As part of our Circular Economy Conversations series, the Rediscovery Centre hosted a unique Hempcrete Seminar and Workshop on the 31st January 2020. This event was held in association with the Hemp Cooperative of Ireland and attracted architects, builders, engineers, built environment professionals and self-build home owners from all over Ireland.
This event included presentations, discussions, workshops and hands-on demonstrations on hempcrete and highlighted its role in the future of circular construction. For more information, please click here.
Prof. Tom Woolley, Architect and environmental consultant
Tom Woolley is an architect and environmental consultant working for Rachel Bevan Architects in County Down. He was Professor of Architecture at Queens University Belfast from 1991-2007 and has been a visiting professor at several other Universities in the UK and Sweden. He is currently a visiting professor at Anglia Ruskin University.
Tom was chairman of the NI Building Regulations Advisory Committee and a member of the NI Ministerial Advisory Group for Architecture. He has recently worked as an environmental consultant in Dublin, Cape Town and Chile.
Tom has written several books including Hemp Lime Construction, Low Impact Building, Building Materials, Health and Indoor Air Quality. He will have a new book out later in 2019 entitled Thermal Insulation Materials for Building Applications: The Complete Guide.
Rachel Bevan, Lead designer of Rachel Bevan Architects
Rachel Bevan Architects was first established in Northern Ireland in 1992.
Rachel Bevan is the lead designer of all projects in the practice. Qualified as a Registered Architect in 1988, she is a member of the RSUA and RIBA. She also teaches Architecture part-time at Ulster University.
Both Rachel and Tom have a specialist interest in construction with Hempcrete (see Published Projects: Hemp Cottage).
Rosanne Walker, Post doctorate researcher and building conservation consultant
Rosanne has over 10 years experience working in building conservation. She has a degree in Civil and Structural Engineering with a post-graduate diploma in Applied Building Repair and Conservation from Trinity College.
She further specialised in building materials during her PhD and post doctorate research undertaking detailed analysis of their thermal and moisture behaviour.
Ronan McDermott, Director and hempcrete consultant
Ronan is director of Hempbuild Sustainable Products Ltd.
He has over 10 years of experience in specialist heritage renovations, lime and clay plastering, site management and project management in Ireland and the UK, working on numerous specialist projects and restorations involving Hempcrete, lime plastering and listed building works.
Gavin Creech, Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd.
Gavin specialists in product development strategy and management.
He is involved in adhesive materials qualification, testing, analysis and formulation, and is also involved in fibre composites manufacturing, resin compound and adhesive applications development.
Declan Darcy, Carpenter, Hempcrete builder and Qualified Raw Vegan Chef
Declan has had an interest in hemp and all its facets for over 10 years now.
He first got involved in the hemp industry in 2013 when commissioned to build a hempcrete extension. Since then went on to co create and open The Hemp Kitchen, an organic vegan coffee and juice bar in the heart of Dublin.
Ashlene Ross, Homeowner
