886 www.facebook.com/hannanbuild/
Australian Hemp Masonry Company 0422 750 612
Read the full article here: https://ancr.com.au/portfolio-item/university-of-tasmania-the-forest/
