The tallest hemp building in the world has opened in Cape Town

The world’s tallest building made with industrial hemp has officially opened, marking this as a defining step toward an environmentally sustainable future in the City of Cape Town.

The wall of the 12-floor, 54-room Hemp Hotel comprises hempcrete blocks sourced from the cannabis plant and reinforced by concrete. According to Bizcommunity, hemp bricks are known for their insulation properties, fire resistance, and eco-friendliness.

Steve Allin, director of the International Hemp Building Association in Ireland, recognised the building as the world’s tallest structure using hemp-based materials.

The material is also carbon negative, which means that using them removes more greenhouse gases than they emit – making them an environmentally friendly and sustainable form of building material.

Thanks to its location at 84 Harrington Street, the Hemp Hotel aligns with the East City area and its creative vibe. The precinct is already a major drawcard for creative businesses, designers, foodies, coders, artists, photographers and students.

Architect Wolf and Wolf says the cost of the construction still poses a challenge. ‘It shouldn’t be just a high-end product.’ According to Wihan Bekker, carbon consultant for Afrimat Hemp, the material is 20% more expensive to build with compared to conventional materials.

Currently, the Hemp Hotel forms part of a development that comprises rental stock. Plans for a Hemporium store on the ground floor are underway.