The living material, the building system, the process and how it compares to conventional construction.
The Materials
The story of living matter.
Before they are technology, they are nature. Three materials you can touch, smell and feel breathing — and together they become a home.
Hemp
Hemp
During growth it captures biogenic carbon; the finished product balance must be quantified through a complete LCA.
Biogenic carbon
Lime
Lime
It supports vapour migration; condensation and mould also depend on build-up, installation, ventilation and use.
Vapour permeable
Timber
Timber
A structure that stays alive: it works with time and accompanies those who live in it.
Living structure
The wall
Biocomposite
Three elements become one: a monolithic, continuous envelope without joints.
Seamless wall
The Technology
The documented HES construction system.
Timber, hemp and lime in a system offering hygroscopic behaviour and envelope continuity. Thermal bridges, comfort and carbon balance are verified on the complete project.
For the building envelope
HES-mix™
Biocomposite for opaque envelope elements. HES documents a 35 cm reference build-up for climate zone D; the building energy class must be assessed on the complete design, including systems, windows, thermal bridges and installation.
Render & finish
HES-Wall™
Internal and external render suitable for masonry, concrete, stone and plasterboard. Rising-damp work requires diagnosis of the causes. At 2–7 cm its hygroscopic behaviour can contribute to humidity buffering; results depend on substrate, build-up, installation, ventilation and use.
Declared compositionHemp shiv, hydrated lime and mineral additive; check the product data sheet
HygroscopicContributes to indoor humidity buffering
Fire ResistantB-s1-d0 class declared in the product documentation
Biogenic carbonStorage and net balance to be quantified through LCA
Acoustic insulation15 cm + render → Rw 42 dB
Lightweight∼240 kg/m³ — 40% less than concrete
λ 0,048W/(m·K) Thermal conductivity λ at 240 kg/m³
18 hThermal lag with a 320 mm wall
μ 5,48Vapour resistance factor μ (EN 12086)
CESupplier declaration LVS EN ISO 17050-1
Documented technical data: Hemp Eco Systems Group · LVS EN ISO 17050-1 · Vilnius Gediminas University tests 2014 · BRE University of Bath 2013 · US Patent 10,266,451 B2. H.0.ME. is the Italian HES licensee; actual performance depends on design and installation.
We listen to your project: location, technical feasibility, performance requirements and budget. No commitment. We will tell you immediately whether we are the right fit for you.
We carry out an initial review of planning constraints, orientation and site characteristics, with a preliminary estimate of timeline and investment. From day one you have a single dedicated contact and speak directly with those who will actually build — no call centre, no intermediaries.
02Bespoke Design
Tailored Like a Bespoke Suit
We develop the executive design, energy certifications, seismic assessment and detailed specification with HES materials. Every building is designed for the client, the site and the climate.
We study daylight, solar orientation and hygrothermal comfort, calibrating the HES-mix thickness to the climate zone. We integrate the timber structure and the lime-hemp envelope into one breathing organism, giving you renders, specifications and expected performance before the first cubic metre is cast.
03Construction with the HES System
The Atelier on Site
Monolithic in-situ casting with the sliding HES formwork, dedicated mixer and skilled craftsmen specialised in natural biocomposites. Construction pace without compromise on quality.
Monolithic in-situ casting reduces wall joints and supports envelope continuity. Junction thermal bridges must still be calculated and resolved through design and installation. Materials with applicable CE documentation and quality control at every stage.
04Handover & Sign-off
Fully Documented, Nothing Left to Chance
Complete technical documentation: energy certificate, declarations of conformity and in-situ performance reports. Your building is handed over with its supporting dossier.
We hand over the energy certificate, declarations of conformity and the building dossier, with the option to monitor real indoor comfort (as in the Rodari school test). And we don't disappear: we stay by your side well beyond the handover of the keys.
Environmental impact, explained with honesty.
Hemp-lime stores biogenic carbon; the net balance must be calculated from the boundaries and data of each project.
Level A — The Plant
The hemp plant absorbs CO₂ as it grows — among building materials, it is the only one that captures carbon while growing: roughly 10–15 t of CO₂ per hectare each cycle.
Level B — The Wall
The biocomposite locks CO₂ into the wall for the entire life of the building — decades, centuries. The lime reabsorbs up to 60% of its initial CO₂ from the air.
Level C — Life Cycle
H.0.ME.’s estimate for a reference house indicates about −61 kg CO₂eq per m² over its life cycle (timber structure + hemp-lime walls), compared with conventional construction. Estimated under EN 15978 and undergoing independent third-party validation.
A direct, candid comparison across 12 key parameters. The data needs no interpretation — it speaks for itself.
Environmental footprint
Biogenic Carbon
Hemp shiv stores biogenic carbon and lime carbonates. The net balance depends on production, transport, installation and end of life; H.0.ME.’s LCA is undergoing independent validation.
Living comfort
Hygroscopic Behaviour
It can buffer indoor humidity variations. A six-day HES monitoring study is a specific case, not a year-round guarantee; results depend on the complete building and its use.
Healthiness
Declared Composition
Hemp shiv, hydrated lime and mineral additive according to HES documentation. Composition, emissions and intended use must be checked in the specific product data sheets.
Safety
Documented Reaction
HES documentation reports B-s1-d0 under EN 13823 for the tested configuration. The built element requirement must be verified in the applicable fire design.
Property
HES-mix / HES-Wall with manufacturer documentation
Rock wool
EPS / Polystyrene
Thermal masonry
Declared composition
✓Yes
✗No
✗No
Partially
Carbon balance (LCA)
~To be quantified
✗Emits
✗High footprint
✗Emits
Hygroscopic behaviour
✓Buffering
Passively
✗No
Passively
Thermal conductivity λ
0,048 W/(m·K) @ 240 kg/m³ — CE-rated value
0,035–0,040
0,031–0,038
0,095–0,115
Thermal lag φ
18 hours (320 mm)
4–6 hours
1–3 hours
8–10 hours
Fire reaction class
B-s1-d0 (CE)
A1
E–F (combustible)
A1
Indoor air quality / VOC
~Check product data sheet
✓Substantially free
✗Off-gassing present
✓Neutral
Vapour permeability μ
5,48 highly breathable
1–3
20–100 nearly impermeable
5–15
Acoustic insulation Rw
42 dB (15 cm + 2 plaster coats)
40–45 dB
30–35 dB
42–50 dB (25 cm)
Bulk density
240 kg/m³ (installed) −40% vs concrete
25–200 kg/m³
15–30 kg/m³
800–900 kg/m³
End of life / circularity
~End of life to assess by components and contamination
✗Difficult disposal
✗Not recyclable
Partially
Building energy class
Project-specific assessment
Project-specific assessment
Project-specific assessment
Project-specific assessment
Data source: Hemp Eco Systems Group · CE Declaration of Performance (LVS EN ISO 17050-1) ·
Laboratory testing Università di Vilnius Gediminas and BRE University of Bath.
Conductivity λ 0,048 W/(m·K) at on-site density 240 kg/m³; CE test at 319 kg/m³ → λ 0,056 W/(m·K).
Indicative average reference values for orientation purposes — for a precise comparison tailored to your project,contact us.
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H0Mer
Assistente H.0.ME.
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Hemp
Lime
Timber
The wall