Hemp as a Potential Material in Architecture: Is it Possible in Turkey

Abstract

Hemp, also known as cannabis sativa, has long been one of the most important agricultural cropsan essential food for humans and animals since the Neolithic period. It is also one of the mostdurable raw materials used in both traditional crafts and many newer industries, such as the marine, clothing, automotive, and architectural industries. However, despite its beneficial health properties and use in making durable products, hemp has been banned in many developed countries largely because it has been labeled an illegal plant due to its psychoactive properties. After the 1980s, industrially cultivated hemp in the form of hempcrete, hemp brick or low or high technology cast in situ wall systems gained recognition in architecture. Since the industry 4.0 industrial revolution in the 2000s, the use of hemp has become increasingly important in medicine and nutrition and in industries such as paper, plastics, architecture and construction. Hemp has been illegal for many years in Turkey. However, in Turkish history, using cannabis, hemp and hashish for food, pleasure, socializing, clothing, rope, paper and mortar has been an accepted sociocultural phenomenon. Therefore, this article seeks to evaluate the possibility of using hemp in architecture by addressing its use in architecture, specifically in Turkey. Design/Methodology/ApproachThis research uses a literature review to explore both the history of hemp in Turkey and its construction applications. FindingsThe results showed that given enough support, the use of such materials could create beneficial effects for the architecture, construction and education sectors in Turkey. Research Limitations/ImplicationsIn the future, a research with funding and permissions could be conducted to observe of the physical and chemical characteristics of hemp and hemp-based materials, which is lacking in this study. Social/Practical ImplicationsRecognizing the benefits of hemp could have positive effects on the economy, health, agriculture and architecture of communities in Turkey. Hemp can replace petroleum-based materials while having the advantages of being cost effective, providing a variety of production possibilities, and needing less water for cultivation. Originality/ValueThis is the first study to address the potential use of industrial hemp in Turkey from an architecture and design perspective.

Hemp: An Alternative Source for Various Industries and an Emerging Tool for Functional Food and Pharmaceutical Sectors

“…The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were written on hemp paper and then copied on parchment because it was so popular. Hemp is a special kind of plant that may be used to make paper due to its high content of cellulose (Table 1) [33,34]; hemp paper has three times more cellulose than conventional paper, and a triple amount of paper can be generated from one hectare of hemp field [35]. Hemp paper has a number of characteristics that distinguish it from other types of paper: it is extremely long-lasting and does not yellow with age [4], does not have to be bleached, and may be whitened with hydrogen peroxide if it becomes yellow.…”

“…Because of the high demand for paper, trees are being chopped down at a rate three times faster than they are growing. As a result, paper manufacturing will become more expensive, and reforestation will attract greater attention [33,34]. Therefore, high-quality hemp will be used as a raw resource much more following the development as well as deployment of a unique technology for the manufacturing of this mash.…”

Green Meets Machine - Robotic Fabrication of Carbon-Negative Hempcrete

“…4) is a bio-composite building material comprised of hemp hurds mixed with a lime binder. While there is evidence that the hemp plant was used in construction as far back as the 6 th century (Souza, 2020;Özdamar, 2021), hempcrete in its current form originated in France in the 1980s as an infill to repair damaged medieval half-timbered buildings (fig. 5).…”

Beyond the Hemp House: Exploring potential for the deployment of hempcrete in Aotearoa’s medium-density housing

“…Evidence of hemp seed use for food and oil 2 c. 3000 BC 1 Özdamar (2021) 2 Li (1974) 3 Crini et al (2020) 4 Chasteen ( 2016) 5 Singh et al (2018) and America well into the 1700s (Fike, 2016;Özdamar, 2021).…”

“…The 1920s saw an increase in campaigning for the restriction of hemp-based products due to the biological relation with marijuana, as both were derived from Cannabis sativa. The 1930s brought waves of legislative action, resulting in hemp cultivation being outlawed or restricted in most Western nations (Crini et al, 2020;Özdamar, 2021). In the United States, hemp production for industrial usage dwindled besides a peak during World War Two, due to shortages of other fibres (Johnson, 2014).…”