A visionary dream, becomes an eco-friendly reality
Indica Hemp House is an award-winning, eco-designed, luxurious, short-term rental accommodation situated in Wilyabrup, in the magnificent Margaret River region of South Western Australia. With stunning lake views, built-in cinema and hot tub among some of its welcoming features, it is the perfect place to stay, especially for families or groups of friends. It was also the winner of the 2020 HIA SCR South Western Australian GreenSmart Sustainable Home Award.
This magnificent home’s impressive sustainability features include the use of hemp and NewTechWood Coastal decking and NewTechWood Castellation cladding.
The designer, Perth architects Livia Hawker Design & Drafting, successfully interpreted the owners’ vision of having most of the rooms enjoying a water view, along with raked ceilings and environment-friendly construction materials, and maximising solar passive design for winter warmth. The result is a purpose-built short-term accommodation home that is modern, luxurious, minimalistic, eco-friendly and sustainable.
The owners had their dream brought to reality by experienced local builder Hemp Homes Australia, whose efforts on this project saw them become the winners of the 2024 Master Builders Australia (WA): Best South West House.
Luxury design meets sustainability with NewTechWood decking and cladding
The NewTechWood Coastal decking in Antique was chosen for its sustainable, environment-friendly properties and reputation. Plus, offering low maintenance in the future and being available in the colours the owners wanted made it a no-brainer. With the Coastal decking also providing BAL 29 rating, no maintenance other than to clean it occasionally, and a 25 Year Warranty, it had all the qualifications the owners were seeking; especially as the deck surrounds their external spa, the product needed to be capable of withstanding our harsh Australian climate plus water spillage from the spa.
The Castellation cladding in Ipe was chosen because the owners loved how it breaks up the colours and textures on their exterior walls and looks like real timber.
In their words, “I’m beyond happy with the choice of this product and colour!”
They said the construction team at Hemp Homes Australia also loved working with it and loved the way it looks. Just the icing on the cake is that it also comes with a 25-year warranty and the ability to withstand our harsh climate!
Hempcrete: The new kid on the block!
The Hempcrete walls are made from sustainable hemp fibres that are lightweight, breathable and eco-friendly, and provide natural insulation. The product is fireproof and termite-resistant, and offers high acoustic performance. Hemp Homes actually grows their own hemp crops and is building their own process facility. So, they can not only build your new home, but can also grow it! Hempcrete plays a new and important role in sustainable building practices.
Gary Rogers, the builder and owner of Hemp Homes Australia, has over 30 years’ experience in the building industry and has been involved with the hemp industry for over 20 years. He is also the owner of Margaret River Hemp Co with shops in Margaret River, Fremantle, online retail and wholesale, so his expertise is backed by years of knowledge and first-hand experience.
It’s the ‘new kid on the block’ well worth considering!
Inside the hemp haven
Some of the other sustainable features this unique hemp home boasts include being partly powered by the sun via a 9.13kw solar PV system with 10.1kwh battery backup. Hempcrete provides excellent thermal insulation, which, along with the passive solar design and double-glazed windows, ensures the house is energy-efficient, achieving a remarkable 8.7/10 energy rating for NatHERS.
They also collect and store rainwater in a large tank holding 121,000 litres, which is treated before it enters the home via a particle carbon block filter followed by a UV steriliser, providing safe and tasty water. The property also utilises a greywater recycling waste management system, and if that isn’t enough, they offer a Tesla Gen 3 charger for their guests.
Internally, they refill all the bathroom products (reusable, not single use containers of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash) with Australian botanical and hemp seed oil-infused toiletries. Each bathroom ensuite has heated towel rails, water-saving taps and shower heads. Want more? The home provides a state-of-the-art home theatre and an outdoor spa.
The kitchen is state-of-the-art and perfect whether you love doing the cooking, or plan to splash out and hire a chef. It comes with a 90cm induction flexible and expandable cooktop, a 90cm oven, expansive benchtops, all the cooking implements you’ll ever need, and beautiful gold cutlery and stoneware crockery so you can cook up a storm, enjoying daily gourmet delights, served with class.
Sustainable sophistication: A retreat for eco-conscious guests
Award-winning Indica Hemp House’s construction was based on modern and futuristic sustainable principles, and yet offers up the utmost in luxurious living, ensuring their pampered guests enjoy everything they expect from luxury accommodation, guilt-free, while doing their bit for the environment.
Want NewTechWood for your next design?
It doesn’t matter if you are renovating a penthouse, the family room, or a backyard granny flat; if you would like to add a touch of class with NewTechWood cladding, decking or screening, you can find recommended installers and your nearest NewTechWood resellers on our website.
Architects/designers and builders/installers are always welcome to contact our team for professional advice and information.
Project details
Architect: Livia Hawker Design & Drafting
Builder: Gary Rogers, Hemp Homes Australia
Supplier/Reseller: Margaret River Hardware and Timber
Project Type: Residential – New house
Location: Wilyabrup, (Margaret River region, W.A.)
Size: House - 346sqm, Land - 2000sqm
NewTechWood Specification:
- Decking: US54 Coastal in Antique
- Cladding: UH61 NewTechWood Castellation Cladding in Ipe
